The South Korean government has announced an investigation into alleged human rights violations during a recent raid and detention of hundreds of its nationals by U.S. authorities.
Presidential spokespersons on Monday confirmed that Seoul had conveyed its “strong regret” to Washington and formally requested assurances that the rights and interests of its citizens would not be infringed during law enforcement actions.
More than 300 South Korean workers returned home on Friday after being held for a week following a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at an electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia. The incident has strained bilateral ties at a time when South Korean companies are investing billions of dollars in the U.S. to sidestep steep tariffs under trade agreements.
“We will work with the relevant companies to thoroughly investigate any potential human rights violations or other issues,” the presidential spokesperson told reporters at a press briefing. The BBC has contacted ICE for comment.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung warned that the raid could discourage foreign investment in the U.S., calling the situation “bewildering.” He noted it was standard practice for Korean firms to send staff abroad to help set up new factories.
Hyundai, which operates the plant, confirmed last week that its opening would be delayed by at least two months. Meanwhile, South Korean trade unions have demanded that U.S. President Donald Trump issue a formal apology.
The raid, carried out on September 4, saw around 475 people—mostly South Korean nationals—arrested in what has been described as the largest single-location immigration sweep since President Trump’s crackdown on undocumented workers earlier this year. ICE officials said many of the workers had overstayed their visas or lacked authorization to work in the U.S.
One worker who witnessed the operation told the BBC that the scene was filled with “panic and confusion” as federal agents stormed the facility, with “some people being led away in chains.”
President Trump, however, struck a conciliatory tone on Sunday, stressing that foreign professionals remain welcome in the U.S. “We welcome them, we welcome their employees, and we are willing to proudly say we will learn from them, and do even better than them at their own ‘game,’ sometime in the not too distant future,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump added that America must continue learning from international experts in industries such as shipbuilding, chipmaking, and computing, emphasizing he does not want to “frighten off” investors.
