South Korea to bring 300 ...
Updated : 2025-09-08 18:52:00 KST
South Korea to bring 300 detained nationals from U.S., foreign minister flying out to D.C.
We start with the government's press briefing about the fate of the hundreds of South Koreans who were swept up by U.S. authorities last Thursday following a raid at the Hyundai plant in Georgia. For more I have our senior correspondent Oh Soo-young standing by live on the line. Soo-young welcome. So the government has reached an understanding with Washington to have all the Korean detainees return to Seoul on a chartered flight?
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Yes. South Korea is organizing a chartered flight to bring the 300 or so detained nationals home from the United States, after they were arrested last Thursday on suspicion of illegal stay and employment. A Foreign Ministry official told us this morning that the government has negotiated a voluntary departure of all those arrested at the Hyundai-LG factory. This is the fastest path to their release compared to deportation or an immigration trial which could take years to settle.
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deportation (국외) 추방; (강제) 송환[이송, 수송].
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While the government is keen to bring back all those detained, individuals wishing to remain and fight the legality of their arrest in court,.. are free to do so. However, they are likely stay under detention as they pursue their cases. As for the chartered flight, officials are hoping to schedule it at the earliest possible date, with September 10th mentioned in media reports,.. but the ministry has indicated the date hasn't yet been finalized.
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keen 간절히 …하고 싶은, …을 열망하는; John was very keen to help. 존은 정말 간절히 돕고 싶었다.
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According to the ministry official, that the timing of return depends on the pace of administrative procedures like ID checks, and obtaining each person's consent for voluntary departure. Korea's diplomatic missions on the ground have also conducted interviews with some 250 detainees over the weekend, to check their status and well-being. So far, there have been no reports of any major health or human rights issues. That is good to know. Also Soo-young I believe Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is heading to the U.S.?
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on the ground 현장[현지]에서
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That's right. Minister Cho departs Seoul tonight and lands in Washington, D.C., late on Monday local time. His immediate task is to ensure that the release of Korean nationals and their return by chartered flight goes ahead smoothly without any last-minute hurdles from U.S. agencies. He's also likely to urge the U.S. not to penalize or discriminate them upon future visits to the U.S., as risks remain even under voluntary departure, depending on each individual's visa or immigration status.
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discriminate 차별하다
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Cho Hyun told lawmakers today at an emergency foreign affairs committee session that Seoul and Washington have reached "a broad agreement" to avoid additional disadvantages for the individuals when they seek to re-enter the U.S. He said final confirmation procedures are still pending, but insisted negotiations are going well "in a direction that avoids five-year entry bans."
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pending 미결[미정]인, 계류 중인
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Beyond that, the foreign minister will likely press for a structural solution, seeking more reliable visa pathways for Korean businesses bringing operations and skilled workers to the U.S., as long as the Trump Administration continues to urge allied nations to invest in America. Back to you, Sun-hee. All right Soo-young thank you for that update.
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press for press for …을 강요하다(=urge). ~을 계속 요구하다 (=demand)
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영어 원문 출처 및 동영상 링크;
arirang news/Foreign Policy
https://m.arirang.com/news/view?id=286959
