The chartered flight that brought them there touched down in Incheon Wednesday morning. It repatriated more than 300 South Korean laborers who had been detained in a large U.S. immigration action. Law enforcement and federal agents have recently carried out a massive, militarized raid on the construction site of a Hyundai-LG battery plant on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia. They arrested 480 undocumented immigrants, the largest single-site immigration raid since President Donald Trump’s inauguration. That raid has sparked widespread anger, with hundreds of thousands of South Koreans taking to the streets. To them, it is the ultimate betrayal of their trusted ally.
That action, encouraged by recent federal immigration enforcement action news, led to jaw-dropping images of workers arrested in handcuffs and chains. This ignited a firestorm of criticism all over South Korea. Thousands of concerned citizens took to social media to express their outrage over the raid. In reality, at least 60 percent claimed to dislike the U.S. government’s behavior. The tragedy has prompted an unusual display of political solidarity between South Korean leaders and the South Korean public to an extent unheard of in years.
Backlash from South Korean Leaders
At the time, President Lee Jae-myung called the raid “bewildering,” stressing that this sets back efforts to attract investment from South Korea. Secondly, he underscored the importance of strong bilateral ties. He pushed the U.S. to help make sure that visa issuance for investment-related purposes was as seamless as possible.
“You told us to invest, only to arrest us! Is this how you treat an ally?” – A protester
Industry executives were on the same page, voicing their concerns that the arrests would exacerbate construction hold-ups across the $4.3 billion facility. They expressed fears that the long term impacts of the raid on future investments were severe. This risk could endanger this burgeoning economic relationship between the two countries.
Human Rights Violations and Public Sentiment
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions denounced the raid, calling it “a blatant infringement of human rights.” Activists and labor organizations have called for accountability and a reassessment of the U.S.’s immigration policies, particularly as they pertain to foreign workers.
The visual spectacle of the arrest created a longer-lasting toxic media effect on the South Korean public. Many citizens are now questioning the United States’ commitment to its allies, especially in light of President Trump’s promise to intensify crackdowns on immigration. There has been a dramatic turn in sentiment among South Koreans. Allies across Montreal and beyond are increasingly demanding acts of solidarity and support for those impacted by the raid.
Future Implications
Now, talk about the broader implications of the raid are getting charged. At the same time, South Korea has been pressing Washington for assurances on future investment prospects. Insiders fear that the atmosphere today will result in reluctance from manufacturers and other industries still looking to expand into the U.S.
Al Jazeera’s Jack Barton reported that those arrested were informed “right up until the last moment that they were going to be deported and that there would be restrictions … on re-entry for at least the next five years.” This precarious reality goes beyond serious implications for individuals directly impacted. It imperils South Korea’s greater economic concerns as well.
