South Korea Demands Visa Reform After Immigration Raid at Hyundai-LG Plant

Strategic Insights -

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Friday called on the United States to reform its visa policies following a recent immigration raid that detained 475, mostly South Korean, workers at a Hyundai-LG Energy Solutions battery plant in Georgia. The raid on September 4 led to the detention of the workers, with 316 South Koreans and 14 other employees released after a week and deported back to South Korea. Foreign Minister Cho met with U.S. Senators Todd Young, Bill Hagerty, and Andy Kim to express the public's "deep concern" over the incident and to emphasize the need for fundamental measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.S. immigration raid at the Hyundai-LG Energy Solutions plant in Georgia detained 475 people, with 316 South Koreans and 14 other employees being released after a week.
  • South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun called on the U.S. to reform its visa policies to prevent similar incidents, citing the need for a new visa category for South Korean professionals on investment projects.
  • Senators Todd Young, Bill Hagerty, and Andy Kim welcomed the establishment of a South Korea-U.S. working group to prevent similar incidents and pledged legislative action.
  • South Korean President Lee Jae Myung described the immigration raid as "perplexing" and warned that it could deter firms from making future investments in the United States.
  • The South Korean government has called for visa reform to ensure that Korean companies can fulfill their investment commitments in the United States.

Statistics:

  • 475 people, mostly South Korean nationals, were detained in the immigration raid at the Hyundai-LG Energy Solutions plant in Georgia.
  • 316 South Koreans and 14 other employees were released after a week and deported back to South Korea.
  • $350 billion is the investment pledge by South Korea in the trade deal with the U.S., which is still to be finalized.

Sources:

UPI (Sept. 12)

Yonhap News Agency (Sept. 12)