A recent U.S. immigration raid at a Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution EV battery plant construction site in Georgia, which resulted in the detention of about 300 Korean workers, has highlighted the risks Korean companies face as they expand in the United States. The South Korean government confirmed that negotiations for the workers’ release have concluded, though administrative steps remain. In the meantime, LG has dispatched a top executive to oversee the response and suspended most employee travel to the U.S., while Hyundai has formed an emergency task force, urged staff to delay nonessential trips, and begun stricter visa checks for subcontractors. The incident has unsettled other Korean firms such as SK On, Samsung SDI, and Hanwha Ocean, which are now reassessing their own visa practices. Many companies have been using short-term entry under the U.S. visa waiver program (ESTA) despite its ban on employment — a workaround that immigration experts warn carries legal risks. At the heart of the issue lies a structural mismatch: U.S. policy prioritizes domestic hiring, but Korean companies often need to bring in specialized workers from Korea during the early phases of plant construction and technology transfer, where local expertise is limited. The raid exposes a major vulnerability in Korea’s overseas expansion strategy. While the U.S. continues to welcome large-scale foreign investment, tighter enforcement of immigration rules could hinder operations unless Korean firms adapt with more robust workforce and visa planning. (ICE SEOUL)

Fonte notizia: KOREA JOONGANG DAILY