South Korean Foreign Minister heads to us for the return of workers

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korean foreign minister departs for the US on Monday to confirm hundreds of return measures Korean workers have been detained The massive immigrant raid in Georgia is a sight that caused confusion, shock and betrayal among many in the country who sympathized with the United States.

The attack on September 4th In Battery Factory Under construction at the vast Hyundai car factory, 475 workers have been detained and more than 300 Koreans have been detained. In some videos released by US immigrants and customs enforcement, they were shown to be tied up by chains, ankles and hips around their hands.

South Korea announced on Sunday that the US agreed to release them and that it would take them home on a charter flight once the final control measures are complete.

President Donald Trump said the workers were “illegally here.” Instead, the US must make arrangements with countries like South Korea to train professionals to train US citizens to do things like batteries and computer manufacturing.

Homeland Security Secretary Christa Noem told reporters in London that Trump sent a “strong” message to investors and their employees.

“His message he sent to the world was, “Listen, our laws are in effect and we are encouraging all businesses that want to come to the US and help our economy and hire people.”

Korean politicians have been shaken

Appearing at a legislative hearing before he left, Foreign Minister Jo Hyun called it a “very serious issue” that he had never expected, and many lawmakers lamented the American operation.

“If US authorities detain hundreds of Koreans in this way like military operations, will Korean companies investing in the US continue to invest properly in the future?” said Jeongsik, a liberal governing Democrat.

Another lawmaker, Kim Ji Ha-ion of the conservative opposition People’s Rights Party, said the “unacceptable” attack dealt with a “severe blow that is difficult to heal” on South Korea.

Some lawmakers have called for the government to retaliate by investigating Americans who are allegedly working illegally in South Korea.

Seoul has expressed regret over the attack, but experts say it probably won’t take any major immeasurable measures, given the country’s stuff Security dependent In the US, there is a possibility of deterrence north korea The areas of attacks and other cooperation are areas of cooperation between the two countries, including business connections.

Many Koreans are unsure

The Trump administration has made a series of workplace raids to meet it Large deportation agendahowever, this was the largest and single site of the Homeland Security Agency, and it targeted Georgia, a symbol of bilateral cooperation run by many large Korean companies and planning future investments.

What’s particularly surprising is that the attack came weeks after South Korea promised to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into US investment as part of a tariff deal, and days after Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Mun held them. First Summit Meeting In Washington on August 25th.

“The way Trump is putting pressure on the South Korean government and causing harm to the people is very rough and one-sided,” said Kim Tae-wao, former chief of the Korea Unification Institute in Seoul. “Is this easily forgotten in Korea? From a long-term perspective, it would not be good for the US national interest either.”

In an editorial on Monday, Chosun Ilbo, South Korea’s biggest newspaper, said, “Fundamental doubts emerge. What does the US mean by ‘alliance’?

Paik Wooyeal, a professor at Seoul Summary University, said the US goal of restoring manufacturing through foreign investment is conflicting with a lack of visas and immigration systems that can support such efforts.

South Korean companies operating in the US are likely to suffer “major confusion” as they are forced to bring workers home to resolve visa issues, he said. Such developments would undermine US interests, but Trump would not make any concessions any time soon, Pike predicted.

Koreans are questioning the visa system

Stephen Schrank, a lead Georgia agent in the Homeland Security Investigation, said Friday that some of the detained workers illegally crossed the US border, while others legally entered the country, but they either validated their visas or entered the visa exemption that barred them from working.

However, South Korean officials and experts expressed their dissatisfaction with the strict restrictions on visas for highly skilled foreign workers to protect domestic workers and the inaction in Seoul to expand work visas for skilled Korean citizens. As a result, Korean companies rely on short-term visitor visas or electronic systems for travel permits to send workers needed to launch manufacturing facilities or handle other setup tasks.

“This case could avoid a shortage of skilled workers with legal work permits, and could hinder costs by increasing labor costs, disrupting operations across major U.S. business projects and preventing costs from rising,” Eugene’s investments and securities said in a report Monday.

Meanwhile, Daishin Securities predicts that RAID is expected to start production early next year and may delay operations at targeted battery plants that could affect Hyundai’s EV business in the US.

During a legislative hearing on Monday, Foreign Minister Cho told lawmakers that the US has “not responded appropriately” to South Korea’s demands to expand workers’ visas, and that Seoul plans to use the attack as an opportunity to advance related negotiations.

Cho said some of the people detained in Georgia may need to return to the scene to complete their work at the factory, and South Korean officials are negotiating so they can re-enter the US.

“I would clearly point out that delays in completion (of the factory) causes significant losses to the US,” Cho said.

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The contribution was made by Associated Press Writer Jill Lawless in London.