Thai family seeks help to bring worker home from Korea

A 34-year-old Thai woman from Kamphaeng Phet has died suddenly in South Korea, with her family appealing for donations to cover the cost of returning her body to Thailand.

Piyawan Samredi, known as Nong Pla, had worked as a traditional massage therapist in South Korea for seven years. The cause of her death has not been confirmed and South Korean authorities are investigating the incident.

Family learned through Facebook appeal

The case emerged after the Facebook page Ko Isan Phuyai Ban Korea v.2 and several other pages posted an urgent request for relatives of Piyawan to contact the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul.

Community leaders in Trithrung subdistrict, Mueang Kamphaeng Phet district, recognised Piyawan from the photograph and alerted local reporters.

At the family's home in Ban Wang Nam Khao, Trithrung, Piyawan's 69-year-old mother, Lam Yai Samredi, said she was devastated by the news.

Her daughter had regularly called home, checked on the family and occasionally sent money to help with household expenses, she said.

Last call raised health concern

Lam Yai said Piyawan last contacted her on August 8. During that conversation, Piyawan told her that she was experiencing unusually heavy menstrual bleeding.

Her mother advised her to buy pain relief medication. Lam Yai said her daughter had no underlying medical conditions.

"I confirm that my daughter had no congenital disease at all," she said, adding that the family must now leave it to South Korean authorities to establish the true cause of death.

For Thai nationals working overseas, the case is also a reminder of the practical difficulties families can face when a death occurs abroad. Relatives may need to deal with embassy contact, local investigations and substantial repatriation costs while still awaiting confirmation of what happened.

Return costs beyond family's means

According to Piyawan's co-workers in South Korea, returning her body to Thailand would cost about 200,000 baht. Returning only her ashes would cost about 100,000 baht.

The family, who work as general labourers and are in financial difficulty, say they cannot afford either amount. They want to bring Piyawan home for religious rites in her birthplace.

Winai Dechsri, president of the Trithrung Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, has visited the family and said he was coordinating with relevant agencies to find initial assistance. He said the high cost of transporting a body across borders was the main obstacle.

Picture courtesy of Manager Online

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19 August 2026