South Korean president urges U.S. to improve visa system for Korean workers

In early September 2025, South Korea's president Lee made a significant statement regarding the country's investment in the United States during a news conference marking his 100 days in office. He expressed concern that South Korean companies may hesitate to invest further in the U.S. if there are no improvements made to the visa system that governs the entry of Korean workers. This concern was underscored by a recent immigration raid in Georgia, which resulted in the detention of over 300 South Korean workers at a Hyundai battery manufacturing site. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted the raid, which involved the use of aggressive tactics that included chaining workers, leading to a widespread perception of betrayal among the South Korean populace. Following this incident, the South Korean government initiated negotiations to ensure the detained workers could return home. President Lee highlighted that this situation illustrated a cultural difference in how immigration issues are handled in the two countries, noting that in South Korea it is common for foreigners to work on tourist visas without scrutiny. Lee also mentioned that South Korea had invested $350 billion in the U.S. economy as a part of a broader agreement with the United States, despite the recent issues that have arisen due to worker detentions. If the U.S. fails to create a visa framework supporting skilled Korean workers, it may jeopardize future investments from South Korea, as many companies currently rely on short-term visas or travel authorizations for essential personnel involved in setting up manufacturing operations. Subsequently, discussions have been held between South Korean and U.S. officials regarding the establishment of a new visa category to facilitate easier access for South Korean workers, a step that could alleviate some of the tensions caused by this raid and reassure South Korean companies about their future operations in the U.S. Ultimately, the ongoing situation represents a critical juncture in U.S.-South Korea relations, especially concerning labor and industrial collaborations, and underscores the urgent need for a reassessment of immigration policy to accommodate the realities of global labor demands.