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A Korean Air chartered plane carrying South Koreans detained at a joint battery plant construction site in Georgia taxis after landing at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on September 10. / Source: Yonhap News

A Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday that the delayed return of 317 South Koreans detained by U.S. immigration authorities was due to President Donald Trump recommending that they remain in the United States instead of flying home.

At a press briefing held at the Korean Embassy in Washington, the official explained that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed Trump’s stance to Foreign Minister Cho Hyun earlier in the day at the White House.

According to the official, Rubio told Cho that Trump viewed the detained Koreans as highly skilled workers and instructed U.S. agencies to suspend repatriation so that Korea’s position could be considered on whether they should stay and train American workers, rather than return home immediately.

“Minister Cho responded that our nationals were shocked and exhausted, and suggested it would be best for them to return home first before coming back to work in the U.S. later,” the official said. “Secretary Rubio respected this view and agreed that the detainees should be allowed to return.”

The ministry dismissed speculation that the delay was caused by disagreements within U.S. agencies over whether to handcuff the detainees during their transfer to the airport. The official stressed that Trump had explicitly instructed that they be transported without restraints, in line with South Korea’s strong request.

“This considerate decision by President Trump reflects the close bond built during the successful Korea-U.S. summit, as well as our government’s consistent position on the detention issue,” the official added.

He emphasized that the Foreign Ministry will continue to work closely with U.S. authorities until the South Koreans are released and return home safely.