South Korea has convened an emergency meeting after nearly 500 of its citizens were detained in a large-scale immigration raid at a Hyundai–LG Energy Solution battery plant in Georgia, U.S.
American officials said 475 workers—mostly South Korean nationals—were found working illegally at the facility, which is one of the biggest foreign investment projects in the state. Video released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) showed detained workers, some in yellow vests marked “Hyundai” and “LG CNS,” being shackled outside the plant.
President Donald Trump defended the crackdown, stating that ICE “was just doing its job,” while Homeland Security officials framed the raid as necessary to “protect American jobs.”
The move has stirred diplomatic tension as Seoul pledged tens of billions of dollars in U.S. manufacturing investments to ease trade disputes. South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun expressed a “great sense of responsibility” and said a government task force had been formed to assist the detained citizens. Diplomats were dispatched to Georgia, and the minister said he may travel to Washington if necessary.
LG Energy Solution confirmed that 47 of its employees, along with around 250 contractor staff, were arrested. The company is suspending most U.S. business trips and ordering its staff abroad to return home. It also said it is arranging medical support for detainees and has sent senior executives to Georgia to oversee the response.
South Korean media described the raid as a “shock,” warning it could have a chilling effect on future business operations in the U.S. The factory—hailed by Georgia’s governor as the state’s largest-ever economic project—employs about 1,200 people and is central to America’s electric vehicle production plans.
The detainees are being held at an ICE facility in Folkston, Georgia, pending relocation decisions.
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