Hotels and Restaurants See Sharp Drop in Visitors
The "Hyundai Boom" Disappears
"No Korean would want to come here."
On October 14 (local time), the owner of a Korean restaurant near the Hyundai Motor plant in Pooler City told Georgia public broadcaster WABE and The Current, "Not only were Koreans arrested, but others who were alarmed by the immigration crackdown have also returned to Korea," sharing the current situation in Georgia following the so-called "Korean Detention Incident." The restaurant's sales dropped by 18% last month.
Local media have highlighted that the regional economy in Georgia, where a large-scale detention of Koreans by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently occurred, is facing difficulties. In particular, the impact has been significant in the Savannah area, where the Hyundai Motor plant is located.
In fact, another Korean restaurant owner said, "Previously, 20 to 30 Koreans would gather for company dinners every day, but after the crackdown, having even five customers is considered a lot," adding, "Now, food ingredients are spoiling and have to be thrown away."
The Asian food wholesale store "Viet Huong" opened a large grocery store across from the Hyundai Motor plant just a year ago and enjoyed a boom in business. Now, the number of customers continues to decline. Local residents show no interest in Korean groceries, and the store is unable to purchase new products as inventory keeps piling up.
Hotels are also struggling. Chip Johnson, CEO of Atlanta-based investment firm Turnstone Group, invested in a hotel near Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Bryan County, Georgia, expecting Hyundai workers to consistently stay at the only accommodation near the plant. However, since the hotel opened in July, only one Hyundai worker has stayed there.
Amid these challenges, the Hyundai Motor plant held a public recruitment event on the Savannah Technical College campus on September 30, after the detention incident. About 350 job seekers from across Georgia attended the event with their resumes and participated in interviews.
Daisia Mosley, who visited the job fair, had worked for four years at a gun factory across from the Hyundai plant and was laid off last month. Mosley said, "I don't mind commuting for an hour if I can find a well-paying job." Cody Bennington, a truck driver, said, "I applied because I want a stable job."
Bruce Hall, a 62-year-old retired veteran holding his resume, said, "This open recruitment event is a sign that Hyundai intends to contribute to the local community with a long-term perspective," adding, "I hope this will be an opportunity to be part of the community, not just about the money."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
