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| ▲ Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik (3rd from R) speaks during a high-level meeting between the ruling Democratic Party and the government at the prime minister's residence in central Seoul on Sept. 7, 2025. (Yonhap) |
(LEAD) presidential office-US immigration raid
(LEAD) Talks with U.S. concluded for release of detained S. Korean workers in Georgia
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout; RECASTS headline; CHANGES photo)
By Chae Yun-hwan
SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Yonhap) -- A senior official at South Korea's presidential office said Sunday that negotiations for the release of South Korean workers detained by a recent U.S. immigration raid in Georgia have concluded, adding that a chartered plane would head for the United States if administration procedures are completed.
Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik made the announcement after hundreds of South Koreans were taken into custody during the raid Thursday on a battery plant construction site operated by South Korean companies in Bryan County.
"There are still administrative procedures left," Kang said during a senior-level meeting between the ruling Democratic Party and the government. "Once the procedures are complete, the chartered plane will depart to bring our citizens."
Kang also vowed to push for improvements to the visa system for South Korean nationals traveling to the U.S. for work to prevent similar incidents.
More than 300 South Korean nationals out of 457 people have been taken into custody during the raid on the site operated by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said those arrested were found to be working illegally in the U.S., including those on short-term or recreational visas that prohibit them from working.
U.S. officials cast the raid as "the largest single site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations."
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