Chicago – September 06, 2025
South Korea held an emergency government meeting on September 6, 2025, following the detention of hundreds of its nationals during a large-scale U.S. immigration raid at a Hyundai battery manufacturing plant in Georgia.
U.S. authorities arrested 475 workers, with over 300 being South Korean citizens, alleging illegal employment at the facility, which is part of a major foreign investment project. The White House supported the operation, emphasizing enforcement of immigration laws and protection of American jobs.
In response, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung called for comprehensive and rapid measures to address the situation and vowed support for the detained citizens. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun expressed a deep sense of responsibility and concern, announcing the creation of a special task force to handle the matter. South Korea is deploying diplomats to the U.S. and may send officials to Washington for high-level discussions.
The ICE raid, the largest single-site enforcement action in U.S. Department of Homeland Security history, has raised tensions amid delicate U.S.-South Korea trade relations and extensive South Korean investments in the U.S. Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, partners at the plant, have halted most business travel to the U.S. and are working to secure the release of their employees. The South Korean government has urged that the rights and economic activities of its nationals and businesses must not be unjustly infringed during U.S. law enforcement actions.
This incident highlights the complex balance between immigration enforcement and international economic cooperation between close allies.
