South Korea's president says Georgia ICE raid could have 'considerable impact' on direct US investment from his country

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN World

PUBLISHED Sep 11, 2025, 3:50 AM ET


Seoul, South Korea — The ICE raid on more than 300 South Korean workers in Georgia could impact future South Korean investment in the US, its president said on Thursday, adding the fallout had created a “very confusing” situation for Korean companies there.

His comments come as South Korea reels from the raids – one of the largest by US immigration enforcement agencies in recent years, and which threatens to create a rift between two close partners that have long cooperated on military and economic matters. South Korean businesses in the US “need to build facilities, install equipment, and set up factories, which requires skilled technicians,” Lee Jae Myung said at a press conference that marked his 100th day in office.

He added that confusion over the current visa situation for South Koreans would lead local companies to question “whether they should go at all.” “This issue could have a considerable impact on foreign direct investment in the US,” he said. “We are urging the US side to normalize the visa process related to investment, whether by securing sufficient visa quotas or by creating a new category of visa.”

Lee’s comments come as the South Korean workers detained in Georgia prepare to depart Atlanta on a Thursday flight and arrive in Seoul on Friday.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/11/asia/south-korea-ice-raids-georgia-trump-intl-hnk

[exboyfil]

1. Seriously thought they shouldn't have been flaunting our immigration laws

Sure looks like it was organized to me. There aren't US tradespeople that could do those jobs?

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Probably not to their specs

The same issue happened in AZ with Taiwan's chip factory a few years ago where there were big delays because they are claiming we don't have the construction expertise to meet their needs. They are finally doing some "local" training for the operational side now.

[exboyfil]

5. But there is never that issue going the other way

My company has set up for production in India. Except for some engineering expertise there on a temporary basis, it is all local talent.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. I expect that since most of the world uses metric measurements

and the U.S. doesn't (except maybe in analytical labs and some engineering outfits), that would be a problem.

We have refused to fund training for the trades and many of the voc-tech schools (high school and above) closed over the past couple decades. Trying to get apprenticeships in construction has often come in fits and starts, and in some cases, were "closed shop" (and other excuses to exclude minorities). The aftermath of that is being felt right now.

[ananda]

2. Isn't that what Trump-etc want? No furriners running are compnies!

[Irish_Dem]

3. Who benefits and how by South Korea refusing to invest in the US?

Did Trump assume SK would pay Trump's bribe demands?
And resume normal business?

[Miguelito Loveless]

6. South Korea should cut all investment

in the US.