South Korea Urges U.S. to Revise Visa System After Immigration Raid

Mon Oct 20 2025 23:51:35 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Following a recent immigration raid at a Georgia battery factory that detained over 300 South Korean workers, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung calls for improvements to the U.S. visa system to encourage future investments from Korean companies in America.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed concerns over U.S. immigration policies during a press conference marking his first 100 days in office. The recent detainment of over 300 South Korean workers during an immigration raid in Georgia ignited outrage back home. Lee highlighted the need for a more accommodating U.S. visa system to facilitate Korean companies' investments and ensure the presence of skilled workers for urgent tasks in American factories. U.S. and South Korean officials are set to work together on reforming the visa approach.

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday expressed that South Korean companies may be hesitant to increase their investments in the United States unless the U.S. government makes significant improvements to its visa system for skilled laborers.

This statement came in light of the U.S. immigration raid on September 4, which resulted in the detainment of over 300 South Korean workers from a Hyundai battery factory site in Georgia. The workers have since been released and are being flown back to South Korea.

At a press conference marking his first 100 days in office, President Lee emphasized the importance of a revised visa system to maintain and encourage direct investments by Korean companies in the U.S.

Lee noted that the sudden detention of the workers created a palpable sense of betrayal among South Koreans, especially after a prior summit with U.S. President Donald Trump that appeared to warm relations between both countries.

The raid has resulted in renewed discussions on the need for a more flexible visa system that can support Korean companies in staffing their new operations in America. Some lawmakers in South Korea have condemned the actions taken by U.S. authorities, describing the detentions as heavy-handed and akin to a 'rabbit hunt'.

Lee pointed out that there is a cultural disparity in handling immigration issues, stating that what may be acceptable for Americans visiting South Korea on tourist visas is viewed very differently by U.S. immigration authorities.

He stated, It's not like these are long-term workers. When you build a factory or install equipment, you need technicians. The United States doesn't have that workforce yet won't issue visas for our skilled laborers. This needs to change or our companies will find it difficult to compete.\

In response to these issues, U.S. officials and their South Korean counterparts have agreed to set up a working group that will seek to establish a new visa category that could help facilitate the movement of South Korean workers to the U.S. for industrial and manufacturing purposes.

Experts indicate that if these visa issues remain unresolved, it will not only hinder South Korean investments and operations in the U.S. but could also have a negative impact on the American economy, as Korean companies contribute significantly to industrial projects across the nation.