When Youngjin looked out of his office window and saw security vehicles and enforcement agents moving around with guns, he was stunned, but not worried.
The young individual was convinced it was unrelated to do with him. He was in the United States just for a few weeks on a temporary permit, he reflected to himself.
Then, those weapon-carrying officers stormed into his space and commanded him out. They handcuffed him, before connecting restraints to his waist and legs, and loaded him onto a bus headed for a holding facility.
"I was terrified and my thoughts froze. I felt sick," he shared in an interview, now back home.
"I couldn't understand why I was being handled like this."
The worker is one of over 300 Korean workers who were detained in the American state of Georgia recently, in one of the biggest enforcement operations during Donald Trump's administration to date. Youngjin and fellow detainees interviewed about this report didn't want to disclose their full names to protect their privacy.
'Helicopters and Drones… People With Guns
US officials initially stated the individuals had been in the nation illegally on improper documents, but later the parties struck a agreement allowing them to depart without force free from any consequences, so they could return to be employed there in the future.
The majority of the personnel were in the US temporarily, helping to construct an electric car power plant run by two South Korean companies, an automaker and LG – a segment of a American initiative to get foreign companies to invest and manufacture more in the states.
The company said that many of its staff who were arrested had various kinds of visas or were under a permit-free programme. And so they were especially shocked by the operation.
"We just stepped outside for a short break and I could see a lot of people, agents with guns. As South Koreans, we just thought they were here to detain criminals, but after that, they suddenly started detaining us," said another detainee, who was also detained that day.
He said they attempted to clarify who they were, but they were terrified: "We saw helicopters and unmanned aircraft, armoured vehicles… people with firearms."
There were some officers pointing weapons at workers, he stated. "Are you familiar with those red lasers that come out from those guns? It was so alarming that some individuals were shivering in fear."
Even those who were able to provide their visa information said they were taken into custody. "I thought everything would be resolved but on the contrary, they suddenly shackled us," said another worker involved, who just wanted to give his surname.
The detainee said there was a shackle around his feet and another around his body, connected to handcuffs. "It was so constricting, I was unable to touch my head with my arms."
Each of them said they had little understanding why this was occurring, or where they were being taken. "I later learned that I was detained at the Folkston ICE Processing Facility," mentioned Chul-yong. Chul-yong had been intending to stay for about a month but was detained on his sixth day there.
'It Was Very Cold... Drinking Water Had an Odor Similar to Sewage
The engineer, a specialist and sub-contractor for the company, was planned to be there for five weeks to educate staff to operate some of the specialized advanced equipment.
The engineer was trembling, even clearly upset, as he recounted his transfer to the holding centre and locked in a cell with 60-70 other people.
"I had a panic attack. I just stood there trembling," he said. The area was freezing, and the new detainees were not given coverings for the first two days, he added.
"I was wearing short sleeves, so I tucked my arms inside my garments and wrapped myself in a towel to try to keep warm at during the evening," he said. "Most difficult part was the water. It smelt reminiscent of sewage. We consumed as little as possible."
Those bunk beds were all taken, Chul-yong said, by the time he arrived, leaving him and fellow detainees to find any available spot to sleep, including an empty desk where they could put their head down.
"We tried to sleep wherever possible, truly. It was really chilly. There were people who located packaged bread, warmed it up in the oven, holding it throughout the night."
For the first few days, Youngjin had little clue how long he would be detained for. He worried it might be months. It was only after some of the workers were able to meet lawyers and diplomatic officials, did they realise their government was cooperating with the American officials to get them released.
"Even the US authorities feels it might have gone a bit too far," South Korea's lead economic negotiator informed reporters after returning from the United States. South Korea says it is now reviewing possible civil violations during the operation by American authorities.
Trump acknowledged the necessity to have experts from abroad train up American employees, and according to Korean officials, American Deputy Secretary of State a senior diplomat has conveyed his "sincere apologies" over the incident.
Still, it has shaken relations between the United States and Korea, typically strong allies, especially since it occurred hard on the aftermath of a trade agreement in which South Korean firms pledged to invest $350 billion in the United States.
The worker was confident his activities was permitted by his business visa - and argued it made no sense for the officials to detain hundreds of people without clarifying their functions in the factory.
Younjin, who was in the United States on a three-month permit-exempt scheme, is adamant he did no illegal. "I only participated in discussions and delivered training sessions," he said, explaining this was under the terms of the waiver. "My confidence in the US has been deeply undermined. I believe it's a reliable ally for our country."
Even though returned with his family, the engineer is continuing struggling to come to terms with what occurred to him. At the time he saw them at the airport after arriving home on Friday night, he said he greeted and {hug
