The major immigration raid at a Hyundai facility in the state of Georgia last week has made South Korean corporations “very hesitant” about investing in the United States, according to President Lee Jae Myung. After being held in custody for more than a day, more than 300 South Koreans who were detained during the raid are finally being allowed to travel home on Friday.
Lee stated that the White House had given them an order that delayed their departure. A South Korean foreign ministry official said that President Donald Trump ordered the delay to determine whether the workers were willing to stay in the US to continue working and teaching Americans.
Speaking at a press conference to commemorate the first 100 days of his administration, Lee stated that “the situation is extremely bewildering,” adding that it is typical for Korean companies to send people to assist in the establishment of factories abroad.
If this is not more allowed, creating production facilities in the US will only become more expensive… making companies wonder whether it’s worth doing at all,” he concluded. Regarding South Korean worker visa alternatives, Seoul is talking with Washington “whether that means securing [higher] quotas or creating new visa categories,” according to Lee.
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