US Detains Hundreds of South Koreans in Immigration Raid at Hyundai Plant Site
U.S. immigration authorities have detained hundreds of workers, including a large number of South Korean nationals, during a sweeping raid at the Hyundai–LG Energy Solution battery plant construction site in Georgia.
The raid, carried out on Thursday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with support from federal and state agencies, targeted alleged unlawful employment practices at the $4.3 billion facility near Savannah.
Officials said more than 450 workers were taken into custody, though some reports placed the figure as high as 560. South Korean nationals accounted for a significant portion of those detained, with Seoul’s Foreign Ministry estimating more than 300 of its citizens were involved.
The large-scale enforcement action has temporarily halted construction on the site, though Hyundai confirmed that electric vehicle production at its nearby plant remains unaffected. Both Hyundai and LG Energy Solution said they are cooperating with U.S. authorities while working with South Korean officials to secure the release of employees.
In Seoul, the Foreign Ministry expressed “deep concern and regret,” urging Washington to ensure that the rights of South Korean nationals and companies are not “unfairly infringed” during the investigation. Diplomatic staff from the South Korean Embassy and Consulate in Atlanta have been dispatched to assist those detained.
The raid comes as Hyundai and other South Korean firms expand heavily in the U.S., with Hyundai alone pledging $26 billion as part of a broader $350 billion South Korean investment package in American manufacturing and technology. Analysts warn the enforcement action could complicate business ties and unsettle investor confidence at a time when both countries are deepening economic cooperation.
For now, construction at the high-profile battery plant intended to supply Hyundai’s growing electric vehicle lineup remains paused pending further review of the case.
