Crowds of people are seen flocking the bustling business district of Suwon, south of Seoul, in September 2019. While many undocumented workers, including numerous Thais, are known to reside in Suwon, they often prefer to avoid these crowded locales to steer clear of police checks. (Photo: Kornchanok Raksaseri)
The Thai government is pushing for easier entry for its nationals into South Korea, highlighted during a recent meeting between their foreign ministers. Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa sought collaborative support from the South Korean government to relax travel restrictions for Thai visitors during talks with his South Korean counterpart, Cho Tae-yul, reported Yonhap news agency.
Currently, Thailand is among 46 nations whose citizens are exempt from the visa requirement but must apply for the Korea Electronic Travel Authorisation (K-ETA) before their journey. However, securing a K-ETA isn’t a foolproof ticket to entry, resulting in numerous Thai travelers being denied entry upon arrival at South Korean airports.
This wave of entry refusals sparked the “#ban Korea travel” movement, urging holidaymakers to shun South Korea in favor of other destinations. Consequently, there was a significant 21% year-on-year decline in the number of Thai tourists heading to South Korea during the first four months of 2024, dropping to 119,455.
Speaking on Friday, Mr. Maris emphasized that frequent exchanges of visits between the two nations’ citizens would lay a robust foundation for bilateral relations. He expressed optimism about future cooperation, with the South Korean foreign minister also echoing a desire for forward-looking collaboration, according to South Korean news sources.
The stringent monitoring of Thai visitors is part of Seoul’s crackdown on illegal foreign workers – colloquially dubbed “little ghosts” in Thai. This surveillance has resulted from efforts to handle the swelling number of undocumented Thai residents in South Korea.
In February, officials from both countries’ Consular Affairs Departments convened in Seoul. During these discussions, Thailand proposed easing entry procedures for its citizens at South Korean airports. In response, South Korea acknowledged the necessity of strict entry examinations due to the growing issue of undocumented Thai residents, a statement from the South Korean Foreign Ministry revealed.
Mr. Maris’s visit to South Korea spanned from Wednesday to Friday, aiming to solidify and improve diplomatic ties while discussing practical solutions to ongoing travel challenges.
It’s about time Thailand takes a stand. Travel to Korea should be easier!
Easier travel could mean more illegal workers. We need strict rules.
But not everyone intends to overstay. It’s unfair to generalize.
It’s not fair to single out Thai citizens. We should promote cultural exchange.
Why isn’t Korea more welcoming? Tourism boosts the economy.
Illegal workers are a problem. Security needs to be top priority.
There has to be a balance. Blanket restrictions aren’t the answer.
Exactly! We need solutions that don’t punish law-abiding visitors.
Maybe if they offered more legal work opportunities, there wouldn’t be so many undocumented workers.
Reducing restrictions means more cultural ties. Win-win for both countries!
Of course, but it should be controlled. We shouldn’t compromise safety.
Agreed, but overly strict rules can also be counterproductive.
#BanKoreaTravel movement is exaggerated. Why not work together instead?
21% decline in tourism speaks volumes. Korea needs to reconsider its policies.
Only if Thailand can also address the issue of illegal labor adequately.
Both governments need to find a middle ground.
True, cooperation is key. But current policies are too harsh.
It’s all politics. Ordinary people just want to travel freely and safely.
Politics affect everything, but we can push for fair policies.
Thais have been great tourists! South Korea should make it easier.
If South Korea keeps up the strict measures, they’ll keep losing tourists.
It’s not simple. There are layers of complexity around immigration and labor.
Both nations need to tackle undocumented work without hindering tourism.
Exactly! Smart policies can help differentiate tourists from illegal workers.
We need stricter control measures. Safety over tourism any day.
It’s a shame that tight policies are needed because of a few bad apples.
Those ‘few bad apples’ cause significant issues. Problematic but necessary.
Can’t deny that there must be a better way to handle this.
The crackdowns just lead to more tension between the countries.
No one should face discrimination at borders. Policies need to change.
Right, but unrestricted travel can’t be the answer either.
Thailand pushing for changes shows their commitment to their people moving freely.
I completely agree, tourism and cultural exchange should be facilitated.
Streamlined procedures are important for fostering better relations.