South Korea is dispatching a chartered flight to Atlanta to retrieve workers detained in a massive U.S. immigration raid last week. The move follows the arrest of nearly 300 South Koreans at a $4.3 billion Hyundai-LG electric car battery plant in Georgia. 🇺🇸⚡
Diplomatic Tensions Rise
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called the situation a "heavy responsibility" and vowed to negotiate with Washington for a resolution aligned with their alliance. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is already in the U.S. to discuss re-entry permits for affected workers. Talks also include creating a special work visa for Korean professionals. 💼🤝
Public Backlash & Visa Questions
A Realmeter poll revealed 60% of South Koreans viewed the raid as excessive, while 30% deemed it unavoidable. Lawmakers suspect some workers may have overstayed 90-day visa waivers or B-1 business visas. U.S. officials defended the operation, stating: "Those who exploit our workforce… will be held accountable." 🔍📉
The raid—the largest single-site enforcement in U.S. Homeland Security history—has strained relations amid ongoing trade deal negotiations. A Korean Air Boeing 747-8i will depart Incheon this week to bring detainees home. ✈️🌏
