In a dramatic turn that has implications for global trade and tech partnerships, South Korea is urging the U.S. Congress to back a dedicated visa category after hundreds of Korean professionals were swept up in a massive immigration raid at Hyundai’s Georgia battery plant.
Last week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained around 300 South Koreans alongside 150 other workers at the sprawling auto facility. Held for a week in a detention centre ringed by barbed wire, these specialists were released and boarded chartered flights home—unshackled but shaken by the experience.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun pressed the issue during meetings with U.S. senators in Washington, highlighting the ordeal and its threat to future investment. Only one Korean worker accepted President Donald Trump’s offer to stay and train American staff, delaying the charter flight by a day.
The raid has sent shockwaves through Seoul’s business community, with Hyundai CEO Jose Munoz warning of a 2–3 month delay to the plant’s startup. Many Korean firms have long relied on short-term work visas to deploy experts at high-tech U.S. sites, operating in a “grey zone” after previous administrations eased enforcement.
In response, Washington and Seoul agreed to explore a new visa framework tailored for Korean specialists. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick summed up the challenge: “Get the right visa and if youre having problems getting the right visa, call me.”
As the two allies race to finalize a trade deal and bolster cross-border investment, crafting a clear, specialist visa could be the bridge that turns a flashpoint into an opportunity for deeper collaboration.
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South Korea asks U.S. to support new visa as arrested workers fly home
cgtn.com
