South Korea Urges U.S. to Improve Visa System Amid Worker Detentions

Sat Oct 18 2025 09:09:41 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In light of recent detentions of South Korean workers, President Lee Jae Myung emphasizes the need for an improved U.S. visa system to foster investment and employment.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned that Korean firms may hesitate to invest further in the U.S. unless improvements are made to the visa system for their employees. This call for change comes after a U.S. immigration raid detained over 300 South Korean workers at a Hyundai battery factory, which sparked outrage in South Korea. Following negotiations, both countries agreed to discuss the establishment of a new visa category to better facilitate skilled Korean workers in the U.S.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s president said Thursday that Korean companies will likely hesitate to make further investments in the United States unless Washington improves its visa system for their employees. This statement follows the release of hundreds of workers detained during an immigration raid at a Georgia factory last week.

During a news conference marking his first 100 days in office, President Lee Jae Myung called for improvements to the U.S. visa system, addressing the recent raid that led to the arrest of over 300 South Korean workers at a Hyundai battery factory under construction in Georgia.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that U.S. authorities released a total of 330 detainees, including 316 South Koreans, who were later transported to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport for a charter flight back to South Korea. The detainees included also several other nationals.

The massive raid and the aggressive manner in which U.S. authorities carried it out sparked widespread anger in South Korea, leading to criticisms across political lines. South Korean lawmakers described the detentions as excessive and unnecessary.

President Lee highlighted that the handling of this situation reflects a cultural difference in addressing immigration policies between South Korea and the U.S. He emphasized that South Korean firms rely on skilled technicians from Korea to oversee construction and installation of facilities in the U.S. but are stymied by the current visa restrictions.

Lee stated, 'It's not like these are long-term workers. When you build a factory, you need technicians, and yet they won’t issue visas to let our people stay and do the work.' He warned that without changes to the visa policy, South Korean investment in the U.S. may diminish, significantly impacting the cooperative economic relationship.

In discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, South Korea’s Foreign Minister stated that both nations would set up a working group aimed at addressing the visa issues that have been raising concerns among South Korean executives.

Experts argue that it is pivotal for the U.S. to resolve these visa issues, or face ramifications that could hamper further investment from South Korea, a key player in several U.S. industrial sectors.