‘Call me if...’: Lutnick says ‘Koreans’ should have sought his help to fix Hyundai visa issue

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said that the South Korean workers detained in the Hyundai-LG factory during an immigration raid were carrying “wrong” visas and that Hyundai Motor should have “called him” to get the right ones.

**"**I called up the Koreans, I said, oh, give me a break. Get the right visa and if you’re having problems getting the right visa, call me. I’ll call Kristi Noem. We’ll help you get the right visa, but don’t do it the wrong way," Lutnick told Axios.

He added, “You can’t do things the old way. Donald Trump requires you to do it correctly. You want to immigrate, you want to bring workers here, go through the right process. You can’t skirt the rules anymore. That is over.”

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Over 300 South Korean workers were detained during an ICE raid at a battery factory under construction at Hyundai’s sprawling auto plant in Georgia.

Hyundai and HL-GA Battery Company, the joint venture behind the battery plant, released statements last week confirming their cooperation with law enforcement. Hyundai later emphasised its “zero tolerance” policy toward legal violations and announced plans to conduct its own investigation to ensure all suppliers and subcontractors comply with immigration laws.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has said the two countries are discussing a possible improvement to the US visa system, adding that under the current system, South Korean companies “can’t help but hesitate a lot” about making direct investments in the US.

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Whether the US establishes a visa system allowing South Korean companies to send skilled workers to work at industrial sites will have a “major impact” on future South Korean investments in the US, Lee said.

Meanwhile, the workers are set to return home on Friday after their repatriation hit multiple snags along the way, with US President Donald Trump delaying their travel.

A chartered Korean Air jet carrying the workers, along with 14 non-Koreans who were also detained during the raid, departed from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport around midday on Thursday (17:00 BST). One South Korean national has reportedly opted to remain in the US to pursue permanent residency. The plane will land at the Incheon International Airport at 15:30 in Seoul time.