Seoul says US must fix its visa system if it wants Korea's investments

Optics of the Raid and Treatment of Workers

• Many see the shackling and “perp walk” of Korean engineers as gratuitous humiliation of a key ally, done for domestic political theater rather than safety.
• Critics argue the same goals (visa enforcement, “tough on immigration” messaging) could have been achieved with low‑key detentions and coordination with the Korean embassy.
• Others counter that public arrests are standard in both the US and Korea, and that foreign nationals who break immigration law should not expect gentle treatment just because their employer invests heavily.

Visa Legality and Systemic Ambiguity

• There is sharp disagreement over whether most workers actually violated visa terms:
  • Some claim it was a “clear violation” (B‑1/B‑2 or ESTA not permitting their level of on‑site work).
  • Others cite reporting that at least one worker had a valid B‑1/B‑2 and that an internal ICE memo said he had not violated it, yet was still pushed into “voluntary departure.”
• Commenters highlight how vague the line is between allowed “business meetings/training/installation” and prohibited “work,” and note that companies routinely relied on ESTA/B‑1 for short technical trips.
• Several argue Hyundai/LG should have used L‑1 or “B‑1 in lieu of H‑1B” and almost certainly had immigration counsel; others say US consulates often make those paths impractical.

Immigration Enforcement, Rights, and Quotas

• Many describe ICE as operating with arrest quotas and “propaganda” raids, focused on spectacle rather than proportional enforcement.
• Others insist immigration violations are real harms (including undercutting local labor) and that enforcement, even if harsh, is legitimate.
• There is concern that people are being held without criminal charges for leverage in trade/industrial policy, which some label de facto hostage‑taking.

Economic and Geopolitical Fallout

• Multiple comments predict reduced Korean investment and tourism, and broader distrust of the US as a manufacturing and R&D base.
• Some note South Korea’s growing leverage as a shipbuilding, battery, and defense supplier, and warn this weakens the US in any future confrontation with China.
• Others argue Korea has long exploited the US via trade barriers, subsidies, and IP theft, and that this incident mainly surfaces pre‑existing resentments.

Chilling Effect on Global Business Travel

• Numerous non‑US commenters say they or their companies now avoid US trips on ESTA/visa waivers due to fear of arbitrary detention over routine work (coding, email, conferences).
• The lack of a practical, light‑weight work visa for short technical visits is seen as effectively making the US “closed for business” for many kinds of collaboration.

Responsibility: Companies vs Workers

• Some frame this primarily as Korean firms gaming immigration to avoid hiring and training US workers.
• Others stress that frontline engineers and technicians—often following company orders—paid the price, while executives and investors faced no consequences.