South Korea Moves to Curb Anti-China Protests as Seoul Seeks to Mend Ties with Beijing

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Source:Park Chan-kyong, SCMP

A sweeping U.S. immigration enforcement operation at a Hyundai-LG joint venture plant in Georgia has triggered diplomatic tensions with South Korea, where officials are demanding better protections for their citizens and clearer visa arrangements.

On September 4, federal agents detained nearly 475 workers at an electric vehicle battery plant under construction in Bryan County, Georgia. Among them were more than 300 South Koreans, many of whom are alleged to have been working without valid immigration documentation or on expired visas. The operation has been described by U.S. authorities as one of the largest work-site raids in recent history, aimed at enforcing immigration laws in sectors with rising enforcement activity.

The detentions provoked strong reactions in Seoul, including public outrage over reports that some workers were shackled during transit, handcuffed, or restrained with plastic ties. One issue of contention was whether the detained workers should be physically restrained while being moved, and whether their departure from the U.S. would be handled as voluntary or mandatory. The South Korean government objected to what it saw as degrading treatment and called for assurances that its citizens be treated fairly and humanely.

Negotiations between South Korean and U.S. officials moved quickly in the aftermath. The U.S. offered the detained workers the option to stay rather than be expelled. South Korea insisted on protections for its nationals, and eventually, most of them over three hundred agreed to return under a chartered flight once administrative procedures were handled. Only a very small number chose to remain in the U.S., citing family or other personal ties.

President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea publicly criticized the U.S. visa system, warning that foreign investors may become more reluctant to build factories in America if there is risk of such enforcement actions. He emphasized that many foreign companies employ specialist technical workers from abroad for short periods to install or maintain complex equipment, and that visa uncertainties make planning difficult. The raid, he said, could deter future investment and undermine trust between the two allied countries.

From the U.S. side, the Trump administration defended the raid as a necessary enforcement of immigration laws, noting that violations included working without authorization and overstaying visas. At the same time, U.S. leaders expressed interest in ensuring that foreign talent could legally contribute to U.S. manufacturing projects, especially in high-tech sectors such as batteries and electric vehicles. There were signals of willingness to calibrate enforcement with the needs of industry, including discussions about improved visa options.

Corporate leaders also expressed concern about the impact. The plant’s startup is expected to be delayed, in part because of the disruptions caused by the detentions, administrative complications, and potential reputational damage. Hyundai and LG, both heavily invested in the U.S. through this project, faced pressure to respond to worker welfare concerns, compliance with immigration laws, and the diplomatic fallout.

As both governments assess the aftermath, several issues remain unresolved: how to balance enforcement with attracting skilled foreign labor; how to overhaul or clarify the U.S. visa regime to prevent similar incidents; and how to rebuild trust so that foreign companies feel secure investing in large industrial projects in the United States. The Georgia raid has become a flashpoint for broader debates about immigration policy, economic competitiveness, and the treatment of foreign workers in the U.S.