*

Incident risks damaging US-South Korea ties amid trade

deal

talks

*

Largest single-site enforcement in DHS history, 475

workers

arrested

*

US lawmakers from Georgia, Asian American caucus 'deeply

alarmed' at mass raid

*

LG Energy Solution sends executive to Georgia

(Adds statements from US lawmakers in paragraphs 9-10, in

paragraph 12, bullets)

By Hyunjoo Jin

SEOUL, Sept 7 (Reuters) - South Korea said the U.S.

government's release of images 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. On Friday,

Immigration and Customs Enforcement 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 complete a trade deal

after the summit between 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 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 history of the U.S.

Department of Homeland Security, which includes ICE.

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.

TRUMP CALLS WORKERS 'ILLEGAL ALIENS'

U.S. lawmakers from Georgia and Congressional Asian Pacific

American Caucus said on Saturday they were "deeply alarmed" by

the massive raid.

"Instead of targeting violent criminals, the Trump

administration is going after immigrants at work and in

communities of color to meet its mass deportation quotas. These

senseless actions rip apart families, hurt the economy, and

undermine the trust of our global partners," they said in a

statement.

President Lee ordered a swift, all-out response to the

arrests, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told 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.

The company said on Sunday it had sent a human resources

executive to Georgia to "ensure the swift and safe release of

those detained".

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."