(FOLKSTONE, Georgia = Yonhap News) Correspondent Lee Yu-mi = The South Korean government announced on the 8th (local time) that it has completed interviews with South Koreans held at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Folkston, Georgia, and is beginning the process of obtaining consent for their departure.

Consul General Jo Gi-jung of Washington met with reporters after visiting the Folkston detention facility this morning and said,"I saw everyone I wanted to see. I could say I saw everyone in groups."

Consul General Cho said,"It is not the right time to talk about the number of people who wish to voluntarily leave the country and those who wish to remain in the country," adding,"I will tell you at an appropriate time later."

Regarding whether to obtain consent for departure, he said,"We will begin the process soon."

Consul General Cho said there was "nothing I can say at this time" about whether the chartered plane to pick up the detained staff had departed from South Korea or arrived in the United States.

Embassy officials plan to conduct further interviews with the detainees later today and begin procedures related to obtaining consent for their departure.

On the 4th, U.S. immigration authorities conducted an immigration raid at the construction site of a joint battery plant between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution in Ellerbel, Georgia, arresting and detaining 475 people, including about 300 Koreans.

These approximately 300 Koreans have been detained for five days at the Folkestone Detention Facility and the Stewart Detention Facility (female staff). The South Korean government has been negotiating with the United States to repatriate them voluntarily, rather than through deportation.

It is expected that a chartered plane carrying employees who wish to voluntarily leave the country will depart as early as the 10th, but the timing is said to be somewhat fluid.

Consul General Cho said,"We are doing our best to ensure a swift departure" regarding whether the chartered plane will be able to depart on the 10th.