In a swift diplomatic move, South Korea is gearing up to repatriate about 300 of its citizens detained last week during an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia, U.S., officials said. Negotiations on their release have concluded, and both governments are finalizing administrative steps.
The presidential office confirmed that once processing is complete, a charter plane will depart the U.S. with the workers on board. Details on the timeline and logistics remain under wraps pending clearance by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Amid this repatriation effort, South Korea's chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik announced plans to overhaul the visa system for Korean workers in the U.S. "We aim to prevent similar incidents in the future," he said, highlighting an ongoing concern over overstays and illegal crossings.
The incident comes as Washington and Seoul negotiate the finer points of a July trade deal, and follow U.S. President Donald Trump's pledge to expand workplace immigration enforcement. Trump has urged foreign investors to "respect our nation's immigration laws" while maintaining that bilateral relations with South Korea remain strong.
Major Korean firms are already adjusting. LG Energy Solution has paused most business travel to the U.S., recalling staff and reviewing safety protocols for overseas assignments.
Looking ahead, the U.S. may host President Trump's visit to Seoul in October for the APEC Leaders' Meeting, a high-profile chance to reaffirm ties and discuss shared economic challenges.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
