South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ordered an all-out government response following the arrest of hundreds of South Korean nationals in a sweeping US immigration raid on a Hyundai Motor car battery plant in Georgia.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on Saturday that a task force had been established to manage the crisis, following Thursday’s detention of more than 300 South Koreans at the Savannah-area facility. Cho added that he may travel to Washington to hold talks with US officials if necessary.
“I am deeply concerned. I feel heavy responsibility for the arrests of our citizens,” the minister said during an emergency government meeting.
The raid, which resulted in the detention of around 475 workers in total, has been described as the largest single-site enforcement action in the history of the US Department of Homeland Security. It forms part of President Donald Trump’s escalating crackdown on immigration.
The incident threatens to strain relations between Washington and Seoul, already tested by disagreements over a trade deal involving $350 billion in South Korean investment in the United States.
Hyundai’s joint-venture partner, LG Energy Solution, confirmed that 47 of its employees were among those detained. The company added that around 250 workers employed by contractors at the site were also arrested. In response, LG has suspended most US business travel, instructing staff abroad to return home unless trips are essential for customer meetings.
The arrests mark a sensitive moment for South Korea, whose companies have invested heavily in US manufacturing and clean energy projects. The government in Seoul is under mounting pressure to secure the release of its citizens while balancing its economic and diplomatic ties with Washington.
Melissa Enoch
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