Analysts warn outrage over the military-style raid could affect not only trade ties but also perceptions of U.S. reliability.
Anger has erupted in South Korea after U.S. immigration agents detained more than 300 of its nationals in a raid at a Hyundai–LG electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia last week.Why It Matters
The arrests have raised doubts in South Korea about whether Washington treats its ally with the same respect it demands. The controversy comes as the two governments wrestle with trade frictions, new U.S. tariffs on Korean steel and auto parts, and Seoul’s recent pledges to expand investment in the United States.
The countries also maintain a decades-old alliance that has been central to Washington’s military posture in the Asia-Pacific. Seoul hosts more than 28,000 American troops and is a top U.S. trade and investment partner.What To Know
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained 475 people at the plant in Ellabell, Georgia, on Thursday in the largest operation in the agency’s history.
More than 300 of those detained were South Korean nationals, according to Seoul’s Foreign Ministry.
Scenes of South Korean workers being led away in chains has triggered outrage at home.
According to a Realmeter survey of 508 South Korean adults conducted on Monday, 59.
