Hundreds of South Korean workers were detained during a major US immigration raid at a Hyundai-LG battery plant under construction in Georgia, prompting Seoul to urge Washington to respect the rights of its citizens.
On Thursday, September 4, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out the raid on the battery plant, a joint venture between carmaker Hyundai and tech giant LG, detaining numerous foreign nationals. South Korean foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong confirmed that “multiple Korean nationals were detained,” while sources familiar with the matter told AFP that around 300 South Koreans were taken into custody.
Lee added, “For South Korea, the economic activities of our investors and the legitimate rights and interests of our nationals must not be unjustly infringed in the course of US law enforcement.” Seoul has dispatched diplomatic staff to the site and set up a task force to address the situation. The government has also conveyed “our concern and regret” to the US Embassy in Seoul.
The Atlanta office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said on social media that roughly 450 “unlawful aliens” were detained during the enforcement action. Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia, said the raid was “an investigation into unlawful employment practices.” He added, “We are making many arrests of undocumented individuals. We have encountered many lawful employees working here, United States citizens and lawful permanent residents, and they are of course being released.”
South Korea is a key investor in the United States, with Hyundai and LG investing billions to expand manufacturing, including a $5.8 billion steel plant in Louisiana and new auto and robotics facilities, projected to create around 25,000 jobs over the next four years.
Hyundai Motor Group declined to comment on the raid, while LG Energy Solution said it is “closely monitoring the situation and gathering all relevant details.” The company added, “Our top priority is always ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees and partners. We will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities.”
The incident comes amid continued US enforcement against undocumented migrants. In July, South Korea pledged $350 billion in US investment to ease tariff pressures and boost economic ties with the United States.
