Seoul: South Korea has pledged full diplomatic and legal support to hundreds of its citizens arrested during a large-scale U.S. immigration raid at a Hyundai LG battery plant under construction in Georgia. The unprecedented sweep by American authorities has quickly escalated into a diplomatic flashpoint, straining the carefully managed alliance between Seoul and Washington.
President Lee Jae Myung convened an emergency meeting in Seoul after news broke that more than 300 South Korean workers were among the 475 people detained in the raid. The operation, led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was described as the largest of its kind at a single site in American history.
President Lee vowed to protect the rights and safety of those arrested. “The government will do everything possible to support our people and ensure they receive fair treatment,” he said in a statement, directing his administration to coordinate directly with U.S. officials.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun announced the immediate creation of a special task force to respond to the crisis. Expressing deep concern, Cho declared he was prepared to travel to Washington if necessary to negotiate directly with U.S. authorities. “I feel a heavy responsibility for the arrests of our citizens,” he told reporters, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
The ICE raid unfolded dramatically, with helicopters hovering above and armored vehicles surrounding the construction site. Videos circulating online showed workers in Hyundai and LG uniforms shackled at the wrists, waist, and ankles before being transported by bus. The operation not only shocked South Koreans but also reverberated across the global business community, given the scale of Hyundai and LG’s investments in the U.S.
Hyundai Motor swiftly announced it would audit its subcontractors and suppliers in the United States to ensure full compliance with American labor and immigration laws. LG Energy Solution, meanwhile, suspended all non-essential U.S. travel for its staff and recalled employees currently abroad. Both firms stressed their commitment to cooperate with authorities while safeguarding their international workforce.
The arrests come at a sensitive time in U.S.–South Korea relations. Seoul has invested nearly $350 billion in American manufacturing and clean energy projects, positioning itself as a key partner in Washington’s industrial policy. Yet trade disputes and policy frictions have already tested the alliance. The detention of so many South Koreans threatens to deepen those tensions and complicate ongoing economic diplomacy.
A spokesperson for South Korea’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that the government would not tolerate its citizens’ rights being trampled during their work abroad. “The economic activities of our companies investing in the United States and the interests of our citizens must not be unduly violated,” the spokesperson said.
As investigations into labor practices continue, Seoul is expected to intensify diplomatic lobbying in Washington while offering legal aid to the arrested workers. For now, the incident stands as a stark reminder of how immigration enforcement can ripple far beyond domestic borders, colliding with international alliances and global business interests.