Hyundai CEO reveals White House apologized for Georgia raid
What's the story
Hyundai's CEO, Jose Munoz, has revealed that the White House has personally apologized to him over a major immigration raid at a factory in Georgia. Speaking at a business leaders conference in Singapore, Munoz said he received calls from the White House and Georgia's Governor over the incident. The raid had resulted in the detention of over 300 South Korean workers at Hyundai and LG's battery plant.
Incident
Workers' ordeal during the raid
The September raid saw officers forcing workers to sit on the factory floor while shackling their legs. The inhumane treatment sparked outrage back home in South Korea. The detained workers were held for over a week before being flown back after urgent talks between the South Korean government and US authorities. The incident has delayed the opening of Hyundai's plant due to labor shortages.
CEO's statement
Munoz's response to the raid
Munoz expressed his belief that someone had "made a phone call and made it look like there were illegal immigrants" at the plant, which he vehemently denied. He described the raid as "a bad surprise," but reiterated Hyundai's commitment to manufacturing in the US. Despite the incident straining US-South Korea relations, both countries announced a broad trade deal with reduced tariffs and South Korea's promise of $350 billion investment in America.