Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung has sent letters of consolation to South Korean workers released after a weeklong detention in an immigration sweep in the U.S. state of Georgia, pledging efforts to ensure stable business operations in the future, according to the presidential office Monday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, in early September, over 300 Korean workers were arrested and detained at a joint car battery plant operated by Hyundai and LG in Bryan County. This action was part of a U.S. investigation into unlawful workplace practices. The workers returned home a week later after negotiations between Seoul and Washington secured their release. The incident caused significant public outrage in South Korea, as the detentions were perceived as unjust, with video footage showing the workers being shackled and handcuffed.
In response to the incident, South Korea and the United States have initiated a working group to discuss visa reforms aimed at improving the entry process for South Korean businesspeople into the U.S. and ensuring the smooth operation of South Korean companies on American soil.
In his letter, Lee expressed his empathy for the workers, acknowledging the fear and loneliness they must have felt while detained in a foreign country. He noted that the "sudden news" of their detention had kept him awake, thinking of the "injustice and fear" experienced by the workers.
Lee extended his gratitude to the workers for their resilience and to their families for enduring the anxious wait for their release. He also emphasized the importance of the government's role in protecting the rights of South Korean citizens internationally, promising to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The president assured the workers that the government would collaborate with U.S. authorities to ensure that they will not face disadvantages in future entries into the United States.