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When one worker glanced out of his workspace glass and spotted security vehicles and immigration officers moving around with guns, he was stunned, yet not worried.

This South Korean man was convinced it was unrelated to do with him. Youngjin was in the US only for a short period on a temporary permit, he reflected to himself.

Suddenly, those armed officers burst into his room and ordered him outside. They restrained him, then connecting chains to his midsection and legs, and loaded him onto a vehicle bound for a holding facility.

"I panicked and my mind froze. I felt sick," he shared during a discussion, now returned in South Korea.

"I couldn't understand 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 the Southern state recently, in among of the largest immigration operations of Donald Trump's administration to date. Youngjin and fellow detainees spoken with about this article preferred not to reveal their full names in order to protect their identity.

Aircraft and UAVs… People With Firearms'

US officials initially stated the workers had been in the country illegally on improper documents, but eventually the parties reached a agreement allowing them to depart voluntarily free from any consequences, so they could come back to be employed there in the coming years.

Most of the personnel were in the US for a short time, assisting to build an EV battery plant run by two South Korean firms, an automaker and a tech giant – part of a US initiative to get international companies to put money and produce more in the states.

The company said that a large number of its staff who were detained had different kinds of visas or were under a permit-free arrangement. And so they were especially shocked by the operation.

"We just came out for a brief break and I could see a lot of individuals, agents with weapons. As Koreans, we just thought they were here to arrest lawbreakers, but after that, they suddenly started arresting us," said Chul-yong, who was also detained that day.

He said they attempted to clarify who they were, but they were frightened: "We saw choppers and unmanned aircraft, armoured trucks… people with firearms."

There were some agents aiming guns at workers, he stated. "You know those laser lasers that emit from those guns? It was so alarming that some people were shivering in terror."

Even those who managed to provide their visa information said they were taken into custody. "I believed everything would be cleared up but on the contrary, they without warning shackled us," said another worker involved, who only wanted to reveal his last name.

Chul-yong said there was a restraint around his feet and one more around his body, connected to handcuffs. "It was so constricting, I couldn't touch my head with my hands."

Each of them said they had little understanding why this was occurring, or where they were being taken. "Eventually I discovered that I was held at the Folkston immigration Detention Center," mentioned the software engineer. Chul-yong had been intending to stay for about a month but was detained on his sixth day there.

'It Was Very Cold... Drinking Water Smelt Similar to Sewage

The engineer, an engineer and sub-contractor for LG, was scheduled to be there for over a month to educate personnel to operate some of the specialist high-tech equipment.

The 30-year-old was trembling, still clearly distressed, as he recounted being taken to the detention center and locked in a room with 60-70 other detainees.

"I had a panic attack. I just remained there trembling," he said. The room was freezing, and the new detainees were not given coverings for the initial days, he added.

"I was wearing short sleeves, so I put my limbs inside my garments and covered myself in a towel to try to keep warm at night," he said. "Most difficult aspect was the liquid. It had an odor reminiscent of waste. We consumed as little as possible."

The bunk beds were all taken, another detainee said, by the moment he arrived, leaving him and fellow detainees to locate any available spot to rest, including an unused surface where they could lay their head down.

"We tried to rest wherever possible, really. It was really cold. There were people who located packaged food, warmed it up in the oven, hugging it throughout the night."

During the first few days, the worker had no idea how long he would be held for. He worried it might be months. Only after a number of the workers were able to consult lawyers and consular staff, that they realise their government was cooperating with the US authorities to get them freed.

"Including the American authorities believes it may have gone a somewhat too extreme," the nation's chief economic negotiator told reporters after coming back from the United States. South Korea states it is now reviewing potential human rights violations during the operation by US authorities.

The administration recognized the need to have specialists from abroad train up US employees, and according to South Korean officials, American Deputy Official of State Christopher Landau has conveyed his "deep regrets" over the incident.

Still, it has damaged relations between the United States and South Korea, typically strong partners, especially since it occurred hard on the aftermath of a economic deal in which South Korean firms pledged to invest $350bn in the US.

Mr Kim believed his activities was allowed by his B-1 visa - and contended it made no sense for the officials to detain hundreds of people without clarifying their roles in the factory.

Younjin, who was in the US on a 90-day permit-exempt programme, is adamant he committed no wrong. "I only attended discussions and delivered instructional presentations," he said, noting this was within the scope of the waiver. "Our confidence in the United States has been greatly undermined. I believe it's a reliable ally for South Korea."

Although back with his loved ones, the worker is continuing finding it hard to process what happened to him. When he saw them at the terminal after arriving to South Korea on that night, he said he smiled and {hug