Three hundred sixteen Korean workers who had been detained by U.S. immigration authorities returned home on the 12th via Incheon International Airport. Family members who had come to the airport in advance said, "It's a relief it ended without any mishaps," and, "Why did people who did nothing wrong have to go to jail?"
A male worker in his 40s, returning home, told a ChosunBiz reporter, "I never thought I wouldn't be able to come back," adding, "I believed there wouldn't be a big problem because the government and the company were working on it." He said, "I'm so happy to be back in Korea," and, "It's really great—what more could I ask for?"
Another male worker said, "I was on a business trip, and when they suddenly put handcuffs on me, I felt wronged," adding, "All I want is to go home quickly and rest with my family." He said, "When I left for the United States on a business trip, I wasn't worried because, as a matter of routine, we went without obtaining the strictly required U.S. visa," adding, "Once I was put in a U.S. detention center, all kinds of thoughts ran through my head."
Yet another male worker said, "I'm so glad to have arrived safely in Korea." But he added with a hardened expression, "I had a hard time in a U.S. detention center, so I'm honestly very tired."
The Korean Air charter flight that departed from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia arrived at Terminal 2 of Incheon Airport at about 3:23 p.m. that day. Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik came to greet them and welcomed the workers as they disembarked at the jet bridge.
Families of the workers waiting at the airport watched as the chartered plane touched down on the runway, talking with excited expressions, saying, "It's in," and, "That's the plane." Some watched a YouTube live stream on their smartphones and cheered, "They're out," when the workers got off the charter and entered the arrivals hall.
In the areas prepared for each company, including LG Energy Solution, Hyundai Engineering and LG Electronics, families who had been waiting jumped from their seats, shouted "They're here," handed over bouquets and embraced the workers.
Ju Yeon-jeong, 64, who came up from Daejeon, waited for her son and said with teary eyes, "It felt like being struck by lightning." She said, "I thought it would be fine because the company handled the visas, but when they said they suddenly took everyone, it felt ruthless," adding, "Last night my son called and said, 'Mom, I'm on the plane, so don't worry,' which put my mind at ease." A person surnamed Choi, 39, said, "My elementary school–aged son at home asked, 'Dad has no sin, so why is he going to prison?'" adding, "I'm relieved we can be together again today."
Some workers turned on their cellphones and called acquaintances as soon as they got off the charter. Once they exited the arrivals hall, they moved straight to the buses prepared in advance. Some families held signs to make it easier for the workers to find them. When one woman saw her husband, she shouted, "Honey!" and embraced him. As they split up to board the buses, the workers told each other, "Get some good rest," and, "See you later," in their farewells.
The returned workers had been detained for about a week after being arrested by U.S. immigration authorities on the 4th (local time), and were held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities until they were released early on the 11th. A person surnamed Jo, 44, affiliated with LG Energy Solution, said, "For seven days, I was treated like a regular inmate," adding, "It was a two-person cell, but there was a toilet in the living area, and having to take care of bodily functions in a fully open space was the hardest part. Human rights were not protected."
A male worker in his 40s described the moment of arrest, saying, "They wrapped a chain around my waist, put handcuffs on me, and moved me to the facility," adding, "They gave us water and food there, but the conditions were such that we couldn't eat."