Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to Visit South Korea in October to Meet with Local Companies

Brian Kemp, Governor of Georgia, USA, is scheduled to visit South Korea this October to meet with representatives of major Korean companies.

On October 1 (local time), it was reported that Governor Kemp is planning a visit to Korea in the fall, following recent incidents involving immigration raids at the Hyundai Motor-LG Energy Solution joint battery plant in Georgia, which led to the large-scale detainment of Korean workers by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to the Governor’s Office, Kemp will visit Korea and Japan later this year to strengthen economic ties with key partners. Officials emphasized that the trip to Korea had been planned prior to the worker detainment on September 4.

Local media, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, also previously reported on September 21 that Kemp was preparing for this visit to Korea.

Governor Kemp’s visit is likely to take place in October, with meetings expected to involve Hyundai Motor and other business partners. Given that an international conference with governors from other southern U.S. states is scheduled for October 28-29 in Japan, there is speculation that Kemp may stop in Korea before or after attending the event.

Meanwhile, according to documents obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the immigration raids at the battery plant were carried out without prior notification to the Georgia Governor’s Office. Governor Kemp reportedly received no advance warning from U.S. authorities about the raid on September 4. Some officials within the administration feared that the incident could strain relations with Hyundai and jeopardize the Hyundai Motor Meta Plant project.

Three days after the raid, on September 7, Kemp shared a text message from White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with his aides. In the message, Wiles informed him that the Department of Homeland Security had been preparing the operation for some time. She added that President Trump had discussed the matter and inquired whether the visa issues could be resolved to avoid any disruptions to the plant’s construction.

Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson expressed hopes that federal authorities would expedite the issuance of appropriate visas, allowing essential personnel to return quickly.

On the same day, Governor Kemp also circulated Hyundai Motor’s official statement among his staff. Hyundai acknowledged shortcomings in verifying workers’ job-related procedures and pledged to tighten verification measures moving forward.

After the immigration raid, the Governor’s Office faced a flood of questions from residents and the media. One constituent called the incident a “major embarrassment” for the state in an email to Kemp. Another urged the governor to demand clarification on Hyundai’s business practices.

In response to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s coverage, the Governor’s Office told Yonhap News Agency that Georgia remains committed to creating jobs in collaboration with Hyundai and other partners. The official statement highlighted the state’s strong relationship with Korean businesses, noted past cooperation, and expressed an intention to continue building mutually beneficial partnerships.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Yonhap News Agency