ED Hard-won lesson from Hyundai factory raid
A Korean worker, who had been detained in the U.S. after being arrested while working in the Hyundai Motor-LG Energy Solution factory in Georgia, is reunited with family members at Incheon International Airport on Friday. Yonhap
President Lee should urge Washington to streamline work visa process
U.S. President Donald Trump has shown a subtle yet clear shift in rhetoric following a large-scale immigration raid on Sept. 4 (local time), in which 475 workers — including more than 300 Koreans — were arrested and detained while working at a Hyundai Motor-LG Energy Solution battery plant under construction in Georgia.
Initially, Trump downplayed the incident, referring to the detainees as “illegal aliens” and stating that Department of Homeland Security officials were simply “doing their job.” However, amid growing backlash in both Korea and the United States, Trump softened his stance, stating that he would “look at the whole situation.”
On Sunday (local time), Trump expressed hope that foreign experts could continue to work in the U.S. to transfer their skills to American workers.
"When Foreign Companies who are building extremely complex products, machines, and various other 'things,' come into the United States with massive Investments, I want them to bring their people of expertise for a period of time to teach and train our people how to make these very unique and complex products, as they phase out of our Country, and back into their land,” Trump posted on his social media site Truth Social.
It remains unclear whether this message was a direct response to the repatriation of hundreds of Korean workers, many of whom had entered the U.S. under tourist visas through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization program. However, one thing is becoming evident: The incident has likely deepened Trump’s understanding of the essential role skilled foreign labor plays in reviving U.S. manufacturing.
The repatriated Korean workers are highly skilled specialists — currently irreplaceable in the U.S. — who were dispatched to help construct the battery plant. Their absence has raised serious concerns about delays in completing the facility, and exposed a major gap in U.S. workforce capabilities.
Trump’s evolving view should now translate into concrete policy. His remarks should ignite a productive debate on the need for a specialized short-term work visa that allows skilled Korean workers, particularly those employed by companies making significant investments in the U.S., to legally work and train American employees.
President Lee Jae Myung should play a crucial role in advancing the interests of the Korean people. He should urge Washington to streamline the work visa issuance process for Korean nationals. As president, Lee stated that he is responsible for the safety and well-being of the Korean public. Now is the time for him to act on those words by engaging in proactive summit diplomacy to ensure better protection and opportunities for Korean citizens abroad.
The arrests and repatriation of the Korean workers were an unfortunate and avoidable episode that must not be repeated. All three parties involved — the U.S. and Korean governments, and the Korean companies — have suffered from the fallout of what many see as an excessive enforcement action.
The incident has further strained already tense Seoul-Washington relations. In Korea, public sentiment toward the U.S. has deteriorated sharply. Many Koreans were outraged at the treatment of the detained workers, who were seen as vital to a major economic project, yet were paraded in shackles — hands, waists and ankles bound — as if they were dangerous criminals.
Since the workers’ return to Korea last week, more disturbing accounts have surfaced about their time in the U.S. detention center. One detainee described being forced to eat near a toilet and drink foul-smelling tap water. Others recounted being crammed into cells with as many as 70 people, unable to sleep properly. Some of the arrested workers had valid work visas, which has further fueled anger and confusion.
Construction of the Georgia battery plant has now been suspended, with Hyundai and LG Energy Solution caught in the middle of the diplomatic fallout. Other Korean companies with major U.S. investments are reportedly on edge, fearing similar immigration enforcement actions.
The U.S. also risks significant consequences. During a news conference last week to mark his first 100 days in office, Lee warned that aggressive immigration crackdowns could jeopardize future Korean investment in the U.S.
Within the U.S., the raid has sparked heated debate over the Trump administration’s policy priorities. Some experts argue that immigration authorities overstepped its bounds, noting that the practice of sending specialized workers from home countries to help build overseas factories is a longstanding norm. Ben Armstrong, executive director of the Industrial Performance Center at MIT, told Associated Press that he was "baffled" by the raid. “The existence of these workers shouldn’t have been a surprise,” he said.
Media outlets in the U.S. have highlighted the tension between Trump’s drive to revive U.S. manufacturing and his administration’s hardline immigration enforcement. The Hyundai-LG factory raid stands as a stark example of these conflicting goals.
A streamlined process for issuing short-term work visas to skilled Korean professionals is now the only realistic solution to prevent a repeat of this damaging episode. Such a system would provide legal certainty for foreign workers, reassure Korean investors and ultimately help the U.S. achieve its goal of rebuilding its manufacturing base.