Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin said on the 6th that he is "very concerned and feels a heavy responsibility for the arrest of the nationals" related to the U.S. Immigration authorities cracking down on undocumented migrants at the battery factory our corporations are building in Georgia.
On the same day, Minister Park chaired a joint response meeting of the overseas citizens protection headquarters and the diplomatic missions at the Government Seoul Building and made these remarks. Considering the importance of the matter, Minister Park established the overseas citizens protection headquarters, which he heads, and held a meeting to quickly share relevant developments and check countermeasures between the headquarters and overseas diplomatic missions.
According to local media, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted a large-scale crackdown at the Hyundai Motor Group Meta Plant America (HMGMA) in Savannah, Georgia, on the 4th (local time).
The target was the battery factory (HL-GA Battery Company) being jointly built by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution. The Department of Homeland Security reported that a total of 475 individuals were arrested. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs determined that over 300 of those arrested are our nationals.
According to Minister Park, President Lee Jae-myung emphasized immediately after the incident became known that "the rights and interests of our nationals and the economic activities of U.S. investment corporations should not be unduly infringed upon". He then directed that a comprehensive response be made for the prompt resolution of the matter, focusing on the embassy in Washington and the consulate general in Atlanta.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Jin-ah conveyed concern and regret to Acting U.S. Ambassador to Korea Joseph Yoon the day before, urging that care be taken to ensure that our nationals' rightful interests are not infringed upon.
Minister Park stated, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs aims to respond comprehensively while closely communicating with corporations such as the Ministry of Industry and economic organizations." He continued, "We are discussing plans for high-ranking officials to be dispatched to the site quickly from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, and if necessary, I will go to Washington directly to discuss with the U.S. administration."
The meeting was attended by key officials, including Deputy Minister Park Yoon-joo, Deputy Minister Kim Jin-ah, and the Chargé d'Affaires at the embassy in Washington.