Charter Flight Carrying Koreans Detained in U.S. Expected to Arrive in Korea Tomorrow Evening... Released After Six Days in Custody

Over 300 Korean nationals who were suddenly arrested while working at the Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution joint battery factory in Georgia, USA, have been released after six days of detention and are expected to return to Korea on the evening of September 11. However, to coordinate details such as the deletion of detention records for those who were unexpectedly detained during their business trip, the meeting between the foreign ministers of South Korea and the United States, originally scheduled for September 9 (local time), has been postponed by one day to September 10. Authorities have stated that, regardless of the high-level negotiations, the repatriation schedule for the detainees will proceed as planned.

A Korean Air B747-8i charter flight carrying Koreans detained at the Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution battery joint factory construction site in Georgia, USA, is preparing for takeoff at Terminal 2 apron of Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 10th. About 300 Koreans who were arrested and detained are reported to depart locally around 2:30 PM local time on the 10th (3:30 AM Korean time on the 11th). Photo by Airport Photographers Group

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According to diplomatic sources on September 10, the charter flight carrying the Korean workers and others is scheduled to arrive at Incheon International Airport at around 6:20 PM on September 11. The current plan is for the detainees, who were released early in the morning on September 10 local time after six days in custody, to travel by car for about four and a half hours to Atlanta Airport, board the charter flight, and depart at 2:30 PM. This information has reportedly also been communicated to the families of the detainees in Korea.

However, details such as the exact number of people boarding the charter flight, whether all will voluntarily depart, and matters related to the deletion of detention records or pardons have not yet been finalized with the US side. Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is currently visiting Washington, D.C., was originally scheduled to meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on September 9 (local time), but due to circumstances on the US side, the meeting was postponed by one day to the morning of September 10. At this meeting, Minister Cho is expected to lodge a protest regarding the incident and discuss follow-up measures for the detainees as well as ways to prevent a recurrence.

With the meeting with Secretary Rubio delayed by a day, Minister Cho instead presided over a virtual on-site inspection meeting in Washington, D.C. on the same day. He reportedly reviewed the overall situation with officials from the Consulate General in Atlanta and the rapid response team dispatched to the site. In addition, he held a meeting with Korean businesspeople working locally in the United States. Minister Cho may also meet with members of the US Congress and other officials. Since the establishment of a separate visa quota (E-4) for Korean professionals, which has been identified as a fundamental cause of the incident, is a legislative matter, related discussions are necessary.

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With the return of the Korean workers, which had been a major concern due to fears of prolonged detention, the situation appears to be coming to a close. However, there are ongoing concerns, as the detainees are being taken directly to the airport for departure immediately after their release, without even having time to collect their personal belongings, making the process resemble deportation. There are also worries that the Koreans who were actually detained may face disadvantages such as being denied re-entry in the future. It remains uncertain whether their US detention records can be deleted. Some legal experts point out that a separate pardon process may be necessary, and there is a possibility that some of the detainees may remain in the US and pursue legal action instead of returning home.

There is also growing public criticism over the fact that the US authorities conducted a surprise arrest operation using handcuffs and chains, treating the workforce at a battery factory-a result of much-touted investment in the US-as if they were dealing with an illegal criminal organization. After the incident occurred, US President Donald Trump stated on September 5, "They were illegal aliens, and ICE was just doing its job," and on September 7, he added, "We will make it possible to bring in talent legally." These remarks, which are based on the perception that the detained workers committed 'illegal' acts, have fueled further controversy.

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