美国对韩企工厂突袭引发外交风波

Core Points - The recent immigration enforcement action in Georgia against a battery plant operated by Hyundai and LG Energy has highlighted a conflict between the U.S. strategy to attract foreign investment and its crackdown on illegal immigration [1][2] - The incident has raised concerns among South Korean companies regarding the potential risks of investing in the U.S., with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol warning of a "chilling effect" on investments if visa policies do not improve [1][2] - LG Energy operates seven factories in the U.S., with ongoing construction in Arizona, Michigan, and Ohio, and the recent enforcement action has led to a collective withdrawal of Korean workers from other production sites [2] Company and Industry Summary - The enforcement action resulted in the arrest of over 300 Korean workers, with the U.S. agreeing to repatriate 330 workers at a cost of approximately 1 billion KRW (about 5.13 million RMB) [1] - South Korea has become a significant investor in the U.S., having invested $93 billion last year and committed to $350 billion under a trade agreement [2] - The incident has exposed a mismatch between the U.S. demand for foreign investment and the lack of appropriate visa policies, forcing Korean technicians to enter the U.S. on tourist or short-term business visas [2] - Experts have criticized the enforcement action as a publicity stunt, suggesting that immigration officials could have reviewed worker documentation without such a large-scale operation [3] - In response to the incident, discussions are underway between U.S. and South Korean officials to create a new visa category to facilitate the deployment of Korean employees to the U.S. [3]