US President Donald Trump had offered hundreds of South Korean workers arrested during a Georgia immigration raid the opportunity to remain in the United States but nearly all opted to return home, South Korean officials said on Thursday.
As per news agency Reuters, only one worker decided to stay.
The president’s offer, reportedly aimed at encouraging the employees to train American workers, led to a one-day delay of a chartered flight initially scheduled to return the group to South Korea.
The flight is now expected to depart later on Thursday. Television footage showed the workers boarding buses at around 2 am (local time) from the barbed-wire fenced detention centre in Georgia, heading to Atlanta airport.
Unlike standard deportations, the detainees were not handcuffed, meeting a key demand from Seoul, as per Reuters.
Last week, around 300 South Koreans were detained at a $4.3 billion battery factory under construction by Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution, alongside more than 150 other foreign workers.
The operation, which involved armoured vehicles and shackles, drew widespread criticism in South Korea for its perceived heavy-handedness.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, speaking at a press conference marking his first 100 days in office, warned that the raid could deter South Korean investment in the United States. “Our businesses that have entered the United States are likely in a state of serious confusion,” he said.
Lee stressed that improving the US visa system for skilled workers is essential, noting that without it, companies may hesitate to send employees for future projects.
Some lawmakers in Seoul acknowledged that a few workers may have overstayed or misused short-term visas, but South Korean companies have long relied on a grey area in visa rules to send specialists to US plants, a practice generally tolerated by previous administrations.
In response to the incident, Washington and Seoul have agreed to discuss a new visa category for Korean workers, South Korean foreign minister Cho Hyun said. The aim is to ensure that detained workers can return to the US if needed.
The raid also involved a smaller number of Japanese, Chinese and Indonesian nationals.
China’s foreign ministry said its embassy was assisting its citizens and urged US authorities to “enforce laws impartially and ensure the legitimate rights and interests of the involved Chinese citizens.”
Japan confirmed three of its nationals were affected and is taking steps to protect them, as per news agency AP.
Some South Korean employees at other LG Energy Solution sites in the US have already left due to visa concerns, while the company has asked subcontractors to hire local staff as a contingency.
Experts warn that unless the visa system is addressed, South Korean industrial investment in the US could slow, potentially affecting American economic activity.
President Lee also noted a cultural difference in immigration enforcement. “In South Korea, we see foreigners coming on short-term visas to provide technical or educational services—it’s accepted,” he said. “But the US strictly enforces work and immigration rules, and our workers happened to be caught in one of those enforcement actions.”
Following talks with US secretary of state Marco Rubio, Cho confirmed that a joint working group will be established to explore a visa category for Korean workers, aiming to prevent similar disruptions in the future.