Seoul Holds Emergency Meeting After Dozens of Citizens Detained in U.S. Hyundai Raid

South Korea convened an urgent emergency meeting in Seoul after U.S. immigration authorities detained hundreds of individuals, including over 300 South Korean nationals, during a massive raid at a Hyundai-LG battery factory construction site in Georgia. The operation, which took place on Thursday, arrested approximately 475 workers, marking the largest single-site enforcement action in U.S. Homeland Security Investigations' history and a significant diplomatic flashpoint for the allies.

At the emergency meeting, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun expressed deep concern and admitted a “heavy sense of responsibility” for the safety of the detentions. He announced the formation of a dedicated government response team and said he may travel to Washington if needed to resolve the situation. President Lee Jae Myung ordered “all-out efforts” to aid detained citizens and stressed that the economic activities of South Korean companies investing in the U.S. must not be unfairly compromised.

The detained individuals were primarily subcontractor workers not directly employed by Hyundai or LG Energy Solution and included employees visiting from Seoul on business. Immigration officials said many were either working illegally, overstaying visas, or violating visa terms. Video footage circulated by U.S. authorities showed some workers shackled at the wrists, waist, and ankles before being escorted onto buses.

In response to the raid, Hyundai declared its commitment to legal compliance and launched an internal audit of its contractors. LG Energy Solution suspended non-essential U.S. travel and asked its employees to return or remain at home.

The incident has added strain to already delicate U.S.–South Korea relations, especially as the two countries negotiate a trade deal involving around $350 billion in South Korean investment in the U.S. While the U.S. administration continued to defend its immigration enforcement stance emphasizing that foreign workers must have valid authorization, South Korean officials have demanded fair treatment for detained nationals and reassured that diplomatic channels remain open to resolve the crisis swiftly.

Sources: Reuters, AP News, Financial Times, Al Jazeera, Washington Post