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

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