Fri, 12 Sep 2025

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 South Korea workers detained in US raid head home

It comes as the country's president and Hyundai's chief executive have warned about the impact of the raid.
Over 300 South Koreans who were detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia, US will arrive home on Friday after a delayed departure due to instructions from the White House. The workers and 14 others were taken off a chartered Korean Air jet from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Thursday evening local time, with one South Korean national choosing to stay behind to seek permanent residency. The flight is expected to land at Incheon International Airport around 15:30 Seoul time (07:30 BST) after being delayed by more than a day due to the White House's instruction to verify whether the workers were willing to remain in the US. President Lee Jae Myung said that companies would be "very hesitant" about investing in the US following the raid, while Hyundai's chief executive has warned of a minimum two-to-three month delay in opening the factory due to the raid. The South Korean government is negotiating with Washington over visa options for its workers and has called on the US Congress to support a new visa category for Korean firms. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with US senators this week, reiterating concerns about the arrests among South Koreans. Hyundai's chief executive José Muñoz said the raid would delay the factory's opening, citing the impact of the workers wanting to return home. The company had planned to open the facility in Georgia but is now facing a delay due to the recent events. In related news, President Lee Jae Myung and Hyundai's chief executive have expressed their concerns about the potential long-term effects of the raid on foreign investment in the US. They warned that it could lead to companies questioning whether investing in the US is worth it, especially considering the current trade talks between the two countries. The South Korean government has pledged to invest tens of billions of dollars in the US as part of its efforts to offset tariffs and maintain a strong economic relationship with America. However, the recent raid at the Hyundai plant has raised concerns about the impact on foreign investment in the US.
  >>