U.S. immigration authorities detained 475 individuals during a crackdown at the Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution factory in Georgia, and it has been confirmed that more than 300 of them are Korean nationals.
Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is entering the Joint Countermeasure Meeting of the Overseas Koreans Protection Headquarters and Diplomatic Missions held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 6th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
At the Joint Countermeasure Meeting of the Overseas Koreans Protection Headquarters and Diplomatic Missions held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 6th, Minister Cho Hyun stated, "We are deeply concerned and feel a grave sense of responsibility for the arrest of our citizens."
Minister Cho explained that, considering the seriousness of the matter, he established the Overseas Koreans Protection Headquarters with himself as the head. He added that the headquarters and overseas diplomatic missions convened the meeting to swiftly share updates and review countermeasures.
Minister Cho particularly emphasized that President Lee Jaemyung, immediately after the incident became known, stressed that "the rights and interests of our citizens and the economic activities of Korean-invested companies should not be unjustly infringed upon during the U.S. law enforcement process." He further conveyed that "the President directly instructed the Embassy in the United States and the Consulate General in Atlanta to make every possible effort to resolve the issue swiftly."
In response, Kim Jina, the Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, conveyed concerns and regrets to Joseph Yun, the Acting U.S. Ambassador to Korea, the previous day, and requested special attention to ensure that the legitimate rights and interests of Korean nationals are not violated.
Minister Cho stated, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs intends to respond comprehensively while maintaining close communication with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and business organizations." He also urged the Embassy in the United States and the Consulate General in Atlanta to continue communicating with local authorities to ensure prompt consular assistance. He added, "We are also considering dispatching a high-level official from the Ministry headquarters to the site as soon as possible, and if necessary, I will personally visit Washington to consult with the U.S. administration."
He continued, "Through this meeting, we aim to share and review the detailed information gathered so far, and to examine how we can properly provide consular assistance and what measures should be taken going forward."
The meeting was urgently convened in response to the incident in which U.S. authorities conducted a crackdown on undocumented immigrants at the construction site of a Korean company’s local factory, detaining 475 people including Korean nationals. Key officials such as First Vice Minister Park Yunju, Second Vice Minister Kim Jina, and representatives from the Embassy in the United States attended the meeting.
On the 4th (local time), U.S. immigration authorities carried out a large-scale crackdown on undocumented immigrants at the construction site of the Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution joint battery factory (HL-GA Battery Company) in Savannah, Georgia, detaining and imprisoning 475 people, including approximately 300 Koreans.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted a large-scale raid on illegal immigrants at the construction site of the Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution joint battery factory located in Savannah, Georgia, on the 4th (local time). Yonhap News Agency
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