By |Seo-jun| South korea| September 11, 2025
In a significant development aimed at easing tensions between two key allies, South Korea and the United States have agreed to discuss the creation of a new visa category to facilitate the entry of skilled South Korean workers into the U.S. This announcement comes in the wake of a controversial immigration raid at a Hyundai Motor Group facility in Georgia, where 475 workers, including approximately 300 South Koreans, were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on September 4, 2025. The raid, dubbed “Operation Low Voltage,” was the largest single-site enforcement action in the history of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), sparking diplomatic concerns and prompting high-level talks between the two nations.
Read more-CHARLIE KIRK EXPOSES
Read more-NEPAL POLITICS IS IN DANGER
Looking for a good blog-RECITAL BLOG
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on September 10, 2025, in Washington, D.C., expressed optimism about resolving the diplomatic fallout. According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, Cho received assurances from Rubio that the detained South Korean workers, who are set to return home on a chartered flight on September 11, 2025, will not face penalties or disadvantages if they seek to re-enter the United States. This commitment is seen as a critical step in maintaining strong economic ties, especially as South Korean companies like Hyundai and LG Energy Solution have pledged billions in investments to bolster U.S. manufacturing.
The raid targeted a $7.6 billion electric vehicle (EV) battery plant under construction in Ellabell, Georgia, a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution. The facility, part of Hyundai’s broader $12.6 billion investment in Georgia, is a cornerstone of the state’s economic development, hailed by Governor Brian Kemp as the largest in Georgia’s history. The plant, which employs around 1,200 people and began producing EVs in September 2024, relies heavily on skilled workers, many of whom are South Korean technicians and engineers brought in to install specialized equipment and train local staff.
The detentions, which included workers on B-1 business visas or under the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) visa waiver program, have raised questions about the U.S. visa system’s ability to accommodate the needs of foreign companies investing in American industry. According to immigration attorney Charles Kuck, who represents several detained workers, many were in the U.S. legally under visa waivers that permit short-term business activities, such as attending meetings or providing technical guidance. Kuck emphasized that these workers, often highly skilled engineers, were performing tasks critical to the plant’s operations—tasks that require specialized expertise not readily available in the U.S. workforce.
South Korean officials and businesses have long voiced concerns about the restrictive nature of U.S. visa policies, which limit the ability of companies to bring in skilled workers for short-term projects. The raid, part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown, has amplified these concerns, with some South Korean media outlets warning that it could deter future investments. The operation, which involved over 400 federal and state agents, was justified by DHS as a necessary measure to address unlawful employment practices and protect American jobs. However, critics, including South Korean officials and U.S. immigration advocates, argue that the raid unfairly targeted workers contributing to a major economic project.
Foreign Minister Cho, speaking before his departure for Washington, described the detentions as a “grave situation” and conveyed the “hurt and shock” felt by South Koreans. He noted that many of the detained workers were in the U.S. to transfer technology and expertise, aligning with the Trump administration’s push to revive American manufacturing. In response, South Korea has taken swift action, dispatching diplomats to Georgia and securing an agreement for the workers’ release. The chartered flight, set to depart on September 11, 2025, will transport the workers from an ICE detention facility in Folkston, Georgia, without the use of handcuffs—a gesture Cho highlighted as a sign of respect for the workers’ dignity.
The proposed new visa category could address the systemic issues exposed by the raid. South Korean officials have pointed to special visa programs for countries like Chile, Australia, and Singapore, which allow skilled workers to take on specialized roles in the U.S. Such a program could streamline the process for South Korean companies, ensuring they can deploy necessary personnel without fear of immigration violations. Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, emphasized that Seoul will push for reforms to the U.S. visa system to prevent similar incidents, particularly as South Korea deepens its economic commitments to the U.S.
The raid has also sparked domestic criticism in the U.S., with some Georgia lawmakers and labor advocates arguing that it undermines the state’s economic interests. State Representative Sam Park called the operation a “politically motivated attack” on workers contributing to Georgia’s clean energy future. Meanwhile, local labor unions have claimed that Hyundai and its subcontractors relied on foreign workers for tasks that could have been performed by Americans, highlighting tensions over job opportunities in the region.
The incident comes at a delicate moment in U.S.-South Korea relations, following a July 2025 trade deal in which South Korea pledged $350 billion in U.S. investments, including $26 billion from Hyundai. The agreement, coupled with an additional $150 billion commitment announced by President Lee during a recent White House visit, underscores the deepening economic partnership between the two nations. However, the raid has raised concerns about the consistency of U.S. policies, as the Trump administration encourages foreign investment while simultaneously tightening immigration enforcement.
As the detained workers prepare to return home, both nations are working to prevent the incident from derailing their alliance. The discussions around a new visa category signal a willingness to address the underlying issues, but the path forward remains uncertain. For now, the focus is on ensuring the safe return of the workers and mitigating the diplomatic and economic fallout from the raid. The outcome of these talks could set a precedent for how the U.S. balances its immigration policies with its economic goals, particularly as it seeks to attract foreign investment in critical industries like clean energy.