SEOUL, South Korea (BN24) — South Korea is preparing to dispatch a chartered flight to the United States as early as Wednesday to repatriate hundreds of its citizens detained during a large-scale immigration raid at a Hyundai-LG battery factory construction site in Georgia.
The South Korean foreign ministry said it had finalized a repatriation agreement with U.S. authorities, clearing the way for the workers’ return once administrative procedures are completed. National carrier Korean Air confirmed Tuesday it plans to send a Boeing 747-8i to Atlanta for the operation, pending final approvals.
The move follows a massive U.S. immigration enforcement action last Thursday, which saw 475 people taken into custody at the $4.3 billion joint-venture site. The facility, a collaboration between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, is under construction to produce electric vehicle battery cells. American officials described the raid as the largest single-site operation of its kind under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Among those arrested were 47 employees of LG Energy Solution, including 46 South Koreans and one Indonesian. An estimated 250 others worked for the company’s contractors, most of them also South Korean nationals. Hyundai stated that none of its direct employees were among those detained.
South Korea’s foreign minister departed for Washington on Monday to meet with U.S. officials. Labeling the detentions a “grave situation,” he pledged to ensure the workers return home “in good health” and with urgency.
The incident underscores ongoing tensions between U.S. immigration enforcement and foreign labor practices within major international investment projects. While South Korea has long supported American calls for increased foreign investment in domestic industries, the raid highlights the complex legal and diplomatic challenges that can arise.
On Sunday, President Trump issued a warning via social media to foreign investors, stating: “Your Investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people.” The message signaled a continued crackdown on visa misuse and unauthorized employment by foreign nationals on U.S. soil.
Analysts believe many of the detained workers were likely on non-immigrant visas that did not authorize direct construction labor, making them vulnerable to enforcement under tightened federal policies.
As South Korea moves swiftly to bring its nationals home, the episode raises questions about compliance oversight and visa classifications within the context of multinational ventures in the U.S. industrial sector.
