As revealed in a report by the Department of Homeland Security, over 2 million illegal immigrants have been removed from the US since January 20. These past few years, President Trump and Secretary Noem have been working towards expelling illegal immigrants out of the US, claiming that most immigrants have criminal records. Additionally, as of 2025, there has been a spike in immigrant raids across the country. One of the most recent was the ICE raid that detained hundreds of South Korean workers at a Hyundai electrical vehicle battery plant in Georgia, which not only embarrassed these workers, but also jeopardized the economic ties the US has with South Korea.
As one of the main allies of the US, South Korea is a vital economic partner investing billions of dollars into the country. As a result of the raid, tensions between the countries have increased and have caused a public outrage after 475 people were reported to have been detained from the Hyundai battery plant.
According to the BBC, protesters’ banners held statements of anger: “Public outrage over detention of 300 Koreans, shackled up and treated like major criminals! Why shall [we] continue US investments after such back-stabbing?”
Even President Trump, who started this immigration deportation process, temporarily halted the measures for a day to ask if the workers would like to continue working, stated a South Korean foreign ministry official.
Attempting to preserve and maintain economic ties with South Korea, Governor Brian Kemp, his wife, and Commissioner Pat Wilson traveled to South Korea this month to calm tensions after the ICE raid in Georgia. WSB-TV reported that this meeting with South Korea was planned before the raid in Georgia even happened. However, due to the controversy sparked by this event, the meeting has assumed a new importance.
To understand the significance of this trip fully, it is important to recognize Georgia’s economic ties with South Korea. These economic ties were founded in 1985, when the state established a permanent trade office in Seoul. According to CBS, Korea was ranked Georgia’s third-largest trade partner in 2024, further showing the large economic impact in this area.
As stated in CBS, Kemp put the “strong and friendly relationship” in the spotlight after South Korea’s government and the US agreed to release most of the workers arrested during the raid.
Another attempt to continue maintaining South Korea’s investments into the US included a virtual meeting with the leaders of the US-Republic of Korea Business Travel and Visa Working Group. Their talks included ways to ensure that South Korea will continue to invest in the US. The Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Jonathan Fritz, and Ambassador and Government Representative for Korean Nationals Overseas Protection and Consular Affairs, Jung Kihong, co-chaired this meeting.
The US State Department’s office spokesperson also commented on South Korea’s investments in the US, stating, “The United States strongly supports investment that drives American re-industrialization, strengthens the U.S.-ROK alliance and enhances our shared prosperity.” Despite the US’s efforts to calm down the tensions after the raid, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung stated, as reported by Yahoo News, “Companies will have to worry about whether establishing a local factory in the United States will be subject to all sorts of disadvantages or difficulties.”
Hyundai, however, announced that it would expand its electrical vehicle plants, costing around 2.7 billion dollars, in Ellabell, Georgia, despite the recent raid. According to CBS, Brent Stubbs, the chief administrative officer of the Hyundai site in Ellabell, commented on this situation, stating that “this situation doesn’t change our plans to continue expanding and localizing in the United States” and how its “investments in the U.S. are part of a long-term strategic plan.”
The ICE raid in Georgia not only exposed the complexities of American immigration, but also tested the international economic relationship with South Korea. While both US and South Korean officials have taken steps to repair this relationship and affirm their shared economic interests, this event serves as a reminder of how enforcement actions can have global consequences. Hyundai’s decision to continue expanding its business despite the raid and the US’s attempts to calm the tensions between the two countries further reflects the commitments to long-term growth and diplomacy. Whether or not these efforts fully restore trust between these two powers, both nations appear to be determined to strengthen their partnership in the face of adversity.
