US detained 300 South Koreans, repatriated ahead of Trump’s visit to Seoul

By Anjali Sharma

WASHINGTON – According to media reports on Monday over 300 South Korean nationals detained during a large-scale immigration raid at a Hyundai manufacturing plant in Georgia are set to be repatriated, ahead of US President Donald Trump’s planned visit to South Korea in October to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

The officials have confirmed that the detainees will return to South Korea on a chartered flight arranged by the government.

Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff to President Lee Jae Myung, announced that Seoul and Washington have finalized an agreement for the workers’ release.

He stated that the South Korean government will dispatch a charter plane to bring them home as soon as the necessary administrative procedures are completed.

Kang also emphasized that authorities are working to reform the visa system to prevent similar incidents in the future.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is scheduled to depart for the United States on Monday to engage in high-level discussions related to the case.

US immigration officials reported that 475 individuals, most of them South Korean nationals, were detained during the raid, which involved hundreds of federal agents targeting Hyundai’s massive EV manufacturing complex in Georgia.

The focus of the operation was a plant currently under construction, where Hyundai is partnering with LG Energy Solution to produce electric vehicle batteries.

Trump’s advisors are preparing for the President’s visit to Seoul in October to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit of trade ministers, where a potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is under consideration.

US administration officials said that discussions are ongoing regarding a possible bilateral meeting between Trump and Xi on the sidelines of the summit, although no concrete plans have been finalized.

The APEC gathering is scheduled to take place in the South Korean city of Gyeongju between late October and early November.

It is a significant opportunity for Trump to engage in diplomacy with key regional leaders.

President Xi invited President Trump and the First Lady to visit China, an invitation Trump has reciprocated, though no dates have been confirmed.

According to officials, the Trump administration views the APEC summit as a strategic platform to secure further economic investments in the US.

Trump’s recent international engagements, including visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates were more focused on economic cooperation .

Other key issues on the agenda include trade, defense cooperation, and civil nuclear development.

Sources familiar with recent talks revealed that President Lee Jae Myung personally invited Trump to attend the APEC summit during their meeting last week.

Lee suggested the summit could also provide a potential setting for renewed dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump has shown his willingness to meet Kim as well.

“I will do that, and we’ll have talks. He’d like to meet with me,” Trump said. “We look forward to meeting with him, and we’ll make relations better.”

Trump’s anticipated visit to South Korea came after a series of diplomatic meetings in the region. Chinese President Xi hosted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Beijing during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.