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When Youngjin glanced through his office glass and saw security trucks and enforcement agents moving around carrying guns, he was surprised, but not worried.

This South Korean individual was certain it had unrelated to do with him. He was in the United States just for a few weeks on a short-term visa, he thought to himself.

Suddenly, the armed agents stormed into his space and commanded him outside. They handcuffed him, then attaching chains to his midsection and legs, and placed him onto a bus bound for a holding centre.

"I panicked and my mind froze. I felt sick," he shared during a discussion, now back home.

"I couldn't understand why I was being treated in this manner."

Youngjin is one of over 300 South Korean employees who were detained in the American state of the Southern state recently, in one of the largest enforcement raids during the recent administration to date. Youngjin and others interviewed for this article preferred not to reveal their real names in order to protect their privacy.

Aircraft and Drones… People Carrying Firearms'

American officials initially stated the workers had been in the nation without authorization on improper documents, but eventually the two sides struck a deal permitting them to leave voluntarily without any penalties, so they could return to be employed there in the coming years.

The majority of the personnel were in the US temporarily, helping to construct an EV power plant run by a pair of South Korean companies, Hyundai and LG – a segment of a US push to encourage foreign companies to put money and manufacture more in the country.

The company indicated that a large number of its staff who were detained had various types of permits or were under a visa waiver arrangement. Therefore they were particularly shocked by the operation.

"We just came out for a brief break and I could see a many people, officials with weapons. As Koreans, we just thought they were here to arrest lawbreakers, but then, they abruptly started arresting us," said another detainee, who was also taken that day.

Chul-yong said they tried to explain who they were, but they were terrified: "There were helicopters and unmanned aircraft, security vehicles… people with firearms."

There were some officers pointing guns at us, he stated. "You know those red dots that emit from those guns? It was so shocking that some people were shivering in terror."

Even those who managed to share their visa information said they were taken into custody. "I thought everything would be cleared up but instead, they suddenly restrained us," said Mr Kim involved, who just wanted to give his surname.

The detainee said there was a restraint around his ankles and one more around his body, linked to restraints. "They were so tight, I couldn't touch my face with my arms."

They all said they had little understanding why this was happening, or where they were being taken. "I later learned that I was held at the Folkston ICE Processing Facility," added the software engineer. Chul-yong had been planning to remain for about a month but was arrested on his sixth day there.

The Conditions Were Freezing... Drinking Water Smelt Similar to Sewage

The engineer, a specialist and sub-contractor for the company, was scheduled to be there for over a month to train personnel to operate some of the specialized advanced machinery.

The 30-year-old was shaking, even clearly distressed, as he described his transfer to the holding center and confined in a cell with 60-70 other detainees.

"I had a anxiety episode. I just stood there shaking," he said. The area was extremely cold, and the recent individuals were not given coverings for the first two days, he noted.

"I was wearing short sleeves, so I put my limbs inside my clothes and covered myself in a towel to try to keep heated at during the evening," he said. "Most difficult part was the liquid. It had an odor like waste. We consumed as minimally as possible."

Those bunk beds were all taken, Chul-yong said, by the moment he got there, forcing him and others to find any available spot to rest, even an empty desk where they could lay their head down.

"We tried to sleep wherever possible, really. It was very cold. There were individuals who found wrapped bread, heated it up in the oven, hugging it throughout the evening."

For the first few days, the worker had little clue how long he would be detained for. He feared it might be months. Only after some of the workers were able to meet lawyers and diplomatic officials, did they realise their authorities was working with the US officials to get them freed.

"Even the American side feels it might have been a somewhat too extreme," South Korea's lead trade negotiator informed reporters after coming back from the US. South Korea states it is now investigating possible human rights abuses during the raid by American officers.

Trump recognized the necessity to have specialists from overseas train up American workers, and as per South Korean officials, American Deputy Official of State a senior diplomat has expressed his "sincere regrets" over the event.

Nevertheless, it has shaken ties between the US and South Korea, typically close partners, especially since it occurred hard on the heels of a trade deal in which South Korean companies pledged to invest $350bn in the United States.

Mr Kim was confident his work was allowed by his business permit - and contended it made little logic for the officials to arrest hundreds of individuals without clarifying their roles in the factory.

Younjin, who was in the United States on a three-month visa waiver programme, is adamant he did no wrong. "I only attended meetings and delivered instructional presentations," he said, noting this was under the terms of the waiver. "Our trust in the US has been deeply undermined. I don't think it's a trustworthy partner for South Korea."

Even though back with his family, the worker is continuing struggling to process what happened to him. When he met them at the airport after arriving to South Korea on that night, he said he smiled and {hug