Hundreds of South Korean workers who had been detained in shackles in the United States landed in their home country on Friday, met by their family members who applauded and tearfully hugged them.
The chartered Korean Air passenger jet carrying 316 South Koreans and 14 other foreign workers landed at Incheon International Airport outside Seoul, the South Korean capital, on Friday, after a 13-hour flight. One of the returnees was pregnant, according to the South Korean presidential office.
Dozens of TV and other journalists crowded the arrival lounge, reflecting the intense attention that the workers’ arrest has generated in South Korea, a key U.S. ally in Asia. They were swept up last week in an immigration raid on a Georgia factory and taken away in handcuffs and shackles.
Hundreds of family members gathered in an airport parking tower, watching the landing of the plane on their smartphones. Some held up makeshift signs with the names of those they were waiting for. When the workers got off shuttle buses and walked into the tower, relatives rushed and hugged them in tears, while others clapped. Also awaiting them were officials from Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, which jointly own the Georgia factory, and their subcontractors.
Most of the returnees declined to talk to reporters as they were whisked away by their families. A handful answered questions, providing the first accounts of what had happened from the perspective of those who had been detained. Two of them described hearing about the raid before it happened. Some said they had gone to the United States on a visa waiver program or had traveled on a business visa, and expressed confusion about why they had been detained.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The post Freed by U.S., South Korean Workers Return Home to Tearful Cheers appeared first on New York Times.
