Trump Says "Good Relations with South Korea... Hyundai Plant Issue Won't Cause Tension"
by Kim Minyoung
Published 08 Sep.2025 09:16(KST)
Updated 08 Sep.2025 09:23(KST)
Trump Says He Will "Monitor the Situation" After Immigration Enforcement
Stresses That U.S.-South Korea Relations Remain Strong
Adopts a Softer Tone Compared to Initial Response
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the recent incident, in which over 300 Korean workers were detained during an immigration enforcement operation at the Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution joint battery plant in Georgia, will not affect U.S.-Korea relations.
On the 7th (local time), President Trump met with reporters at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C. When asked whether this incident would strain relations between the United States and Korea, he replied, "No, it will not. We have a very good relationship with Korea." He added that he would continue to monitor the situation following the enforcement operation.
This response marks a notably softer stance compared to his initial reaction immediately after the operation. Previously, on the 4th, U.S. immigration authorities conducted a large-scale raid at the construction site of the Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution joint battery plant in Ellabell, Georgia, detaining 475 people, including over 300 Koreans.
The following day, on the 5th, President Trump stated at the White House, "In my view, they were undocumented immigrants, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was simply doing its job."
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