The negotiations to release about 300 detained South Korean citizens have ended and the process of releasing these people is underway, the South Korean presidential office informed.
A fully chartered plane will be mobilized to bring the Korean citizen back as soon as the US and South Korean procedures are complete.
Consul General of South Korea in Washington Cho Ki-joong said that South Korean workers are expected to return home by plane from September 10.
US federal agents arrested about 475 workers at the Hyundai auto battery factory in Ellabell, Georgia on September 4. The arrest is considered the largest arrest at a location in the history of the US Department of Homeland Security's investigation.
During his campaign, President Donald Trump has been proactive in making immigration a pillar during his term. He has stepped up illegal immigration across the country since taking office in January this year.
At the same time, in order to strengthen economic plans, President Donald Trump also promoted attracting other countries and foreign enterprises to invest in the US.
The arrest of 475 workers, including about 300 South Korean workers, at Hyundai Motor's under construction large auto battery factory has caused controversy and panic in Seoul, as the incident took place just 10 days after the summit between US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, in which the two sides pledged to promote economic relations.
The Korean government regrets the arrest as well as the release of a film recording the campaign of the US immigration agency, using armored vehicles to arrest workers and showing that workers were handcuffed and taken away.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) previously said the raid was carried out under a judicial search warrant for illegal recruitment. A customs official revealed that many people arrested did not have valid immigration licenses to work at the site.
On September 7, Chief of the Office of the President of South Korea Kang Hun Sik said that Seoul will seek to improve the visa system for Korean workers to the US to "prevent a similar incident".
Relations between Washington and Seoul, a key US ally and investor, are still tense as the two sides are trying to agree on the final details of the trade deal due in July.
The trade deal includes a $350 billion fund to help Korean companies penetrate the US market. Hyundai said it is increasing its investment in the US to $26 billion, including a robot facility in the US.
Seoul is also preparing to deal with the impact on the country's auto industry as the tax rate on Japanese cars imported into the US is lower, while the tax on Korean cars imported into the US remains at 25%. Automobiles are a major export industry for the Korean economy.
The location of the September 4 raid was a $4.3 billion project to produce electric vehicle batteries, with Hyundai and LG Energy Solution holding a 50% stake on each side. This project is part of the largest economic development projects in the history of the state of Georgia.
LG Energy Solution has temporarily suspended staff trips to the US, except for some exceptional cases and will summon back staff in the US.
These new developments also come as President Donald Trump is likely to travel to South Korea in October to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, three government officials said.
