"Need for Institutional Measures to Prevent Recurrence"
Lee Yongwoo, Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated that while he finds the recent actions by US immigration authorities, which resulted in the arrest of over 300 Koreans, difficult to understand, there is a need to discuss visa policies to prevent a recurrence.
Appearing on KBS1 Radio's "Jeonggyeok Sisa" on September 8, Deputy Floor Leader Lee commented on the arrest of Koreans at the construction site of the joint battery factory between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution in Georgia, saying, "Our workers were not staying illegally; they were involved in the construction of the factory in response to demands for attracting investment and generating profits for the United States. I was shocked by the way the US responded."
He added, "I believe these were excessive actions not from the perspective of our diplomacy, but from the US side. It seems that our citizens were sacrificed to project a strong image to the conservative base, which makes these measures all the more difficult to understand."
US immigration enforcement authorities released a video on their website on the 4th (local time) showing a crackdown on illegal residency and employment at the construction site of the joint battery factory between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution in Georgia. Photo by EPA Yonhap News
Regarding the government’s response to this incident, he said, "Officials from the Consulate General were dispatched quickly to the site, and in Korea, the Presidential Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are overseeing the situation. As negotiations for their release are wrapping up, I believe that once the administrative procedures are completed, our citizens will be able to return home safely on a chartered flight."
On the potential impact on future tariff negotiations, he remarked, "I do not foresee any further fallout from this incident, but there is a need to establish institutional measures to prevent recurrence." He continued, "From the US perspective, Korea is a major investor, with significant investments already underway. In this process, it is difficult to quickly secure key personnel locally, so Korea's skilled and core workforce must provide support. However, these issues are becoming problematic due to visa-related matters." He emphasized, "If the US wants to actively attract investment, it must establish visa policies that can accommodate workforce supply and demand."
On September 4 (local time), US immigration authorities raided the construction site of the joint battery factory between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution near Ellabell, close to Savannah, Georgia, arresting and detaining 475 people, including over 300 Koreans, on charges of illegal residency and employment. The detained Koreans are currently being held at various Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in Georgia, including the Folkston facility. Cho Kijoong, Consul General in Washington, who is overseeing consular support for the detained Koreans, stated on the afternoon of September 7 that "we are considering Wednesday (the 10th)" as the likely date for their return to Korea.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
