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 also mentioned that companies would be very hesitant about investing in the US following the raid. The situation is extremely bewildering, Lee noted, highlighting that it is common for Korean firms to send workers to support overseas factory setups.
Seoul is negotiating with Washington on visa options for South Korean workers, aiming to secure higher quotas or create new visa categories.
In the wake of the raid, Hyundai's chief executive, José Muñoz, indicated that the incident will delay the factory's opening by at least two to three months.
Last week, US officials detained 475 individuals - over 300 of whom were South Korean nationals - for allegedly working illegally at the plant, part of one of Georgia's largest foreign investment projects.
Media in South Korea described the raid as shocking, warning of potential long-term effects on business activities in the US. The operation raised alarms at a sensitive time in US-South Korea trade relations.
The White House defended the operation, asserting that it would not deter foreign investment and emphasized the need for compliance with immigration laws.
