On the Dash:
- South Korean workers with B-1 visas and ESTA approvals can now perform essential work at LG’s U.S. battery plants.
- Diplomatic efforts clarified U.S. visa rules, leading to the resumption of operations after the detention of nearly 300 employees in Georgia.
- LG is implementing a response system, including on-site managers and legal support, to prevent future visa issues.
LG Energy Solution announced on Thursday that it will resume sending workers from South Korea to the United States for essential business trips after the Chuseok holiday. This decision comes less than a month after hundreds of its employees were detained during a U.S. visa enforcement operation.
The company confirmed that employees holding short-term B-1 visas and Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approvals are allowed to perform equipment installation, inspection, and maintenance at its battery plants in the U.S. This move follows guidance from the newly formed U.S.-Korea Business Travel and Visa Working Group, which met in Washington this week to clarify the rules for South Korean business travelers.
LG stated that B-1 visa holders will be prioritized for travel, and workers will be required to carry and display proof of their work assignments at all times. Additionally, the company plans to implement a response system for any future immigration issues. This will include assigning on-site response managers and providing legal support.
The decision to resume travel comes after nearly 300 South Korean engineers working at a Hyundai Motor–LG battery factory in Georgia were detained and repatriated in September as part of a visa crackdown. U.S. officials described the raid as a routine enforcement action, but it escalated into a diplomatic incident after images of shackled Korean engineers sparked outrage in Seoul, which threatened to undermine investor confidence and marked South Korea’s largest emergency repatriation mission since COVID-19.
During their recent meeting, U.S. and South Korean officials reaffirmed that B-1 visa and ESTA holders may conduct equipment-related service and repair work, although these permits do not permit formal employment. The two governments also agreed to establish a Korean investor desk at the U.S. embassy in Seoul to address visa and employment concerns.
LG Energy emphasized that resuming travel is crucial for maintaining customer trust and ensuring the smooth operation of its facilities in the U.S. The company stated, “LG Energy is committed to creating a safe travel environment, upholding customer trust, and doing its best to normalize the construction and operation of our factories in the U.S.”
