South Korean workers detained in the US arrive at home

More than 300 South Koreans who have been detained at a large -scale immigration raid at a Hyundai factory in the US state Georgia have come home.

Their return comes when the country’s president and CEO of Hyundai warned about the impact of the attack.

The Korean Air Airplane, carrying workers and 14 Neshorians, who were also detained in the attack, took off from Atlanta at lunch local time on Thursday (5:00 pm). It is reported that a South Korean citizen has chosen to stay in the United States to seek a permanent residence.

The incident shook connections between the US and South Korea, whose companies invest billions in the United States – investment president Donald Trump insisted on securing.

The departure of workers has delayed more than a day because of the White House instructions, South Korea President Lee Gi Mun said Thursday on Thursday.

Trump has paused to check that workers are ready to stay in the United States to continue working and train Americans, according to a South Korea Foreign Ministry.

The workers looked happy but tired as they were carried through Incheon International Airport and passed on buses to reunite with their families.

“I’m back, I’m free,” one of them shouted.

A large group of journalists had gathered at the airport Before the arrival of workers on Friday.

There were also several people who protested against the attack. One of them raised a flag showing Trump in an immigration agent uniform, with the inscription: “We are friends! Right?”

Another flag of the protester read: “Public outrage at the detention of 300 Koreans, chained and treated as big criminals! Why will we continue investments in the United States after such delays?”

The return workers demanded confidentiality, South Korea Foreign Ministry said earlier on Friday, advising the media to blur any photos and videos so that they were not identified.

Security was tight at the airport, with employees directing other travelers to gates that are not used by workers.

Last week, US officials detained 475 people – More than 300 of them South Korean citizens – who have been said to work illegally in the Hyundai battery, one of the largest projects for foreign investment in Georgia.

The workers were handcuffed and chains to be detained, provoking outrage in their homeland.

Companies would be “Very hesitant” to invest in the US After the attack, South Korea President said on Thursday.

“The situation is extremely confusing,” Lee added, noting that it is common practice for Korean companies to send workers to help create factories abroad.

“If this is no longer allowed, the creation of manufacturing facilities in the US will only become more difficult … It will make companies question whether it is worth doing at all,” he added.

On Friday, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said he had called on the US Congress to support a new visa for Korean companies.

During meetings with US senators in Washington this week, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun repeated fears among South Koreans about arrests, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Hyundai CEO Jose Munos said The raid will slow down the factory opening At least two months as the company has to find new workers to complete the work.

Munyos told us the media that the attack would create “at least two to three months delay (when the factory is opened), because now all these people want to come back.”

The LG Energy Solution, which manages the plant with Hyundai, said many of its arrested employees had different types of visas or were under a visa waiver program.

A A factory worker speaks with BBC about panic and confusion during the attack. The employee stated that the bigger majority of the detained workers are a mechanics installing production lines on the site and are hired by a contractor.

South Korea, a close ally of the United States in Asia, has promised to invest tens of billions of dollars in America, partly to compensate for tariffs.

The media in the country described the attack as a “shock”, with the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper warning that it could have a “freezing effect on the activities of our business in the United States”.

The Yonhap news agency publishes an edition on Thursday, calling on the two countries to “cooperate to repair cracks in their union.”

The time of the attack, as the two governments are involved in sensitive trade conversations, has caused concern in Seoul.

The White House defended the operation at the Hyundai plant, rejecting fears that the attack could deter foreign investment.

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump referred to an attack on social media publication and called on foreign companies to hire Americans.

The US government would make “fast and legal possible” foreign companies to put workers in the country if they obey its immigration laws, Trump said.