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South Korea Says Flight with Detained Workers Unlikely to Depart from U.S. on Wednesday
South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it is working closely with U.S. authorities to bring hundreds of detained Korean workers back home after a massive immigration raid in Georgia. However, officials acknowledged that it is unlikely that a chartered flight carrying the workers will depart for South Korea on Wednesday as originally planned.
A source familiar with the situation had earlier indicated that a chartered plane was scheduled to leave Atlanta at around 2:30 p.m. local time (1830 GMT) on Wednesday. Later in the day, NBC News reported, citing a spokesperson at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, that the flight had been canceled.
Last week, nearly 300 South Korean workers were arrested at the site of a $4.3 billion Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) and LG Energy Solution (373220.KS) project in Georgia, where batteries for electric vehicles are being manufactured. Another 175 individuals were also detained in the same raid.
This marked the largest single-site immigration enforcement operation in U.S. history, sending shockwaves through South Korea. The raids have heightened concerns in Seoul, especially as the country is seeking to finalize a trade deal with Washington in July. The matter also touches upon broader geopolitical and economic ties between the two allies.
South Korea’s Foreign Minister, Cho Hyun, said ahead of a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House that his priority remains to bring the workers home as quickly as possible. However, the Foreign Ministry had earlier stated that due to U.S. circumstances, a Wednesday departure was unlikely.
“I will do everything in my power to ensure our people are put on a plane and brought home at the earliest possible time,” Cho told Yonhap News.
The ministry added that Cho could not immediately explain the reason for the delay but promised to provide full details after his discussions with Rubio.
While the U.S. State Department’s official readout of the meeting made no mention of immigration issues, it did note that Secretary Rubio welcomed South Korean investment and that both sides discussed promoting a fair and mutually beneficial trade partnership.
The readout also mentioned talks on expanding “equitable defense cost sharing,” a reference to the U.S. request that Seoul increase its financial contributions to support American troops stationed in South Korea.
Earlier, Cho had assured South Korean companies at a Washington meeting that he would ensure the safe return of the detained workers and that their ability to re-enter the U.S. would not be compromised.
Many of the detained workers are subcontractor employees linked to the project.
A Korean Air Boeing 747-8i, which can seat 368 passengers, reportedly departed South Korea for Atlanta on Wednesday morning. According to local media reports, some Japanese and Chinese nationals detained during the same immigration operation are also expected to board the aircraft.
The Foreign Ministry said that representatives from Hyundai Motor, LG, and other Korean companies urged the government to negotiate with U.S. authorities for a new visa category tailored to Korean professionals. The aim is to reduce uncertainty and obtain clearer visa guidelines to support Korean businesses operating in the United States.
Korean businesses have long complained about strict visa limitations imposed by the U.S. on skilled foreign workers, which make it difficult for them to oversee factory construction or train local employees.
A senior official from the South Korean foreign ministry, without elaborating, said, “Both sides are working to resolve the visa issue smoothly in order to support Korean businesses in the U.S.”
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated in a social media post on Sunday that the U.S. would make it “quick and legally possible” for foreign companies to bring their workers into the country if they comply with immigration laws.
When asked about potential changes to the U.S. visa system, White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt echoed Trump’s message and confirmed that the government is actively working on the issue.
“The Department of Homeland Security and the Commerce Department are working together on this matter,” Leavitt said at a press briefing on Tuesday.
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