Over 300 South Korean Hyundai Workers Deported; Protesters Hold Anti-Trump Signs at Airport | WPN World People News

On September 4, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided a South Korean Hyundai electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia, citing violations of immigration laws. A total of 475 individuals were arrested on-site, including more than 300 South Korean workers. After over a week, more than 300 of the detained South Korean workers were deported on September 12 via a chartered flight. The incident has not only shocked South Korean society but also cast a shadow over South Korea–U.S. relations.

The Korean Air Boeing 747-8I carrying 316 deported South Korean workers and 14 other foreign employees took off from Atlanta, Georgia, and landed at Incheon International Airport in South Korea on the afternoon of the 12th local time.

At Incheon Airport’s arrivals area, the scene was crowded with anxious family members awaiting the return of their loved ones. Protesters also gathered, holding posters depicting former President Donald Trump wearing an ICE uniform, armed and carrying bags of money. Others held signs with slogans such as, "You asked us to invest, but you arrested us!" The demonstrations briefly prompted police intervention.

To protect the privacy of the returning workers, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised the media to blur photos and videos. Security at the airport was tight, and deported workers used a separate exit from other passengers. Many of the South Korean workers, dressed in plain clothes and wearing masks, were visibly emotional and tearful as they reunited with family and friends.

South Korea’s largest labor union, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), has demanded an apology from Trump and called on the South Korean government to suspend its investment plans in the U.S. The union stated that the arrests and detentions by the Trump administration were a clear violation of human rights.

Kang Hoon-sik, Chief Presidential Secretary, personally went to the airport to receive the returning workers, emphasizing that President Lee Jae-myung considers the matter a top priority. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will discuss the establishment of a joint task force with the U.S. State Department to address visa-related issues and explore measures to ensure that South Korean employees working in business and investment roles in the U.S. can quickly obtain the necessary visas.