Marketplace All-in-One US issues apology for Hyundai immigration raid
Nov 19, 2025
Join Nick Marsh, a BBC reporter who covered the Hyundai Georgia factory raid, and Jonathan Beale, a Kyiv correspondent revealing corruption in Ukraine's energy sector. They discuss the White House's unprecedented apology to Hyundai's CEO after over 300 South Korean workers were detained, heightening diplomatic tensions. Marsh highlights the implications for U.S. investment in manufacturing. Beale dives into a massive corruption probe in Ukraine, detailing public outrage and the political fallout for Zelensky during wartime.
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White House Apology To Hyundai CEO
- Hyundai's CEO Jose Munoz said the White House phoned to apologise after the Georgia raid that detained hundreds of South Korean workers.
- He also received a call from Georgia's governor saying the raid 'was not a state matter' and expressing regret.
Shocking Images And Worker Returns
- Images of hundreds of South Korean workers shackled on the factory floor were widely shared after the raid.
- Most of the detained skilled workers were returned and have resumed setting up the plant.
Apology Reveals Policy Tension
- The apology suggests the White House feared losing crucial foreign investment in US manufacturing.
- The episode shows a tension between immigration enforcement and encouraging foreign companies to reshore production.