SEOUL / WASHINGTON — The South Korean government has announced a formal investigation into possible human rights violations following a sweeping U.S. immigration raid that detained hundreds of South Korean workers at a Hyundai-LG electric battery plant under construction in Georgia. The raid, which some reports describe as the largest single-site immigration enforcement action in U.S. history, has triggered a diplomatic tempest, stoked concerns among investors and raised broader questions about visa policy and alliance trust.
Raid and Repatriation: The Facts on the Ground
On September 4, 2025, U.S. federal agents moved into the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant site in Ellabell, Georgia, detaining approximately 475 people, a majority of them South Korean nationals.
Over the ensuing week, Seoul and Washington negotiated the release and return of more than 300 detained Korean workers. A Korean Air charter flight was dispatched to Atlanta to bring them home. On arrival in Incheon, several of the workers recounted harrowing conditions: delays in notification of their rights, handcuffing and chaining, and being held in constrained, poorly ventilated spaces.
One worker, named Park Sun-kyu, said, “My main takeaway is that America is not a safe place to work,” and reported medical symptoms after returning.
Seoul’s Response: Investigation and Diplomatic Pressure
The South Korean presidency announced that, in coordination with the private firms involved, a “thorough investigation” would seek to ascertain whether any human rights infringements occurred during the raid or detentions. A presidential spokesperson confirmed both sides—including the U.S.—would review possible procedural “shortcomings.”
President Lee Jae-myung castigated the raid as “bewildering,” warning that such incidents could dissuade future investment in U.S. projects by Korean firms. Lee further pressed the U.S. to establish clearer visa frameworks to avoid repeating such high-profile disruptions.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun—whose office is now leading bilateral negotiations—has emphasized that resolving visa and labor mobility issues is a priority before Seoul proceeds with a planned $350 billion investment package in the U.S.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials have expressed regret over the raid. In meetings in Seoul, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau conveyed “deep regret” and proposed using the incident as a moment to enhance bilateral immigration and labor coordination. U.S. statements have underscored that Korean investments are seen as contributing to U.S. manufacturing and job creation.
Visa Misuse or Overreach?
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told the press that many of those detained had overstayed visas or lacked authorization to work in the United States.
However, legal and labor experts—and some detainees—counter that many Koreans were performing highly technical, short-term work under B-1 business visitor classifications, essentially to set up complex machinery and train U.S. employees, a practice not uncommon among global firms. One attorney asserted that many of the workers “had special skills for short-term jobs” and were not engaged in general construction tasks.
Amid the dispute, Hyundai’s CEO José Muñoz said he first learned about the raid via media reports and lamented how the operation has disrupted the plant’s startup timeline. He also called for creating visa pathways for Korean technical professionals, similar to arrangements for workers from Canada or Singapore.
Risks for Trade, Investment, and Alliance Trust
The raid arrives at a delicate juncture in U.S.–Korean relations: Seoul is preparing major industrial investment in the U.S. under trade arrangements meant to sidestep tariffs imposed in recent years. South Korean officials have warned that unpredictable immigration enforcement undermines investor confidence.
Public outrage in South Korea has run high. Media outlets and opposition politicians have compared the treatment of detained workers—seen in chained and handcuffed footage—to wartime captivity. In one poll, over two-thirds of respondents said the U.S. had shown a lack of consideration for its ally.
Nevertheless, analysts predict that Seoul is unlikely to resort to extreme retaliation, partly due to the strategic and economic importance of its alliance with the United States.
What Comes Next
- Independent oversight requested: Seoul may seek third-party observers or NGOs to audit U.S. enforcement procedures and inspect conditions faced by detainees.
- Visa regime overhaul under discussion: Korean negotiators have floated creating brokered visa categories for skilled technical workers tied to foreign direct investment.
- Momentum for public airing of abuses: Some of the returned workers have already spoken out, and advocates may press for transparency about procedural safeguards, detainee treatment, and legal recourse.
- Investment decisions in flux: Korean firms may delay or recalibrate U.S. expansion plans until the legal, political, and reputational risks are better understood.
In the end, what began as an immigration enforcement operation has rapidly become a test of alliance trust, cross-border labor norms, and the limits of bilateral cooperation. The South Korean investigation may bring new accountability—or further entrench mistrust between two close partners. (zai)
Sources: AP News, Politico, The Washington Post. The Guardian