South Korea’s president and foreign minister ordered an urgent response after U.S. immigration authorities detained hundreds of workers, including more than 300 South Korean nationals, in a raid at a Hyundai Motor battery plant in Georgia.
President Lee Jae Myung directed "all-out efforts" to assist the detained citizens following the Thursday operation, and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Seoul has formed a response team and that he may travel to Washington to meet U.S. officials if necessary. "I am deeply concerned. I feel heavy responsibility for the arrests of our citizens," Cho said at an emergency government meeting on Saturday.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released video showing Asian workers shackled at the wrists, waist and ankles being loaded onto buses after the operation, which ICE said involved helicopters and armored vehicles. South Korean officials said the more than 300 nationals were among roughly 475 people detained in the raid at the facility in southern Georgia.
The arrests have the potential to strain relations between Seoul and the administration of former President Donald Trump, which has been negotiating details of a trade and investment deal that includes $350 billion of South Korean investment in the United States. South Korea is a major investor and security partner in the region, and officials in Seoul warned the detentions require a swift and transparent response.
Seoul has not publicly detailed the nationality breakdown of the detained workers beyond confirming more than 300 South Korean nationals were affected. The Foreign Ministry said its response team will provide legal and consular assistance and coordinate with U.S. authorities to confirm the condition and location of detainees.
Hyundai Motor and U.S. officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. ICE’s released footage and agency statements described a coordinated enforcement action but did not specify charges against the detained workers or the basis for ICE’s operation at the plant.
The raid reignites long-standing concerns in South Korea about the welfare of its nationals working abroad and the need for stronger protections and information-sharing between governments. Seoul’s immediate priorities, as outlined by Cho and other officials at the emergency meeting, include locating detained citizens, securing legal representation and ensuring humane treatment while their cases are resolved.
Analysts say the incident could complicate ongoing trade and investment talks between Washington and Seoul, particularly if public pressure in South Korea mounts over the handling of its nationals. The South Korean government has been navigating sensitive diplomacy between protecting its citizens and maintaining strategic ties with the United States.
Seoul’s response team will monitor developments and provide periodic updates, the Foreign Ministry said. Cho indicated that if coordination through diplomatic channels is insufficient, he would consider traveling to the United States to raise the matter directly with Washington officials.
The U.S. operation drew attention for its scale and the visible use of tactical resources. South Korean officials and rights groups will likely press for clarity about the legal grounds for detention and the timeline for any immigration or criminal proceedings. Seoul also faces domestic pressure to ensure rapid consular access and to assist families of detained workers.
South Korea’s government said it would keep families informed and urged detained citizens to seek consular assistance. The diplomatic developments will be closely watched in both countries as officials manage the immediate humanitarian and legal needs while assessing any longer-term political or economic implications.