Hyundai ICE raid in Georgia leaves Asian executives shaken by Trump's mixed signals

['Max Kim Is The Los Angeles Times Correspondent In Seoul. He Has Written The Area For The Atlantic', 'The New Yorker', 'Mit Technology Review', 'Other Publications', 'Helped To Produce News Documentaries For Vice News', 'The Bbc. Kim Grew Up In Seoul', 'Princeton', 'N.J.', 'Graduated The University Of Buffalo With A Degree In English', 'Comparative Literature. He Is A Winner Of The Sopa Award For Editorial Excellence In Feature Writing'] Los Angeles Times 2025-09-09 00:00:00

The immigration raid that snatched up hundreds of South Koreans last week sent a disconcerting message to companies in South Korea and elsewhere: America wants your investment, but don’t expect special treatment. The Georgia factory also is expected to supply batteries for Kia, which is part of the Hyundai Motor Group. Hyundai is one of the South Korean companies with the largest commitments to the U.S. Similarly large sums are expected from South Korean shipbuilders. Unlike countries such as Singapore or Mexico, South Korea doesn’t have a deal with Washington that guarantees work visas for specialized workers.