More than 300 South Korean workers were arrested when American immigration officials raided the joint battery factory of Hyundai and LG Energy Solutions under construction in Georgia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul confirmed. According to Foreign Minister Cho Hyun in an emergency meeting held in Seoul, more than 300 of the 475 people arrested are South Korean citizens.

According to US Department of Homeland Security Special Agent Steven Rshank, the raid was conducted on Thursday at a joint Hyundai-LG factory in the city of Alabel to investigate "serious federal felony and illegal employment allegations". "This is not a normal immigration raid," Rshank added, "this is the result of a months-long criminal investigation." All those arrested have been taken into deportation proceedings through the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

'We are very concerned about this incident and feel a sense of serious responsibility . If necessary, I am ready to go to Washington to negotiate," Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said at a press conference. Earlier, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lee Jae-Wong urged the US not to unfairly harm the economic activities of its investors and the legitimate rights of its citizens during US legal proceedings.

According to the two raided companies on Saturday, 47 employees of the company were arrested, including 46 South Koreans and one Indonesian citizen. About 250 people were employed by third-party contractors, most of whom were South Koreans, the company said. Hyundai Motor Company has clarified that they are not directly involved in the construction of the factory by saying that they have not employed any person arrested in direct contact.