More than 300 South Koreans who were detained in a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in the US state of Georgia last week are due to arrive home on Friday.
Their return comes as the country's president and Hyundai's chief executive have warned about the impact of the raid.
A chartered Korean Air jet carrying the workers and 14 non-Koreans who were also detained in the raid took off from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at midday local time on Thursday (17:00 BST). One South Korean national has reportedly chosen to stay in the US to seek permanent residency.
The plane is expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport around 15:30 Seoul time (07:30 BST).
The departure was delayed by more than a day due to an instruction from the White House, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Thursday.
President Donald Trump ordered the pause to check whether the workers were willing to remain in the US to continue working and training Americans, according to a South Korean foreign ministry official.
Lee emphasized that companies would be very hesitant about investing in the US following the raid, stating, If that's no longer allowed, establishing manufacturing facilities in the US will only become more difficult... making companies question whether it's worth doing at all. Seoul is negotiating with Washington on visa options for South Korean workers.
Hyundai's chief executive, José Muñoz, indicated the raid will delay the factory's opening, stating, minimum two to three months delay [in opening the factory] because now all these people want to get back. On the previous week, US officials detained 475 individuals, primarily involving South Korean workers suspected of working illegally.
The operation has incited reactions in South Korea, described by major media as a shock, with implications for future business relations between the two countries.
