South Korea Secures Release of 300 Workers Detained in US
URGENT UPDATE: South Korea has confirmed that negotiations with the United States regarding the release of over 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid have been successfully concluded. Officials announced that these workers, who were arrested at a Hyundai-LG battery plant in Ellabell, Georgia, will soon be freed and flown back home.
The dramatic turn of events follows a large-scale raid on Thursday, marking the most significant single-site operation under President Donald Trump‘s anti-migrant initiative. The South Korean government was reportedly caught off guard by the scale of the operation, which involved the arrest of workers primarily employed by LG Energy Solution’s contractors.
On Sunday, Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to President Lee Jae Myung, stated, “As a result of the swift and united response… negotiations for the release of the detained workers have been concluded.” He emphasized that only administrative procedures remain before a chartered flight is set to bring the workers home.
Footage released by US authorities captured the harrowing moment of the raid, showing detained workers in handcuffs and chains as they were loaded onto a transport bus. The conditions at the detention center have raised concerns, with reports indicating that while detainees receive food and are allowed to shower, the overall conditions remain substandard.
In a swift response, LG Energy Solution’s executive Kim Ki-soo traveled to Georgia on Sunday morning, stating, “The immediate priority now is the swift release of both our LG Energy Solution employees and those of our partner firms.” LG confirmed that 47 employees, including 46 South Koreans and 1 Indonesian, were among those arrested. The company also noted that around 250 of the detained individuals were believed to be from its contractors.
In light of these developments, LG Energy Solution has suspended all business trips to the United States, allowing only essential client meetings. Employees currently in the US have been instructed to either “return immediately or standby at their accommodations.” Meanwhile, Hyundai has clarified that none of the arrested individuals are its employees.
South Korea, as Asia’s fourth-largest economy, has significant investments in the US automotive and electronics sectors, with billions dedicated to building factories aimed at accessing the lucrative market and mitigating tariff threats from Trump. In a recent meeting, President Lee had pledged $350 billion in investment to the US, underscoring the importance of maintaining strong bilateral relations.
As the situation unfolds, the focus remains on the timely release of the detained workers and the implications this incident may have on US-South Korea relations. Further updates are expected as administrative processes are finalized.
Stay tuned for the latest developments on this breaking story.
