Trump offered detained Korean workers the chance to stay in the U.S., but almost all chose repatriation.
President Donald Trump offered detained South Korean workers the chance to remain in the United States and help train American employees, but nearly all declined, South Korean officials confirmed Thursday.
Only one worker accepted the proposal.
The intervention temporarily delayed a chartered flight arranged to repatriate about 300 South Koreans arrested in last week’s immigration raid at a $4.3 billion Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution battery plant project in Georgia.
Another 175 workers of different nationalities were also detained.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said the repatriation was paused while Trump’s offer was considered. A foreign ministry official noted Trump asked U.S. officials to “encourage” the workers to stay and train Americans.
However, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, after talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stressed the workers should first return home.
The White House and federal agencies declined comment. Yonhap reported the workers would not be handcuffed during transfer to the airport.