The South Korean government has launched a formal investigation into potential human rights violations after more than 300 Korean nationals were detained during a U.S. immigration raid at a Hyundai electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia.
The raid, conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), marks the largest single-location immigration operation since President Donald Trump renewed his crackdown on visa overstays and undocumented labor earlier this year. Authorities said those detained lacked proper work authorization or had overstayed valid visas.
South Korean officials expressed “strong regret” over the incident and summoned U.S. representatives for formal consultations. In a statement Thursday, the Foreign Ministry demanded that the rights and safety of Korean citizens be upheld during all law enforcement operations.
President Lee Jae-myung condemned the detentions as “bewildering,” warning that the incident could chill future foreign investment. “It is standard practice for Korean firms to dispatch skilled workers abroad to support new facilities,” Lee said. “To criminalize this process is unacceptable and undermines the trust we’ve built as economic partners.”
Many of the detained workers were flown back to South Korea last Friday after a week in federal custody. Witnesses at the Georgia plant described scenes of panic as ICE agents entered the facility. Some workers were reportedly removed in handcuffs, prompting criticism from South Korean lawmakers and labor groups.
Hyundai has since confirmed that the plant’s launch will be delayed by at least two months, citing operational disruption. The factory was expected to play a key role in meeting U.S. electric vehicle demand under the terms of recent U.S.–Korea trade agreements.
South Korea’s national labor unions have called for an official apology from President Trump and denounced the raid as a “humiliation” of Korean workers. The incident, they say, threatens to damage a vital trade and diplomatic relationship.
Responding to the backlash, Trump on Sunday stressed that Korean workers and foreign technical specialists remain welcome in the United States. “We welcome their workers and their knowledge,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We will learn from them — and beat them at their own game.”
The South Korean Ministry of Justice said it will conduct a full investigation into the incident and work with affected companies and international agencies to prevent similar episodes. Officials also pledged to pursue “stronger safeguards” for overseas workers and ensure that immigration protocols are clearly communicated and followed in future deployments.
