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White House apologizes to Hyundai after Georgia immigration raid
The White House personally apologized to Hyundai's chief executive, José Muñoz, following a controversial immigration raid at a Georgia battery plant, the executive revealed Wednesday at a business conference in Singapore.
Georgia governor denies state involvement
Muñoz disclosed that Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also contacted him, stating, "I don't know what happened, this is not state jurisdiction," distancing the state from the operation. The raid, conducted in September, saw over 300 South Korean workers detained at the Hyundai-LG Energy Solution joint venture facility.
Raid details spark outrage in South Korea
Workers were forced to sit on the factory floor with their legs shackled during the raid, images that provoked widespread condemnation in South Korea. Detained for over a week, the workers were later repatriated after urgent diplomatic talks between Seoul and Washington. The incident delayed the plant's opening due to labor shortages, Hyundai warned at the time.
Muñoz suggests misinformation triggered raid
Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, Muñoz speculated that a false tip may have prompted the operation: "Someone made a phone call and made it look like there were illegal immigrants" at the plant, he said. "That's absolutely not the case." Despite calling the raid "a bad surprise," he reaffirmed Hyundai's commitment to U.S. manufacturing.
Trump opposes raid, cites need for foreign expertise
Former President Donald Trump, who was in office at the time, publicly criticized the raid, stating he was "very much opposed" to it. He argued that the U.S. relies on foreign experts to establish specialized facilities and train local workers, calling such arrangements a global "understanding."
Trade deal eases tensions
Despite the diplomatic strain, the U.S. and South Korea announced a trade agreement in October, reducing tariffs from 25% to 15%. South Korea also pledged a $350 billion investment in the U.S. economy. The BBC has reached out to the White House and Georgia's governor for further comment.
