*

South Korea says US release of arrest photos, video is

regrettable

*

Incident risks damaging US-South Korea ties amid trade

deal

talks

*

Largest single-site enforcement in DHS history, 475

workers

arrested

By Hyunjoo Jin

SEOUL, Sept 7 (Reuters) - South Korea said on Saturday

that the U.S. release of photos and a video of the arrest of

hundreds of Korean workers was regrettable, especially as the

incident followed so closely after a summit between the two

nations' leaders.

U.S. immigration officials raided a Hyundai Motor ( HYMLF )

car battery factory on Thursday and later released a

video and photos of workers shackled at the wrists, waist and

ankles getting on a bus after the raid.

The crackdown could risk damaging ties between Washington

and Seoul, a key Asian ally and U.S. investor, when the two are

trying to narrow their differences and finalise a trade deal

after a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and South

Korean President Lee Jae Myung.

First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo told U.S. Under

Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker in a

telephone call that it was regrettable the incident "occurred at

a critical time, when the momentum of trust and cooperation

between the two leaders, forged through their first summit, must

be maintained," the foreign ministry said in a statement

released late on Saturday.

Park also asked Hooker to ensure a fair and swift resolution

to the matter.

"The economic activities of our companies that have invested

in the U.S. and the rights and interests of our citizens should

not be unfairly infringed upon during the course of U.S. law

enforcement," he said.

The arrest of some 475 workers at the plant near Savannah,

Georgia, included more than 300 Koreans and was the largest

single-site enforcement operation in the U.S. Department of

Homeland Security's history.

The video and photos of the raid, which involved a

helicopter and armoured vehicles, showed hundreds of workers

standing in front of a building, some wearing yellow vests with

the names "Hyundai" or "LG CNS." Two workers hid in a pond

before they were arrested.

President Lee Jae Myung ordered a swift, all-out response to

the arrests, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said at an emergency

meeting on Saturday. Cho said he may go to Washington to meet

with officials if needed.

LG Energy Solution, which is working with

Hyundai to build the factory, said it had asked employees to

return from U.S. business trips while suspending travel to the

United States except for customer meetings.

Hyundai Motor ( HYMLF ) said it would investigate its suppliers and

their subcontractors to ensure they meet regulations.

Trump, when asked about the raid, said on Friday: "I would

say that they were illegal aliens and ICE was just doing its

job."