Seoul concludes that American talks to release the South Koreans detained in Hyundai Raid

The South Korea government said it had concluded talks with the United States to release its citizens detained during a huge immigration raid in a Hyundai factory in Georgia.

The chief of staff of the President of South Korea said that a chartered aircraft would be sent to bring the prisoners home if the administration procedures were completed.

Kang Hoon-Sik said the authorities were trying to improve the visa system to prevent such incidents in the future.

US officials arrested 475 people – more than 300, including South Korean nationals – who, according to them, worked illegally in the battery, one of the largest state investment projects.

The White House defended the operation, rejecting the concerns that the RAID could dissuade foreign investments.

“They were illegal extraterrestrials and ice (immigration and customs application) was only doing his job,” said President Donald Trump after the raids on Friday.

The video published by ice officials showed Asian workers chained in front of a building, some wearing yellow vests with names such as “Hyundai” and “LG CNS”.

“People in short-term or recreational visas are not allowed to work in the United States,” said ICE, adding that the RAID was necessary to protect American jobs.

“This operation sends a clear message that those exploiting the system and undergoing our workforce will be held responsible,” said Steven Schrank Steven Steven Schrank Special Safety Investigations (HSI) on Saturday.

South Korea, a close American ally, has promised tens of billions of dollars in American manufacturing investment, in part to compensate for the prices.

The raid calendar, while the two governments engage in sensitive trade negotiations, has expressed concern in Seoul.

Trump has actively encouraged major investments in other countries while tightening visa allowances to foreign companies.

LG Energy Solution, which operates the factory with Hyundai, says that many LG employees arrested were on a business trip with various visas or in a visa renunciation program.

The company said it suspended most business trips to the United States and directs employees in the United States to immediately return home.

The South Korean media have largely described the raid as a “shock”, with the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper warning that it could have “a scary effect on the activities of our businesses in the United States”.

The factory, which makes new electric vehicles, had been presented by the Republican Governor in Georgia as the largest economic development project in state history, employing 1,200 people.

The workers arrested are held in an ICE installation in Folkston, in Georgia.

LG Energy Solution said that 47 of its employees and approximately 250 workers for joint venture entrepreneurs were detained.