South Korea to Repatriate Workers Detained in U.S. Immigration Raid

South Korea is preparing to send a chartered plane to Atlanta this week to bring home nationals detained during a massive U.S. immigration raid at a car battery plant in Georgia. A Korean Air spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that a Boeing 747-8i with 368 seats will depart from Incheon for Atlanta as early as Wednesday.

The raid, carried out by U.S. Homeland Security, resulted in the arrest of 475 workers, including about 300 South Koreans. The site is a $4.3 billion joint project between Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution, aimed at building electric vehicle batteries. The large-scale enforcement marked the biggest single-site operation in Homeland Security’s investigative history and sparked concern in Seoul.

Following the arrests, South Korean officials began coordinating the workers’ return. A senior diplomat who met with the detainees in Georgia confirmed that the process of repatriation is underway. Meanwhile, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has traveled to Washington to hold talks with U.S. officials. He is expected to push for assurances that the detained workers will be granted re-entry to the United States once legal issues are resolved.

The unprecedented raid has strained ties at a sensitive moment, as South Korea and the United States work to finalize a trade agreement signed in July. Seoul’s swift response highlights the political and economic stakes involved, especially given the strategic importance of electric vehicle supply chains.

The incident has drawn widespread attention in South Korea, with many viewing it as a critical test of the country’s diplomatic influence and its partnership with Washington. The outcome of the negotiations will likely set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future.