Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, chair of the main opposition People Power Party, speaks during a meeting with Joseph Yun, acting US ambassador to South Korea, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Friday. (Yonhap)
Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, chair of the main opposition People Power Party, speaks during a meeting with Joseph Yun, acting US ambassador to South Korea, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Friday. (Yonhap)

The main opposition People Power Party is ramping up its criticism of the Lee Jae Myung administration, calling for swift action following a US federal raid on a Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution battery plant construction site in Georgia.

The opposition largely attributed the incident to what it described as the government's mishandling of bilateral relations with the United States.

Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, chair of the People Power Party, stressed the need to protect South Korean nationals and businesses operating in the US.

“This is a grave matter that could lead to broader repercussions for Korean companies and communities across the United States,” Jang said in a statement released Saturday afternoon.

“At a time when numerous Korean firms are expanding investment and building factories across the US, such mass detentions of workers could pose a serious risk at the national level,” he added.

Jang called for immediate consular support for those detained, as well as institutional solutions to address employment and visa-related issues faced by Korean companies operating abroad.

He also pointed to what he described as a “diplomatic gap,” noting that the US ambassador post in Seoul has remained vacant since January, with Joseph Yun currently serving as acting ambassador.

Jang went on to say that the government has been complacent with what it touts as achievements from the recent South Korea-US summit, warning that it must instead focus on fulfilling its responsibility to safeguard the rights and safety of Korean citizens and businesses overseas.

The remarks came after US federal authorities on Thursday arrested 457 people — including approximately 300 South Koreans — at the construction site of the electric vehicle battery plant operated by Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution in Bryan County, near Savannah, Georgia. US officials said the operation was part of a criminal investigation into unlawful employment practices and other serious federal offenses.

In response, the South Korean government launched an emergency response team and dispatched consular officials to the site in coordination with the Korean Consulate in Atlanta. Cho Ki-joong, consul general at the Korean Embassy in Washington, arrived on-site early Friday.

His team began meeting with detained South Koreans on Saturday at an immigration detention center in Folkston, Georgia, to assess their condition and identify any humanitarian concerns.

Also on Saturday afternoon, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun convened a meeting to discuss potential responses, citing President Lee’s order to carry out an “all-out response” to swiftly resolve the situation. Cho added that he is considering a visit to Washington to directly consult with US officials if necessary.

Nevertheless, the People Power Party continued its criticism Sunday, accusing the government of remaining silent and “merely reviewing the case,” labeling the situation as “a national humiliation and a devastating disgrace.”

“This happened just 10 days after the South Korea-US summit, at a site that symbolizes the manufacturing alliance between the two countries,” said Rep. Choi Bo-yun, the main opposition party’s senior spokesperson, in a statement released Sunday morning.

Choi said that more than 300 Koreans were “collectively arrested at the Hyundai-LG joint plant in Georgia and confined to a remote facility under poor conditions.” She said that the detention center had previously been cited in US congressional reports for issues such as mold and inadequate air conditioning.

Meanwhile, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea also expressed concern, calling the incident a serious diplomatic issue tied to the safety of Koreans. However, it cautioned against politicizing the issue.

“The arrest of hundreds of South Koreans at a factory construction site funded by Korean companies is a serious diplomatic matter that directly affects the safety of our people,” said Rep. Baek Seung-a, the party’s floor spokesperson.

“We strongly urge the People Power Party to immediately stop making baseless claims for political confrontation and instead join bipartisan efforts to protect our citizens abroad."


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