ED Short-term work visas for Koreans necessary

Last week’s raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a Hyundai Motor-LG Energy Solution battery plant west of Savannah, Georgia — which led to the detention of 475 workers, including more than 300 Korean nationals — has raised a key question: Would ICE have launched such a large-scale operation if Korea-U.S. relations were truly in good shape?

The likely answer is “No.” If bilateral ties were as strong as some officials in Seoul claim, such an aggressive crackdown might have been handled more diplomatically, perhaps resolved behind closed doors without triggering diplomatic friction.

The scale and style of the raid, complete with armed agents, military-style vehicles, surveillance drones and helicopters, shocked the Korean public, who are unfamiliar with this “U.S.-style” immigration enforcement. Photos and videos released by the Department of Homeland Security revealed the dramatic nature of the operation, which was said to be the largest single-site immigration raid in the Department of Homeland Security’s history.

The incident suggests that Korea-U.S. relations may have veered off course.

The detention of the Korean workers has escalated into a diplomatic spat. During a National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee meeting held Monday, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stated that the two countries had “roughly agreed” that the detained Koreans would be released soon and that they would not be barred from reentry into the U.S.

However, that assurance was quickly contradicted. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said the Korean nationals would be deported. “Many of those individuals detained through the operation in Georgia … we are following the law. They are going to be deported,” she was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. Once deported, it will be difficult for the affected Koreans to reenter the United States in the future.

The conflicting narratives between Seoul and Washington raise concerns. One thing is clear: The two sides are not working closely enough.

Korean Air is scheduled to send a charter plane to Georgia on Wednesday to bring the detained nationals home. But the return of these workers will not mark the end of this diplomatic rift.

Unless the long-standing issue of Koreans working in the U.S. on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization is addressed properly, similar incidents could happen again.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must intensify its diplomatic efforts to urge Washington to introduce a short-term work visa tailored for Korean workers. For over a decade, industry leaders have called on the government to resolve the visa issue, but little progress has been made. This diplomatic inaction is a root cause driving Koreans to work illegally in the U.S.

At the same time, Washington should respond constructively to Seoul’s calls to open talks on establishing a work visa framework. Both nations benefit from Korean corporate investment in the U.S. To sustain and grow this mutual interest, each side must do its part. Introducing a short-term work visa would be a crucial first step toward resolving this issue and strengthening the bilateral relationship.

In addition to resolving the immediate crisis, Seoul and Washington must also engage in dialogue about how to restore mutual trust. Improving bilateral relations is meaningless without a foundation of confidence.

Even before the ICE raid, there were clear signs that Korea-U.S. relations were under strain. In late July, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac flew to Washington amid growing concern in Seoul over the lack of communication regarding President Donald Trump’s anticipated tariff announcement, with the July 31 deadline fast approaching. Wi attempted, but failed, to secure a meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Marco Rubio, and returned home empty-handed.

Further speculation about the state of bilateral relations arose during President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Washington in August for a meeting with Trump. Unlike past visiting leaders, Lee was not invited to stay at the White House’s official guesthouse, Blair House, and instead had to go to a hotel. Hours before the scheduled summit, Trump posted an inflammatory message on Truth Social. “WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA? Seems like a Purge or Revolution. We can’t have that and do business there.”

The post caused alarm among the Korean delegation, though they were somewhat reassured when the public portion of the Lee-Trump meeting proceeded without major confrontation. However, little is known about what transpired behind closed doors.

Following the summit, stark differences emerged in how both sides interpreted Korea’s pledge to invest $350 billion in the U.S. In an interview with CNBC, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that the investment would be used to create a national and economic security fund for the U.S. government. In contrast, Seoul asserted that the funds were intended to support strategic industries, such as minerals, batteries and semiconductors, through private-sector investment and financing.

These discrepancies suggest that their meeting did not go as smoothly as publicly portrayed.

Soon after the summit, the ICE raid on the battery plant happened, a sign that many now see as further evidence of the deteriorating state of Korea-U.S. relations.