① Boycott Movement in Korea Gains Momentum in Thailand
In Thailand, a growing sentiment urges people to refrain from traveling to South Korea. A boycott movement against South Korea is taking place in Thailand, primarily due to the strict immigration screening process that has led to an increase in Thai citizens being sent back home before even setting foot on Korean soil.
South Korea is one of the favorite travel destinations for Thai people, thanks to the influence of Korean dramas, movies, and K-pop. A visa exemption agreement between South Korea and Thailand allows Thai tourists to stay in Korea for up to 90 days without a visa.
However, the number of Thais being forced to return home without being able to travel to Korea is increasing, leading to the boycott movement. Recently, the hashtags ‘Korea Travel Ban’ and ‘Korean Immigration Office’ topped the charts on social media platform X. Posts with the hashtag ‘Korea Travel Ban’ have exceeded 1 million.
These individuals had planned their trips months in advance, only to have their vacations ruined by denied entry. One Thai citizen shared a baffling experience, stating, “An immigration officer asked me why I came to Korea for tourism four times.” Another Thai citizen claimed their entry was denied because they had “too much money,” arguing, “It’s money I’ve saved for five years for this trip.”
A professor from a Thai university stated, “I have traveled to over 20 countries, but my entry was denied in Korea.” Thai citizens who claim to have been denied entry say they had prepared all necessary documents, such as bank statements, pay slips, hotel information, return flight tickets, and travel plans.
Thai citizens have mentioned Japan and Taiwan, where visa-free entry is possible, as alternative travel destinations instead of Korea. The economic damage is also significant for those denied entry, as they have to pay cancellation fees for hotel reservations they had made for their planned trips.
② Even Celebrities Denied Entry
Local media continue to report on this issue. On the 27th of last month, Thai media outlet The Nation published an article titled “From Love to Hate, Why Thais Are Turning Their Backs on Korea.” The outlet reported, “Unfair treatment towards Thais (trying to enter Korea) has worsened due to illegal immigrants.”
It further pointed out that “Illegal workers, known as ‘Phi Noi’ (small ghosts), are estimated to number over 100,000, hiding from the Korean government’s surveillance, causing legitimate Thai tourists to suffer.”
Thais have said that “Korea is the hardest country to enter in the world.” Even Thai celebrities and influencers have been denied entry. Despite their clear identity and financial ability, they had no choice but to return to Thailand.
Some Thais have expressed that “It’s unfair to deny entry to Thais who are trying to tour legally, even though we understand that there are many Thais illegally staying in Korea.”
Thai influencer and cosmetics brand CEO ‘Beau Waraporn,’ who has visited Korea more than 10 times, shared her experience of being denied entry into Korea. She is a popular influencer with over 1 million followers.
Bfamousaporn shared her situation of being confined in the immigration office from the moment she arrived in Korea until the next morning through her Instagram story. She said the following day, the hard floor with just a thin blanket provided by the immigration office. Also, she stated, “The blanket they gave me smelled, and it was so cold.” Then, she was given a piece of bread and orange juice for breakfast.
She was kept in the room with her passport confiscated and ultimately denied entry. Later, she added that despite her love for Korea and frequent visits, the immigration office staff were unfriendly. She posted a picture of herself crying as she boarded the plane back to Thailand.
③ Even Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha Steps In
As the controversy over Thai citizens being denied entry into Korea intensifies, even Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has stepped in. On the 31st of last month, the Prime Minister stated, “The government will investigate the issue of Thai citizens being continuously deported by the Korean Immigration Office.”
Prime Minister Prayut said, “I am encountering this issue for the first time and will discuss it with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.”
Indeed, the number of Thais visiting Korea is on a downward trend. In March this year, 43,084 Thais visited Korea, a recovery of 81.1% compared to March 2019, before the pandemic. However, the numbers dropped to 50% in July and August. The number of Thais visiting Japan instead of Korea has increased even more. In November last year, Japan attracted 1.78 times more Thai tourists than Korea, and the gap widened to 2.6 times in May.
By. Seo Sung Min
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