The return schedule of Korean workers arrested at the construction site of the Hyundai Motor–LG Energy Solution battery joint plant in Georgia in the United States has been delayed by more than a day.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a media notice on the 10th, "The departure on the 10th local time of our nationals detained in Georgia has become difficult due to U.S. circumstances," and added, "We are maintaining consultations with the U.S. side for departure as soon as possible."
Initially, the detainees were scheduled to depart on the 10th at 2:30 p.m. local time (3:30 a.m. on the 11th Korea time) from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on a Korean Air charter flight. Korean Air charter flight KE2901 left Incheon Airport at 10:21 a.m. that day for Atlanta, but the return boarding fell through.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not disclose the specific reason for the schedule change. However, the government has been working with the United States to arrange a voluntary departure rather than deportation, and it has been suggested that the related procedures may not yet be complete.
Meanwhile, in Washington, a meeting between Minister Cho Hyun of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be held as scheduled at 9:30 a.m. (local time) the same day. At the meeting, Minister Cho plans to ask for U.S. cooperation for the prompt return of the Korean workers and to discuss institutional measures to prevent a recurrence.
In particular, the plan is to raise the establishment of a dedicated E-4 work visa for Korean nationals and the expansion of the H-1B professional work visa quota to ensure there are no setbacks in dispatching personnel for future investments in the United States by corporations.