(Adnkronos) – South Korea has announced an investigation into possible human rights violations during the massive raid by US authorities on a Hyundai plant in Georgia, where more than 475 workers were detained on September 4, including more than 300 South Korean citizens. “The government is conducting a thorough review with companies to determine if there have been any human rights violations,” said presidential spokeswoman Kang Yu-jung, quoted by NBC News, adding that the foreign ministry and the companies involved are also carrying out their own checks.
The episode, called “disconcerting” by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, risked straining bilateral relations just as Seoul and Washington are trying to finalize a trade agreement on tariffs. The United States justified the detentions with accusations of illegal work or expired visas, but the case has raised concerns about future repercussions on investments. US President Donald Trump, however, explained that foreign workers are “welcome” and that America wants to learn from them to “produce chips, semiconductors and other complex products,” without discouraging foreign investment.
