The United States and South Korea have found themselves embroiled in a diplomatic spat following a US immigration raid on a Hyundai-LG battery plant in Georgia.
The raid, conducted by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, resulted in the detention of hundreds of workers, forcing construction on the factory to be suspended.
According to reports, the Hyundai-LG plant is part of the largest foreign investment in the state of Georgia, with South Korea pledging $350 billion in US investment to ease tariff threats from the Trump administration.
The South Korean government has expressed strong objections to the raid, demanding protection for its nationals and investors.
“The business activities of our investors and the rights of our nationals must not be unjustly infringed in the process of US law enforcement,”
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lee Jaewoong, said in a statement. Lee added that the ministry is taking active measures to address the case, dispatching diplomats from its embassy in Washington and consulate in Atlanta to the site.
The raid highlights the growing tensions between the US government’s efforts to attract foreign investment and its strict immigration policies under President Donald Trump. The Trump administration has bolstered ICE’s powers, allowing it to conduct raids and detain individuals suspected of violating immigration laws.
ICE figures show a rise in the detainment of non-criminals, despite Trump’s promise to deport “the worst of the worst” criminals. The agency has detained up to 450 people in total, with some 300 South Korean nationals among them, according to reports.
The incident has sparked concerns about the impact of Trump’s immigration policies on foreign investment in the US. As the US seeks to attract billions of dollars in foreign investment, incidents like the Hyundai plant raid may deter potential investors.
LG Energy Solution, a partner in the joint venture with Hyundai, has stated that it is “closely cooperating with the South Korean government and relevant authorities to ensure the safety of our employees and staff at contractors, and to secure their swift release from detention.” The company’s shares dropped 2.3% following the news.
The diplomatic tensions between the US and South Korea come at a time when the two countries are negotiating a trade deal that includes $350 billion in US investment. The incident may complicate these negotiations and strain relations between the two nations.