[Trump 1st Anniversary②] "139 Days Since the 'Georgia Incident' Is No Reason to Withdraw U.S. Investment"

Anti-Immigration Stance Experienced by Koreans
Vulnerability of Korea-U.S. Alliance Revealed
November Midterm Elections Likely to Be a Watershed Moment

Jaecheon Kim, Chairman of the Southeast United States-Korea Chamber of Commerce (SEUSKCC).

"Now, if you are holding a Korean passport in Georgia, it seems that even the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be more cautious. I believe that companies that have started investing in the United States should be provided with an environment where they can restart their business and focus on it."

The 'large-scale detention of Koreans' incident that occurred in Georgia, United States, in September last year can be seen as a symbolic event in which our citizens directly experienced the anti-immigration stance during the first year of Donald Trump's second administration. It also exposed the vulnerability of the South Korea-U.S. alliance. Now, 139 days later, Jaecheon Kim, Chairman of the Southeast United States-Korea Chamber of Commerce (SEUSKCC), told The Asia Business Daily in a written interview on the 20th that he expects this to become an opportunity to turn crisis into opportunity.

'America First' Policy and the Aftermath of Trump

Chairman Kim said regarding the Georgia incident, "It was news that had a huge impact on all foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States and should never happen again," but also assessed, "It is safe to say that this matter is already behind us." He explained, "Currently, companies are in a situation where they need to start projects and seize opportunities in the United States, and unless there is a fundamental problem with business viability, it is rare for a company to withdraw or shut down operations just because such an incident occurred."

President Trump declared on January 20 last year, his inauguration day, that he would "make America wealthy" through anti-immigration policies, oil exploration, fostering manufacturing, and imposing tariffs. At the time, it was common in Korea for people to enter the United States using the ESTA travel visa for business purposes, but this practice conflicted with the Trump administration's strong anti-immigration stance, leading to what became known as the 'Georgia incident.' ICE raided the Hyundai Motor-LG Energy Solution joint battery plant in Georgia and arrested 450 people, including more than 300 employees and executives.

He assessed that there is limited room for the Korean government to intervene in the process of reforming the U.S. immigration law system. He pointed out, "To change U.S. immigration laws, it must go through the U.S. Congress, and in this process, it will have to be a change led primarily by Americans, including those of Korean descent."

Positive Outlook for Korea-U.S. Relations... Republicans Unlikely to Prevail in November

He maintained an optimistic view regarding the future of the Korea-U.S. alliance. He argued, "Regardless of political direction over the past year, the importance of the Korea-U.S. relationship has remained unshaken," and "More people in both countries now recognize the significance of this relationship in various fields such as diplomacy, labor, economy, and society."

However, regarding the recent Coupang incident, he noted, "I think it should be resolved quickly through negotiations so that it does not become a bigger issue." Coupang, an American company operating an e-commerce business in Korea, sparked controversy with a large-scale personal information leak, and U.S. House Representatives have protested that the actions taken by Korean regulatory authorities are an "unreasonable attack on an American company."

Regarding the outcome of the midterm elections in November, which will serve as a "midterm report card" for the second administration, he predicted that the "economy" will be the key factor determining public sentiment. According to U.S. media, President Trump's approval rating remains in the low 40% range in early-year polls, having dropped to the high 30% range last year.

He said, "Given the current approval ratings, it seems highly likely that the Republican Party will lose its majority in Congress," adding, "We have yet to see a 'bad economy,' but it is also difficult to say that the economy has improved significantly." He further pointed out, "The United States knows well that maintaining global leadership and economic superiority is important for the national interest and for the American people."