US authorities carry out mass arrests at Hyundai, causing concern in South Korea
In a surprising turn of events, a joint operation by the FBI and ICE led to the arrest of around 475 foreign nationals at a battery plant in Georgia. The majority of those arrested were Korean, causing a wave of concern and regret from the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The raid, which took place at a construction site, is not confirmed to be related to the operations of Hyundai Motor Company. However, the facility where the arrests occurred is a battery factory that is part of a $7.6 billion project to build an electric vehicle battery plant near Savannah, Georgia. The factory is a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and the South Korean energy company LG Energy Solution.
Hyundai Motor Company has denied any direct employment of the arrested individuals and assures compliance with laws and regulations. The company where the raid took place is not explicitly identified as a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company, but it is a facility that produces battery cells.
The ongoing investigations aim to prevent illegal employment and exploitation of workers. No further information was provided about the nature of the investigations, but it is known that the arrests were due to allegations of being in the U.S. illegally or working without proper permission.
The arrests have not been confirmed to be related to Hyundai Motor Company's operations, and the Ministry emphasized that economic activities and the rights of South Korean citizens should not be unfairly violated. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed their concerns and regrets to the U.S. Embassy, and the arrests have led to diplomatic tensions between South Korea and the U.S.
The U.S. authorities conducted the raid, but no connection between the arrests and Hyundai Motor Company's operations has been confirmed at this time. The exact numbers of Koreans arrested were not provided by the investigator from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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