South Korean Firms Hesitate US Investment After Georgia ICE Raid

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed concern that a recent large-scale U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid on South Korean workers at a Hyundai-LG battery plant in Georgia could deter Korean companies from investing in the United States. The raid, which detained over 300 South Korean workers, has caused confusion and raised doubts about the feasibility of direct operations in the U.S., as companies rely on bringing skilled technicians from Korea to set up factories and train local workers. Lee criticized the raid as "bewildering" and linked it to cultural misunderstandings, while emphasizing ongoing talks with the U.S. to improve visa regulations, including the possibility of new visa categories or increased quotas for investment-related workers. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has engaged with U.S. officials to resolve the diplomatic tension, highlighting that detained workers were contributing to the U.S. manufacturing sector. Despite the White House defending the raid and President Donald Trump calling for foreign companies to hire Americans, Seoul remains wary of the impact on future investments. The detained workers were scheduled to be released and flown back to South Korea after intervention from the White House, which reversed earlier procedural decisions such as requiring handcuffs during transport.