Charter Flight for Detained Koreans Scheduled to Depart at Noon on the 11th Local Time in the U.S.

On September 10, it was reported that a charter flight carrying over 300 Koreans, who had been detained by U.S. immigration authorities at the construction site of the Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution joint battery plant in Georgia, is scheduled to depart for Korea at noon on the 11th (local time).

According to sources, the detainees are expected to leave the detention facility between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. on the 11th, then travel to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia. Upon arrival at the airport, they plan to board the waiting charter flight and depart for Korea around noon.

Charter flight returning detained Korean in the U.S. arriving at Atlanta Airport. Photo by Yonhap News

These individuals were detained on September 4 during an immigration enforcement operation targeting illegal stay and employment at the Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution joint battery plant construction site in Georgia. They were originally scheduled to return to Korea on a charter flight as voluntary departures on that day, but the departure was delayed due to circumstances on the U.S. side.

The Associated Press reported that, as of now, the charter flight's departure from Atlanta International Airport has been canceled.