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Photo = Yonhap news |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Amid escalating protests in Los Angeles sparked by a crackdown on undocumented immigrants, major South Korean companies have issued internal advisories urging employees to avoid travel to the area and consider alternative airports.
On June 15, industry sources revealed that Samsung Electronics posted a notice titled "Safety Advisory Regarding LA Protests" on its internal business travel system. The guidance includes prohibiting access to protest zones and recommending the use of alternative airports instead of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
LG Electronics has also been distributing real-time safety notices through its emergency response team, utilizing company-wide bulletin boards and its travel management system. In addition to the LA advisory, the company recently issued warnings regarding business travel to the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
Korean Air, which has a significant number of personnel staying in the area due to flight operations, has taken further measures. “For the safety of our crew, we have temporarily relocated accommodations to hotels near the airport,” a company official stated.
The unrest follows a tragic incident in Minnesota on June 14, where Melissa Hortman—a former speaker of the Minnesota House—and her husband were shot and killed at their home by an assailant posing as a police officer.
While defense firms such as Hanwha and HD Hyundai have yet to issue specific travel guidelines, they are closely monitoring developments. These companies have been actively pursuing local partnerships and expansion in the U.S., making the unfolding situation particularly sensitive.
The steel industry, which is also focused on U.S. localization strategies, is responding with similar caution.
Companies are also adjusting their travel protocols in response to stricter U.S. immigration procedures. Samsung Electronics has reinforced its entry guidelines for U.S. business trips, limiting the maximum stay under the ESTA program to two weeks. Any extension beyond this period requires prior coordination with the company’s international HR departments.
Some Samsung affiliates have also issued tips for entry interviews, including providing concise and clear responses, ensuring consistency between the stated ESTA purpose and the actual visit, and fully cooperating with secondary screening officials if required.
The protests erupted after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided downtown LA on June 6 (local time), arresting dozens of undocumented immigrants. The unrest has since spread to other major cities, including New York, Seattle, and San Francisco, as the Trump administration has deployed U.S. Marines and the National Guard while imposing nighttime curfews.
AlphaBIZ Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
