(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Ji-heon = The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret over the U.S. authorities' crackdown on Korean companies' factories and the large-scale detention of Koreans, saying that the rights of our citizens should not be unfairly violated.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Lee Jae-woong held an emergency briefing on the 5th and said,"During the course of U.S. law enforcement, the economic activities of our investment companies and the rights and interests of our citizens should not be unfairly infringed upon."
The spokesperson stated that the government is actively responding to this incident by dispatching the Consul General of the Korean Embassy in the United States and the Consul General of the Korean Consulate General in Atlanta to the scene and instructing the formation of an on-site response team centered around the local embassy.
He continued,"We also conveyed our concerns and regrets through the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and asked them to take special care to ensure that our citizens' legitimate rights are not violated."
While it is unusual for a government to publicly express regret over U.S. policy, it appears they cannot stand by and watch as large numbers of South Koreans are detained, and have taken action.
It was discovered that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted a large-scale crackdown on illegal immigrants at the construction site of the Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution joint battery plant (HL-GA Battery Company) located in Savannah, Georgia on the 4th (local time).
It is reported that about 450 people were arrested during this process, including about 300 Koreans.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said,"We are currently communicating with the relevant companies to determine the details and facts," and added,"This was carried out in accordance with U.S. procedures, and we were not notified in advance. We learned of the incident through the embassy."
The government plans to focus on identifying the reasons why the arrested individuals were designated as illegal immigrants and the U.S.' legal judgment based on information such as U.S. visas held by the arrested individuals, in cooperation with companies and centered around the field response team.
The government reportedly held an emergency briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs level as President Lee Jae-myung took interest in the matter and instructed a response.
