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When Youngjin looked out of his workspace window and saw security trucks and immigration agents running around with guns, he was stunned, yet unconcerned.

This South Korean man was convinced it was nothing to do with him. Youngjin was in the United States only for a short period on a temporary permit, he reflected to himself.

Suddenly, those weapon-carrying officers stormed into his room and ordered him out. They handcuffed him, before connecting restraints to his midsection and legs, and loaded him onto a vehicle headed for a detention centre.

"I was terrified and my thoughts froze. I felt ill," he told during a discussion, now back in South Korea.

"I was confused about why I was being treated in this manner."

The worker is among of more than 300 South Korean workers who were arrested in the American state of Georgia earlier this month, in among of the largest immigration raids of Donald Trump's presidency to date. Youngjin and fellow detainees interviewed about this article preferred not to disclose their full names in order to protect their privacy.

Aircraft and Drones… People With Firearms'

American authorities at first claimed the individuals had been in the nation illegally on improper documents, but eventually the parties struck a deal permitting them to depart without force free from any consequences, so they could return to work there in the coming years.

Most of the personnel were in the US temporarily, assisting to build an EV battery plant run by two Korean firms, Hyundai and a tech giant – part of a US push to encourage international businesses to invest and manufacture more in the country.

LG said that many of its employees who were arrested had different types of visas or were under a visa waiver programme. And so they were especially shocked by the raid.

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

Chul-yong said they tried to clarify who they were, but they were terrified: "There were helicopters and drones, security vehicles… people with guns."

We noticed some agents aiming weapons at us, he claimed. "You know those red dots that emit from those guns? It was so shocking that some people were shivering in fear."

Even those who were able to provide their visa information said they were arrested. "I thought everything would be cleared up but on the contrary, they suddenly shackled us," said another worker involved, who just wanted to give his surname.

The detainee said there was a restraint around his feet and one more around his body, connected to restraints. "They were so constricting, I was unable to touch my face with my hands."

They all said they had little understanding why this was happening, or where they were being transported. "I later learned that I was detained at the a specific immigration Detention Center," mentioned the software engineer. He had been planning to stay for about a month but was arrested on his sixth day there.

The Conditions Were Freezing... Drinking Water Smelt Like Wastewater'

Youngjin, a specialist and contract worker for the company, was scheduled to be there for over a month to educate staff to operate some of the specialized advanced machinery.

The engineer was trembling, still clearly distressed, as he described being taken to the holding centre and locked in a room with 60-70 other people.

"I had a anxiety episode. I just stood there shaking," he said. The area was freezing, and the recent individuals were not given blankets for the initial days, he added.

"I was wearing short sleeves, so I put my arms inside my garments and wrapped myself in a cloth to try to keep heated at during the evening," he said. "The worst part was the water. It smelt like sewage. We drank as minimally as possible."

Those bunk beds were all occupied, Chul-yong said, by the moment he got there, leaving him and fellow detainees to locate any empty spot to rest, including an unused surface where they could lay their head down.

"We tried to sleep anywhere, truly. It was really chilly. There were people who found wrapped food, heated it up in the oven, holding it throughout the evening."

For the initial days, Youngjin had no idea how long he would be detained for. He worried it might be months. Only after some of the workers were able to meet attorneys and consular officials, that they realise their authorities was working with the American authorities to get them released.

"Including the US authorities believes it may have gone a somewhat too extreme," South Korea's lead economic negotiator informed reporters after returning from the United States. Seoul states it is now reviewing potential human rights violations during the operation by American officers.

Trump acknowledged the necessity to have specialists from overseas educate up American workers, and according to Korean officials, American Deputy Official of State Christopher Landau has expressed his "deep apologies" over the event.

Still, it has shaken relations between the US and Korea, typically close allies, especially since it occurred hard on the heels of a trade agreement in which Korean companies committed to invest $350bn in the United States.

The worker believed his work was allowed by his business visa - and argued it made little logic for the authorities to detain hundreds of individuals without verifying their functions in the plant.

Another individual, who was in the United States on a three-month visa waiver scheme, is firm he did nothing illegal. "I only participated in meetings and gave instructional presentations," he said, explaining this was under the scope of the arrangement. "My trust in the US has been deeply 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 occurred to him. When he saw them at the airport after arriving home on Friday night, he said he smiled and {hug