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President Lee orders swift response after over 300 Koreans detained in U.S. raid

Published: 06 Sep. 2025, 17:43 Updated: 07 Sep. 2025, 13:14

SEO JI-EUN
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Foreign Minister Cho Hyun speaks at his ministry in central Seoul on Sept. 6 during a joint task force meeting after more than 300 Koreans were detained in a U.S. immigration raid at a Hyundai Motor-LG Energy Solution battery plant construction site in Georgia. [NEWS1]

President Lee Jae Myung instructed officials to take all-out measures to protect Korean nationals after a U.S. immigration raid at a Hyundai Motor–LG Energy Solution battery plant construction site in Georgia detained 475 people, including more than 300 South Koreans.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun confirmed the figure during an emergency task force meeting at the Government Complex Seoul on Saturday, saying he felt a “serious sense of responsibility” over the incident.

Cho added that the ministry may dispatch senior officials to the site and that he himself could travel to Washington if necessary.

“The rights of our citizens, as well as the business and economic activities of our investing companies, must not be unfairly infringed during the U.S. law enforcement process,” Cho quoted Lee as saying. The president also instructed the Korean Embassy in Washington and the Consulate General in Atlanta to mobilize all resources for a swift resolution.

Seoul has already lodged a formal protest.

Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jin-a conveyed concerns and regret to U.S. chargé d’affaires ad interim Joseph Yun in Seoul the previous day, urging Washington to ensure that the legitimate rights of Korean nationals are respected.

“The Foreign Ministry will continue to coordinate closely with the Industry Ministry, business associations and companies to deliver a comprehensive response,” Cho added.

The raid took place on Thursday at the Hyundai–LG joint venture HL-GA Battery Company site in Savannah, Georgia. U.S. authorities described it as part of a broad crackdown on undocumented workers.

Most of those detained were taken to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Folkston, Georgia.

U.S. President Donald Trump defended the operation, calling the detainees “illegal aliens” who “came through with Biden’s [administration],” adding that law enforcement authorities were “doing their job.”

BY SEO JI-EUN [[email protected]]