United States immigration officials' detainment of South Korean workers at a Hyundai manufacturing facility in the U.S. raises significant concerns for Seoul.

In a significant development under President Donald Trump's anti-migrant drive, a raid on a Hyundai-LG battery plant in Georgia marked the largest single site operation to date. The operation, stemming from a probe into unlawful employment practices and serious federal crimes, resulted in the arrest of 475 individuals, with over 300 of them being South Korean nationals.

The personal U.S. government contact associated with the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding this matter is U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He met with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun at the White House to discuss the raid and its implications.

The plant, a crucial supplier of batteries for electric vehicles, employs a significant number of South Koreans. LG Energy Solution, one of the joint venture partners, reported that 47 of its employees were arrested, including 46 South Koreans and one Indonesian. Approximately 250 of those arrested were believed to be employed by LG Energy Solution's contractor, with most being South Koreans.

Hyundai, the other joint venture partner, stated that none of those detained were directly employed by the company. Some of those detained had crossed the US border illegally, while others had visas that prohibited them from working or had overstayed their work visas.

The arrested individuals have been turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for potential removal. The raid underscores Trump's commitment to protecting jobs for Georgians and Americans, ensuring a level playing field for businesses that comply with the law, safeguarding the integrity of the economy, and protecting workers from exploitation.

South Korean officials have expressed concern over the matter. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun expressed a heavy sense of responsibility, while First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo voiced regret over the crackdown and the release of footage showing the Korean workers' arrest. Park asked the State Department to actively work to ensure a fair and swift resolution to this matter.

It's worth noting that this raid was a multi-month criminal investigation, not an immigration operation. The investigation was initiated due to the alleged unlawful employment practices and serious federal crimes at the plant.

South Korea, Asia's fourth-biggest economy, is a key automaker and electronics producer with multiple plants in the United States. Its companies have invested billions of dollars to build factories in the United States to access the US market and avoid tariff threats. Trump has previously promised to revive the manufacturing sector in the United States and also vowed to deport millions of undocumented migrants.

In a recent development, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met Trump last month, and Seoul pledged $350 billion in US investment in July. However, this raid could potentially impact the future of South Korean investments in the United States. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has planned to go to Washington for talks if necessary.

United States immigration officials' detainment of South Korean workers at a Hyundai manufacturing facility in the U.S. raises significant concerns for Seoul.