South Korea is sending a chartered Boeing 747-8i with 368 seats from Incheon to Atlanta as early as Wednesday to repatriate around 300 workers detained during a massive US immigration raid at the $4.3B Hyundai-LG battery plant. ✈️⚡
President Lee Jae Myung, speaking at a cabinet meeting, emphasized negotiations with Washington to find a fair solution based on their long-standing alliance. He admitted feeling a "heavy responsibility" for the nationals caught up in the sweep. 🇰🇷🤝🇺🇸
During the raid in Georgia, US authorities arrested roughly 300 South Koreans and 175 others. The operation, run by the Department of Homeland Security, was the largest single-site enforcement ever and aimed to crack down on alleged visa violations. 📜🔍
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is in Washington to secure guarantees that returning workers can re-enter the US if needed. Talks also cover the possibility of a special permit for Korean professionals to work legally under US rules, including visa-waiver and B-1 visitor visas. 💼🛂
Reactions back home are mixed: a recent poll shows nearly 60% of South Koreans saw the raid as excessive, while 30% thought it was unavoidable. With both nations keen to finalize a trade deal agreed in July, resolving this diplomatically is key. 🤔📊
As negotiations continue, everyone's watching – from Hyundai and LG to young professionals planning careers abroad. Stay tuned for updates on how Seoul and Washington will smooth things over and ensure the safe return and future mobility of Korean talent. 🌏✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
