Betrayed

The Independent reports South Koreans feel betrayed over detainment of hundreds of workers at plant raid in Georgia.

The Sept. 4 raid at a battery factory of the Hyundai plant in Georgia led to the detainment of 475 workers, more than 300 them South Koreans, some of whom were shown being shackled around their hands, ankles and waists in video released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

South Korean political community roiled by the U.S. raid.

"If U.S. authorities detain hundreds of Koreans in this manner, almost like a military operation, how can South Korean companies investing in the U.S. continue to invest properly in the future?" said Cho Jeongsik, a lawmaker from the liberal governing Democratic Party.

Another lawmaker, Kim Gi-hyeon from the conservative opposition People Power Party, said the "unacceptable" raid dealt South Korea a "severe blow that will be difficult to heal."

Some lawmakers even called for the government to retaliate by investigating Americans who are alleged to work illegally in South Korea.

In South Korea, many remain stunned at the raid that came after the country in late July promised to pour hundreds of billions of dollars into U.S. investments as part of a tariff deal. In late August, Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung also held their first summit meeting in Washington.

"The way that Trump is pressuring the Korean government and inflicting damages on its people is very rough and unilateral," said Kim Taewoo, former head of Seoul's Korea Institute for National Unification. "Can this be forgotten easily in South Korea? In a long-term perspective, it won't be good for U.S. national interests as well."