Firms will hesitate to put money into US after raid – South Korea president | EUROtoday

South Korean corporations might be “very hesitant” about investing within the US following a large immigration raid at a Hyundai plant within the state of Georgia final week, President Lee Jae-myung mentioned.

More than 300 South Koreans who had been arrested within the raid are on account of return dwelling on Friday, after their departure was delayed “due to circumstances on the US side”, officers mentioned.

“The situation is extremely bewildering,” mentioned Lee, noting that it is not uncommon follow for Korean companies to ship staff to assist arrange abroad factories.

“If that’s no longer allowed, establishing manufacturing facilities in the US will only become more difficult… making companies question whether it’s worth doing at all.”

Last week, US officers detained 475 individuals – greater than 300 of them South Korean nationals – who they mentioned had been working illegally on the battery facility, one of many largest overseas funding tasks within the state.

A employee on the plant spoke to the BBC concerning the panic and confusion in the course of the raid. The worker mentioned the overwhelming majority of the employees detained had been mechanics putting in manufacturing traces on the web site, and had been employed by a contractor.

South Korea, a detailed US ally in Asia, has pledged to take a position tens of billions of {dollars} in America, partly to offset tariffs.

The timing of the raid, as the 2 governments have interaction in delicate commerce talks, has raised concern in Seoul.

The White House has defended the operation on the Hyundai plant, dismissing issues that the raid may deter overseas funding.

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump referenced the raid in a social media put up and known as for overseas corporations to rent Americans.

The US authorities would make it “quickly and legally possible” for overseas companies to carry staff into the nation in the event that they revered its immigration legal guidelines, Trump mentioned.