Tensions between South Korea and the U.S. rise due to an escalating number of immigration raids, with South Korea's top diplomat set to travel to the U.S. for discussions.

Tension mounts between South Korea and the U.S. as the country's top diplomat travels to the States amid an increase in immigration raids between the two allies.

In a significant turn of events, approximately 300 South Korean workers who were detained in an ICE raid at a Hyundai-LG factory in Georgia will return to Korea on a chartered flight. This development comes after intense negotiations between South Korean Foreign Affairs Minister, Cho Hyun, and US authorities.

The raid, one of the largest by US immigration enforcement agencies in recent years, has sparked criticism in South Korea and has been a top story in South Korean newspapers and websites. The plant in Georgia, a massive investment for the state, is projected to employ up to 8,500 people when complete.

The government of President Lee Jae Myung is trying to quickly contain simmering discontent in the country about how its nationals were treated by US law enforcement. The opposition People Power Party in South Korea has called the raid "an unprecedented diplomatic disaster," while the leader of South Korea's Progressive Party, Kim Jae-yeon, has called it "a breach of trust."

The images of the raid have caused shock among both South Koreans and die-hard supporters of the US. A visiting professor of business at a South Korean university expressed concern about long-term damage to US-South Korea relations due to the raid. A conservative protester in South Korea, who has been protesting for a stronger US-South Korea alliance, is also worried about the potential impact on relations.

It's unclear what kind of visas the Korean nationals working at the plant had. Some had entered the US illegally, while others had overstayed their visas. However, two of the detained South Korean nationals, according to a Georgia immigration attorney, arrived in the US under a visa waiver.

LG Energy Solution, a partner in the plant, is cooperating with the process and has committed to ensuring the safe and prompt return of its employees and those of its partners. About 50 of the detained South Korean nationals worked for LG Energy Solutions, while another 250 worked for HL-GA Battery Company LLC, which operates under Hyundai and LG.

The Hyundai-LG factory raid in Georgia has raised questions about whether business and diplomatic relations between South Korea and the United States could suffer permanent damage. The incident has been a topic of concern, particularly given the recent multibillion-dollar deals unveiled by South Korean business heavyweights, including Korean Air and Hyundai, in the United States last month.

As the workers prepare to return home, the focus shifts to the future of the Hyundai-LG factory and the broader US-South Korea relationship. The South Korean Foreign Minister, Cho Hyun, is currently in the United States to discuss these matters further.