South Korea is dispatching its top diplomat to Washington this week as the government scrambles to contain tensions following a large-scale U.S. immigration raid that detained hundreds of South Korean workers at a factory in Georgia.
Foreign Affairs Minister Cho Hyun was scheduled to depart Monday evening for the United States, as officials in Seoul moved swiftly to arrange the repatriation of approximately 300 Koreans detained during last Thursday’s raid on the Hyundai-LG joint factory in southern Georgia. Negotiations with U.S. authorities have secured a chartered flight, confirmed by Korean Air, to return the workers home as early as Wednesday. The airline’s Boeing 747, capable of carrying 368 passengers, will depart Incheon International Airport bound for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The raid, one of the largest by U.S. immigration enforcement in recent years, captured public attention in South Korea after images circulated showing shackled workers being led into detention. The timing has intensified scrutiny, coinciding with a period of massive bilateral investment: just last month, South Korean corporations including Korean Air and Hyundai announced multibillion-dollar projects in the United States following a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and President Donald Trump.
The Georgia plant, set to begin operations next year, represents a major investment for the state and is projected to employ up to 8,500 people at full capacity. Yet the raid has stirred domestic criticism, with questions emerging over the treatment of South Korean nationals and the potential diplomatic fallout for Seoul.
Read Also:Thailand’s Ex-PM Thaksin Ordered To Serve Jail Sentence
Opposition figures have been vocal. Song Eon-seog, spokesperson for the conservative People Power Party, described the incident as “an unprecedented diplomatic disaster,” asserting that the United States was expressing its dissatisfaction with South Korea “in the strongest possible way.” Kim Jae-yeon, leader of the Progressive Party, called the raid “a breach of trust” and demanded an apology from the U.S., along with guarantees to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The government has not clarified Minister Cho’s exact role in the process, but officials indicated his visit aims to contain public discontent and reassure both South Korean workers and the broader business community.
As the issue continues to dominate headlines across South Korea, officials are navigating the delicate balance of protecting their citizens abroad while preserving a strategic partnership with Washington—an alliance central to South Korea’s economic and security interests.