Detention of Korean Workers in U.S. Prompts Review of Workforce Management and Business Trip Policies

Battery Companies Like SK On and Samsung SDI on High Alert
Samsung Closely Monitoring Visa Management
Government Listens to Industry Concerns, Prepares Countermeasures
Business Community Proposes Introduction of Special Visa System

On the morning of September 8, Korean companies began emergency inspections in response to the recent on-site raid incident at their factories under construction in the United States. Although, following negotiations between Korean and American authorities over the weekend, it was decided that the detained employees would be released, companies are now prioritizing inspections of local construction progress and workforce supply. On the same day, the government also summoned company representatives to listen to their difficulties regarding workforce dispatch and began working on countermeasures.

According to business and industry sources on September 8, LG Energy Solution urgently dispatched its Chief Human Resources Officer (CHO) to the site over the weekend, and other battery companies such as SK On and Samsung SDI also began reviewing their personnel management and business trip policies on the same day. In particular, Samsung SDI has started re-examining its visa management procedures at the Indiana joint venture plant being built in partnership with Stellantis.

An industry representative stated, "The employees who were detained this time may not be able to re-enter the United States in the future. Even domestically, there is a limited pool of personnel who are highly skilled in equipment and production. Realistically, it is nearly impossible to rebuild the factory without them."

The semiconductor industry is also on high alert. In particular, Samsung Electronics, which is building a semiconductor plant in Georgia, is facing the possibility of disruptions to its workforce dispatch plans. An industry insider said, "Due to the detainment of business travelers at the LG and Hyundai Motor plants, unless a clear solution emerges, the setup of the Taylor plant is essentially off the table. More than 1,000 Korean short-term business travelers are needed, and if you include partner companies, two to three times that number are required." He added, "Up until now, we have been traveling to and from the United States on B1 and B2 visas for short-term stays, but after this incident, there is a high possibility that business trips will be denied even with ESTA or short-term visas."

Samsung Electronics is known to have strictly managed visa issues for dispatched workers in advance. Employees confirmed for dispatch were notified that "under no circumstances should you work with an ESTA; you must obtain a proper visa such as B-1 (for business) or E-1 (for professionals)," and internal monitoring has been conducted as well.

Jongwon Park, Deputy Minister for Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, is participating in a meeting with American investment companies jointly hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Economic Association at the FKI Tower in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, at 10 a.m. on the 8th. Photo by Seonga Shim

The government also responded urgently. On the morning of September 8, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a meeting with American investment companies at the FKI Tower in Yeouido, Seoul, together with the Korea Economic Association, to inspect the current status of local workforce operations. The meeting, presided over by Deputy Minister for Trade Jongwon Park, was attended by major investors in the United States, including Hyundai Motor Group, LG Energy Solution, SK On, Samsung SDI, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, LG Chem, HD Hyundai, Hanwha Solutions, and LS. During the meeting, the Ministry checked each company’s workforce management, including visa issues related to operating factories in the United States, and listened to suggestions from companies regarding securing local visas.

At the meeting, the business community proposed that the U.S. government introduce a special visa program. The United States currently issues 5,400 visas annually to Singapore and 1,400 to Chile, both of which have free trade agreements (FTA) with the U.S. Australia, for its part, has secured a special visa quota of 10,500. These systems are designed to ensure the free movement of skilled professionals, and Korean companies have also raised the need for a similar arrangement.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.