U.S. Georgia official "discussing the return of detained Koreans"

in #leofinance24 days ago

image.png

A Georgia economic official said Korean workers who were arrested by U.S. immigration authorities at a joint battery plant construction site of Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution and returned home after being detained for a week are being discussed.

Trip Tolison, head of the Georgia Economic Development Agency, said in an interview with the 'Servan Morning News' on the 17th (local time), "It is very important for Korean workers to return. Those who work at Hyundai Motor plants are the only ones who can install equipment and teach battery cell technology to executives and employees."
Although it is technically a private organization, the agency works closely with the Georgia government to promote economic growth in the region. Tolison did not elaborate on the plan to return Koreans.

The arrested LG employees are temporary visitors to the U.S. for equipment installation, support, and employee training, said Philip Reinert, a spokesman for the Economic Development Administration. "They are skilled technicians with equipment installation and professional knowledge."
"Koreans who came to install battery equipment are people with delicate talents," he said. "I fully understand their disappointment. We depend on Koreans."
Tolison said he and Georgia Secretary of Economic Development Pat Wilson met with Hyundai executives in Detroit last week. "The management was very surprised and shocked. I and Pat Wilson (economy minister) announced that we would help Hyundai with the completion of the project and had a lot of discussions about returning Koreans," he said.
"This case is just a small setback. I have no doubt that they will return as soon as possible in time for their schedule," he added.
However, with the shock of more than 300 detained workers and Korean society, experts say it will not be easy for workers to return before measures are taken to prevent recurrence, including visa issues.

On the 16th, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said, "We need to thoroughly review the U.S. visa system." At the groundbreaking ceremony for the Rivian electric vehicle plant on the same day, he said, "This case is not just about Hyundai. Many companies across the country have been through the same problems," adding, "There is a lot of confusion about what really happens at the site."
Reporter Na Woong-ki ([email protected] )

We should take this opportunity to work toward establishing an equal tariff agreement between the United States and South Korea.
There’s no reason for us to continue acting as the weaker party. At least in the manufacturing sector, the U.S. is the one at a disadvantage.
By considering both our position and that of the United States, we hope to reach a fair and reasonable agreement.