South Korean Minister Heads to U.S. to Resolve Fallout from Large-Scale Immigration Raids

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will travel to the United States on Monday to address the controversy surrounding the detention of hundreds of Korean workers during a large-scale immigration raid. The move comes as Seoul plans significant investments in the U.S.

On Sunday, Seoul confirmed that negotiations had been completed to secure the release of around 300 Korean workers detained at a battery plant in Georgia, operated by Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) and LG Energy Solution (373220.KS). Efforts are underway to arrange for their repatriation later this week.

The detention of workers by U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents has stirred public concern in South Korea — a key American ally currently working to finalize a trade agreement reached in late July. The incident also follows just ten days after South Korea’s new President Lee Jae-myung met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, where both leaders pledged closer economic cooperation.

According to a South Korean Foreign Ministry official, Cho’s discussions will focus primarily on arranging charter flights to bring home the Korean workers, most of whom were employed through subcontractors. The official declined to provide further details.

Trump, whose administration has ramped up deportations as part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration, said last week that he was unaware of the raids and referred to those detained as “illegal foreigners.”

On Sunday, however, Trump adopted a more conciliatory tone, urging foreign companies investing in the U.S. to “respect our immigration laws.” He added, “Your investments are welcome, and we will encourage you to legally bring in our highly intelligent and technologically gifted workforce to build world-class products. We will make that process quick and legally accessible,” he said on the Truth Social platform.

The raid, which took place on Thursday, resulted in the detention of 475 people at the $4.3 billion electric vehicle battery plant operated by Hyundai and LGES. It marked the largest single-site enforcement action in the history of the Homeland Security Department.

Seoul has expressed strong disapproval over both the arrests and the public release of footage showing armored vehicles and workers in handcuffs.

Hyundai Motor is among the largest foreign investors in the United States and is one of the key participants in South Korea’s $35 billion investment pledge for the U.S. market.

A Hyundai spokesperson stated that some employees have been advised to postpone non-essential travel to the United States.

LGES, except in exceptional cases, has also suspended business trips for its employees to the U.S. and is currently arranging for the return of its South Korea-based staff from the country.