South Korea Outraged Over U.S. ICE Raid on Hyundai Plant

2025-09-08 05:01:24

(MENAFN) South Korea has lodged a formal protest following the detention of hundreds of workers at Hyundai’s electric vehicle manufacturing complex in Georgia by U.S. immigration authorities.

The operation occurred Thursday at the construction site of a battery plant in Bryan County, near Savannah, a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution that employs approximately 1,200 individuals. According to U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the action was part of an investigation into alleged unlawful employment practices.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in Atlanta reported that 450 individuals, described as “unlawful aliens,” were taken into custody. Of those detained, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun confirmed that around 300 were South Korean nationals, including employees from partner companies visiting on business. Many of these workers had entered the U.S. on short-term business visas or under the Visa Waiver Program, but immigration officials determined that their activities at the site did not align with the intended purpose of their stay.

In response, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing concern. "The economic activities of our investment firms and the rights of our citizens must not be unfairly infringed upon during U.S. law enforcement operations," the ministry said on Friday, according to local media. The ministry added that South Korea had raised its concerns through the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, urging American authorities to ensure the protection of South Korean citizens' legitimate rights and interests.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has reportedly ordered “an all-out response” to the incident and is considering sending high-level officials to the U.S. to resolve the matter.

The raid comes as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to make illegal immigration a key priority of his administration, having previously vowed to carry out the largest deportation of criminal aliens in U.S. history.

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