The United States has agreed to allow South Korean workers on short-term visas or a visa waiver program to help build industrial sites in America, as announced by Seoul’s Foreign Ministry. This decision comes in the aftermath of an immigration raid at a battery factory being built on Hyundai’s auto plant campus in Georgia, which led to the detainment of over 300 South Korean nationals. The incident sparked outrage in South Korea and highlighted the need for improved visa systems for skilled Korean workers.

Following bilateral visa talks in Washington, it was reaffirmed that South Korean companies can use B-1 short-term business visas or the ESTA program to send workers for installation, servicing, and repair tasks in the United States. While South Korea has called for more fundamental changes to the visa system, U.S. officials cited legislative constraints as a hindrance to major overhauls. The detained Korean workers, mostly employed by LG Energy Solution and its subcontractors, are now set to return to complete their work as both countries navigate the complexities of labor migration and industrial investments.