Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, urged the government to swiftly resolve the situation after U.S. immigration authorities conducted a mass arrest, including Korean nationals, at the Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution joint battery plant in Georgia.
On September 6, Jang stated on social media, "Instead of being intoxicated by so-called '700 trillion won gift diplomacy,' the Lee Jaemyung administration must fulfill its responsibility to protect the basic national interests of ensuring the safety of Korean nationals and the rights and interests of businesspeople."
He pointed out, "It has been reported that about 300 of those arrested are Korean nationals, which is causing shock and concern to spread throughout the Korean community and among businesses. This is a very serious issue, as the damage could extend across the entire Korean community." He continued, "With even the U.S. ambassador to Korea post currently vacant, a gap in our diplomatic response has been exposed. What is needed now is to guarantee the safety of our detained citizens, provide prompt consular assistance, and address future employment and visa issues for companies through institutional measures."
He added, "Diplomatic authorities must immediately dispatch a rapid response team to strengthen protection measures for Korean nationals and directly assess the difficulties faced by local companies. If mass arrests of workers are repeated, it will inevitably become a national-level risk."
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