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When Youngjin glanced out of his workspace window and spotted armoured vehicles and immigration officers running about carrying guns, he was stunned, but not worried.

The young individual was convinced it had nothing to do with him. He was in the United States just for a short period on a temporary visa, he reflected to himself.

Then, those weapon-carrying officers burst into his space and commanded him outside. They handcuffed him, before connecting chains to his midsection and ankles, and placed him onto a bus headed for a detention centre.

"I was terrified and my thoughts froze. I felt ill," he shared in an interview, now back in South Korea.

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

Youngjin is among of over 300 South Korean workers who were detained in the US state of the Southern state recently, in among of the biggest enforcement operations during Donald Trump's administration so far. Youngjin and fellow detainees spoken with for this report didn't want to disclose their full names in order to protect their identity.

'Helicopters and UAVs… Officers Carrying Guns

American authorities initially stated the workers had been in the nation without authorization on incorrect documents, but eventually the two sides reached a deal allowing them to depart voluntarily free from any consequences, so they could come back to be employed there in the coming years.

The majority of the workers were in the US for a short time, assisting to build an EV power facility run by two South Korean firms, Hyundai and a tech giant – part of a American push to get international companies to invest and produce more in the states.

The company said that a large number of its staff who were arrested had various types of permits or were under a visa waiver programme. And so they were especially surprised by the operation.

"We just came out for a brief pause and I could see a many individuals, agents with weapons. As South Koreans, we just thought they were here to arrest criminals, but after that, they abruptly started arresting us," said Chul-yong, who was also taken that day.

He said they tried to explain who they were, but they were frightened: "We saw helicopters and drones, security vehicles… officers with guns."

There were some officers aiming guns at us, he stated. "You know those laser lasers that emit from those firearms? It was so alarming that some individuals were trembling in fear."

Including those who managed to provide their immigration information said they were taken into custody. "I thought everything would be cleared up but on the contrary, they without warning shackled us," said another worker detained, who just wanted to reveal his surname.

The detainee said there was a restraint around his feet and another around his body, linked to handcuffs. "They were so tight, I couldn't touch my face with my hands."

They all said they had no idea why this was happening, or where they were being taken. "I later learned that I was held at the Folkston ICE Detention Facility," added Chul-yong. Chul-yong had been planning to stay for about a month but was arrested on his sixth day there.

The Conditions Were Very Cold... Drinking Water Smelt Like Wastewater'

The engineer, an engineer and sub-contractor for LG, was planned to be there for five weeks to train personnel to operate some of the specialist advanced machinery.

The 30-year-old was shaking, even clearly distressed, as he described being taken to the detention centre and confined in a cell with 60-70 other detainees.

"I had a panic attack. I just stood there shaking," he said. The room was freezing, and the new individuals were not provided coverings for the initial days, he added.

"I was wearing light clothing, so I put my limbs inside my clothes and wrapped myself in a cloth to try to keep warm at during the evening," he said. "Most difficult aspect was the water. It had an odor reminiscent of sewage. We drank as little as possible."

Those bunk beds were all taken, Chul-yong said, by the time he arrived, leaving him and others to locate any available spot to rest, including an empty desk where they could put their head down.

"We tried to sleep anywhere, really. It was very cold. There were people who located packaged food, warmed it up in the oven, hugging it throughout the evening."

For the initial days, Youngjin had little clue how long he would be held for. He worried it might be a long period. Only after a number of the detainees were able to meet attorneys and consular staff, that they understand their government was working with the American authorities to get them freed.

"Even the American authorities feels it may have gone a somewhat too extreme," the nation's lead trade representative told the media after returning from the United States. Seoul states it is now reviewing possible civil abuses during the raid by US authorities.

The administration acknowledged the necessity to have specialists from overseas train up American employees, and according to Korean representatives, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has expressed his "sincere regrets" over the event.

Nevertheless, it has damaged ties between the United States and Korea, typically close allies, especially since it came soon on the aftermath of a trade deal in which South Korean companies pledged to contribute $350 billion in the United States.

The worker believed his activities was allowed by his B-1 permit - and argued it made no sense for the officials to arrest hundreds of people without verifying their roles in the plant.

Another individual, who was in the US on a three-month visa waiver programme, is firm he did nothing illegal. "I only attended discussions and delivered training sessions," he said, explaining this was under the terms of the arrangement. "My trust in the United States has been greatly shaken. I believe it's a reliable partner for South Korea."

Even though returned with his loved ones, the engineer is still finding it hard to come to terms with what happened to him. When he saw them at the airport after arriving home on Friday night, he said he greeted and {hug