Italian media: Washington strikes against Seoul's investment due to the seizure of a Hyundai Motor

Over 300 South Korean workers were arrested at a battery plant in Savannah. President Donald Trump called them "illegal immigrants," but they are professional engineers required by foreign factories that decided to invest in the United States to meet the same two requirements. This move has sparked public anger and concerns about defense cooperation in Seoul.

Seoul (Asia News/Press Agency) – After a visit by the South Korean Foreign Minister to Washington, it was stated that approximately 300 South Korean workers arrested at a Hyundai Motor factory in Savannah, Georgia, will return to South Korea. However, this incident has caused shock, confusion, and anger among the South Korean public, as the battery plant where the arrested workers were employed is part of an investment request made by the United States to South Korea, aimed at achieving a tariff trade agreement.

US President Donald Trump mentioned the "illegal immigrants" arrested and detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – a federal agency responsible for managing borders and immigration – who were actually highly skilled engineers and equipment installers employed by foreign companies and allowed to reside in the United States with B-1 visas. According to Charles Cook, a lawyer representing four of the arrested South Koreans, these workers only planned to stay for a few weeks, "not exceeding 75 days."

The B-1 visa allows foreign workers to stay in the United States for up to six months and receive reimbursement for expenses while receiving their salaries from their home countries. Additionally, South Korea is included in the scope of the US Electronic Travel Authorization (ESTA). Immigration law experts explain that citizens of this country can enter without a visa if they provide a "valid reason for visiting," effectively receiving the treatment of a B-1 visa with a maximum duration of 90 days.

After the raid, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement released photos of detainees wearing shackles on their wrists, ankles, and waists, which sparked anger among South Koreans. Trump also argued that the shortage of technical workers should be addressed by training American citizens, but Cook emphasized to the Associated Press that this process would take three to five years. In fact, no US company produces the machines used at the Georgia battery plant, so South Korean workers had to come from abroad to install or repair the equipment, a practice that has been common for decades among various foreign companies.

According to the Savannah Labor Commission, these South Korean workers were responsible for pouring concrete, assembling steel, carpentry, and installing pipes – all tasks outside the scope of the visa-free regulations. "Essentially, our work has been outsourced to illegal immigrants," said Christy Hume, president of the Central Labor Council of the Savannah area. Migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Venezuela were also detained, while those not arrested expressed concern about returning to work. In fact, during this operation – the largest workplace deportation effort by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to date – the agency used military vehicles, drones, and helicopters.

The South Korean Foreign Minister called this incident a "major event" that he never anticipated. Some South Korean business executives explained that they were forced to send technical workers to the United States using ESTA or B-1 visas because "it is extremely difficult to obtain H-1B visas, which are essential for battery engineers." Park Tae-sung, vice chairman of the Korean Battery Industry Association, told Reuters, "This is why some people obtained B-1 or ESTA visas."

Some commentators believe that this action by the United States will not be forgotten by South Korea and will have long-term impacts on US national interests. After the tariff negotiations, relations between the two countries were already tense. At the same time, both countries held a series of military exercises to address potential threats from North Korea. The tariff rate has been raised from 25% to 15%, but in exchange, Washington demanded that Seoul invest $350 billion in the United States and purchase $100 billion in energy products. Hyundai Motor has committed to investing $26 billion.

According to a recent survey, nearly 60% of South Koreans believe that the US arrest of workers was too harsh and expressed disappointment with the US government. Several South Korean companies have suspended construction of new factories in Georgia. Georgia is considered the center of South Korean investment in the United States. More than 110 South Korean companies, including the Hyundai Motor Group, SK On, and Hanwha Qcells, operate in Georgia.

Source: Asia News

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842928263471114/

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