Seoul holds emergency meeting after citizens detained in US Hyundai raid

September 6, 2025

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a major raid at a Hyundai-LG battery facility in Georgia, detaining 475 people—primarily South Korean nationals—for allegedly working illegally in the United States. The South Korean government responded by establishing an Overseas Korean Protection Task Force and dispatching diplomats to the site, while LG Energy Solution announced it was suspending most business trips to the U.S. and sending its Chief Human Resources Officer to Georgia. President Trump defended the operation, stating ICE was "just doing its job" enforcing immigration laws against unauthorized workers, while South Korean officials expressed concern about protecting their citizens' rights and the economic activities of Korean companies.

Who is affected

475 detained individuals, mostly South Korean nationals
LG Energy Solution employees (47 detained)
Contractor workers at the joint venture factory (approximately 250 detained)
South Korean companies investing in U.S. manufacturing
Families of the detained workers
The Hyundai-LG battery facility in Georgia
The state of Georgia's economic development project

What action is being taken

South Korea's government has held an emergency meeting about the arrests
South Korea has dispatched diplomats to the site in Georgia
South Korea has established an Overseas Korean Protection Task Force
LG Energy Solution is sending its Chief Human Resources Officer to Georgia
LG is suspending most business trips to the U.S. and directing employees on assignment to return home
LG is working to secure medications for detainees through an emergency contact network
U.S. authorities are holding the arrested workers at an ICE facility in Folkston, Georgia

Why it matters

The raid impacts one of the largest foreign investment projects in Georgia
South Korea has pledged tens of billions of dollars in American manufacturing investment
The incident occurs during sensitive trade talks between the U.S. and South Korea
The battery factory was touted as the biggest economic development project in Georgia's history
The raid could potentially have a "chilling effect" on South Korean business activities in the U.S.
The incident affects a close U.S. ally and its economic investments
The enforcement action reflects tensions between encouraging foreign investment and strict immigration enforcement

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC