South Korean workers detained in Georgia return home after international backlash

In a significant incident that has drawn attention in South Korea, more than 300 South Korean workers were detained during an immigration raid at a battery factory under construction near Savannah, Georgia, on September 4, 2025. The workers were part of a larger group of approximately 475 individuals caught in the raid, which was executed by U.S. immigration authorities. Following their detention, video footage revealed some workers shackled, causing public outrage in South Korea and prompting discussions about the treatment of foreign workers in the U.S. After days of negotiations between South Korean officials and the Trump administration, a resolution was reached that allowed for the workers’ release. Although U.S. immigration authorities claimed that many of the detainees were unauthorized to work in the United States, South Korean representatives disputed this assertion. The incident raised questions about the legal working status of foreign laborers and highlighted the complexities surrounding immigration policies in the U.S. The workers were flown back to South Korea on a chartered Boeing 747-8i from Korean Air, landing at Incheon International Airport amidst emotional reunions with their families. The impact of the incident reverberated throughout South Korea, leaving many individuals and families traumatized by the experience. Some family members expressed deep concern over the treatment of their loved ones, calling the shackling