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As one worker looked out of his office glass and saw armoured trucks and enforcement agents moving about carrying guns, he was stunned, but not worried.

The South Korean man was certain it was nothing to do with him. Youngjin was in the US only for a short period on a temporary visa, he thought to himself.

Then, the weapon-carrying officers stormed into his space and commanded him out. They handcuffed him, then connecting chains to his waist and legs, and placed him onto a bus headed for a holding facility.

"I was terrified and my mind went blank. I felt sick," he told during a discussion, now returned home.

"I couldn't understand why I was being treated like this."

The worker is one of more than 300 South Korean workers who were detained in the American state of the Southern state recently, in among of the largest enforcement raids of the recent presidency so far. Youngjin and fellow detainees spoken with for this article preferred not to disclose their real names in order to protect their privacy.

'Helicopters and Drones… Officers With Firearms'

American officials at first stated the workers had been in the nation illegally on incorrect 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.

The majority of the personnel were in the United States temporarily, assisting to construct an electric car power facility run by two Korean companies, Hyundai and LG – part of a US push to encourage international businesses to invest and manufacture more in the states.

LG indicated that many of its employees who were arrested had various kinds of permits or were under a permit-free programme. And so they were particularly shocked by the operation.

"We just stepped outside for a short break and I could see a lot of people, agents with weapons. As Koreans, we just thought they were here to detain criminals, but then, they suddenly started detaining us," said another detainee, who was also taken that day.

Chul-yong said they attempted to clarify who they were, but they were terrified: "There were choppers and drones, armoured trucks… people with firearms."

There were some agents pointing weapons at workers, he claimed. "You know those laser lasers that emit from those guns? It was so shocking that some individuals were trembling in fear."

Even those who managed to provide their visa information said they were taken into custody. "I believed everything would be cleared up but instead, they suddenly restrained us," said another worker detained, who just wanted to give his last name.

The detainee said there was a restraint around his ankles and another around his body, connected to handcuffs. "They were so tight, I was unable to touch my head with my hands."

Each of them said they had little understanding why this was occurring, or where they were being transported. "Eventually I discovered that I was detained at the Folkston immigration Processing Center," mentioned Chul-yong. Chul-yong had been intending to remain for about a 30 days but was arrested on his sixth day there.

The Conditions Were Freezing... The Water Smelt Similar to Wastewater'

The engineer, an engineer and contract worker for LG, was planned to be there for five weeks to educate staff to use some of the specialized high-tech equipment.

This 30-year-old was trembling, still clearly distressed, as he recounted his transfer to the detention centre and confined in a room with dozens of other people.

"I had a anxiety episode. I just stood there shaking," he said. The room was extremely cold, and the new detainees were not provided blankets for the initial days, he noted.

"I was in light clothing, so I put my arms inside my garments and covered myself in a towel to try to keep heated at night," he said. "The worst aspect was the water. It had an odor reminiscent of waste. We consumed as little as possible."

The sleeping areas were all taken, Chul-yong said, by the moment he arrived, leaving him and others to locate any empty space to sleep, even an empty surface where they could lay their head down.

"We tried to sleep anywhere, really. It was very cold. There were individuals who found packaged food, warmed it up in the microwave, holding it throughout the evening."

During the first few days, the worker had little clue how much time he would be held for. He feared it might be a long period. It was only after a number of the detainees were able to meet attorneys and consular staff, that they understand their government was working with the US officials to get them freed.

"Even the American authorities believes it might have been a somewhat too extreme," the nation's chief economic negotiator told reporters after coming back from the US. Seoul states it is now investigating possible human rights abuses during the operation by US officers.

The administration acknowledged the necessity to have experts from overseas educate up US workers, and as per South Korean representatives, US Assistant Official of State Christopher Landau has expressed his "sincere regrets" over the incident.

Nevertheless, it has damaged ties between the United States and South Korea, usually strong partners, particularly since it occurred soon on the aftermath of a economic agreement in which South Korean firms pledged to contribute $350bn in the US.

The worker believed his work was permitted by his business visa - and contended it made no sense for the authorities to detain hundreds of individuals without verifying their functions in the plant.

Another individual, who was in the US on a three-month permit-exempt scheme, is adamant he did no illegal. "I only attended meetings and delivered instructional presentations," he said, explaining this was under the terms of the waiver. "Our confidence in the United States has been greatly shaken. I don't think it's a trustworthy ally for South Korea."

Even though back with his loved ones, the engineer is continuing struggling to process what happened to him. At the time he saw them at the terminal after returning to South Korea on Friday night, he said he smiled and {hug