Flight repatriating South Koreans detained by US immigration authorities to depart Atlanta Thursday afternoon, source says

Yonhap/AP via CNN Newsource

By Karina Tsui, Mike Valerio, Yoonjung Seo, Jennifer Hansler

Seoul, South Korea (CNN) — A flight carrying more than 300 South Korean workers who were detained by US immigration authorities in Georgia last week will depart Thursday afternoon, according to a Korean government official familiar with the matter.

A Korean Air charter plane from Seoul landed in Atlanta Wednesday to help repatriate the South Korean citizens. The plane will arrive at South Korea’s Incheon International Airport on Friday afternoon

The South Korean citizens “won’t be wearing handcuffs or other physical restraints,” the Korean government official said.

While the workers will soon be on their way home, the impact of the detentions on US-South Korean relations – notably the countries’