South Korea is looking to shake things up in U.S. immigration policy! After hundreds of Korean specialists were arrested at a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia, Seoul is now asking the U.S. Congress to back a brand-new visa category just for Korean businesses. 🤝🇰🇷
Last week, around 300 South Korean workers—and 150 others—were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a massive raid at Hyundai’s sprawling auto plant under construction. After a week behind bars and some tense moments, they were finally released and flew home to cheers and relief.
U.S. President Donald Trump even offered to let them stay in the States to train American workers, but only one opted in. This one-off offer delayed their charter flight by 24 hours—enough time for a few more memes and news cycles to pop off. 😂
Footage showed the workers boarding buses outside a barbed-wire detention center at 2 a.m., but unlike other deportees, they weren’t shackled—meeting Seoul’s demand to avoid humiliating scenes. 🙏
This raid sent shockwaves through South Korea, putting a chill on talks about a new trade deal and scaring off future investment. Hyundai’s CEO, Jose Munoz, warned the battery plant could face a 2–3 month startup delay due to lost momentum.
In response, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with U.S. senators in Washington. The goal? Push for a visa category that clears up confusion and avoids future detentions. Even U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick joked he’s happy to hand out 'right visas' if companies just ask. 📜✅
For years, Korean companies needed quick visas for high-tech experts—but the rules have been fuzzy. Now, both Seoul and Washington seem ready to tidy things up and keep the gears of global investment turning. 🌐💡
Stay tuned as this story develops—will Congress green-light the new visa? Let’s see if diplomacy, popcorn, and policy can mix for a smoother future! 🍿✨
Reference(s):
South Korea asks U.S. to support new visa as arrested workers fly home
cgtn.com
