Over 300 of our citizens were arrested in Georgia for illegal stay, and the People Power Party criticized, "Is this a Lee Jae-myung-style practical diplomacy?" The Democratic Party of Korea countered, "The People Power Party is undermining the Korea-U.S. alliance."
People Power Party representative Jang Dong-hyuk said on Facebook on the 6th, "As numerous Korean corporations construct factories and expand investments across the U.S., a situation where workers are arrested in droves poses a national risk."
"Even the U.S. ambassador to Korea is currently vacant, revealing a gap in our diplomatic response," he said, noting, "The Lee Jae-myung administration should not be engulfed in '700 trillion won gift diplomacy' but must fulfill its responsibility to protect the basic national interests of the safety of our citizens and the rights of businesspeople." He then urged the government to systematically resolve the employment and visa issues for corporations.
People Power Party spokesperson Park Seong-hoon said, "The Lee Jae-myung administration presented a 'gift package' worth a total of $500 billion (approximately 700 trillion won) to the U.S. at this (Korea-U.S.) summit," and added, "However, the summit ended without even a joint statement, and as a result, it returned to the enforcement issue at the Hyundai Motor and LG joint plant."
Spokesperson Park said, "There is growing anger among the public, feeling that after investing immensely, they have been betrayed."
In response, Democratic Party of Korea spokesperson Baek Seung-a noted in a commentary, "The government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are mobilizing all capabilities to respond swiftly," adding, "The National Assembly also needs to come together, regardless of party affiliation, to prepare measures. "
Spokesperson Baek asserted, "However, the People Power Party is linking this to the Korea-U.S. summit and using it as a tool for political strife," and stated, "They even hesitate to make irresponsible statements undermining the Korea-U.S. alliance by talking about betrayal." He further urged, "The People Power Party should immediately stop their irresponsible claims for political strife."
On the 4th (local time), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted a large-scale crackdown at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Savannah, Georgia. The target was the battery factory (HL-GA Battery Company) jointly constructed by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution on the campus.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSI) stated in a briefing on the 5th that a total of 475 individuals were arrested. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has identified that more than 300 of them are our citizens. They appear to have entered the U.S. without a visa, intending to travel under a B1 visa for business purposes or an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The remaining detainees are presumed to be illegal immigrants from Central and South America.