A recent account by a Thai traveler subjected to an exhaustive interrogation by South Korean immigration officials has cast a glaring spotlight on the deeply ingrained issues of prejudice and dehumanization faced by Southeast Asians visiting South Korea. This experience, shared widely across social media, is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a more profound, systemic problem that demands immediate attention and action.

The ordeal involved a Thai national being interrogated relentlessly at various checkpoints, with questions probing deeply into personal plans, financial status, and even the minutiae of daily meals during their stay. Despite providing detailed answers and showing preparedness with all necessary documents, the traveler was ultimately denied entry on the grounds of supposedly insufficient preparedness.

 

This incident starkly illustrates the dehumanizing scrutiny that travelers from Southeast Asia often endure, reduced to their perceived economic status or intentions, rather than being recognized as individuals with legitimate aspirations to explore and experience new cultures.

 

This pattern of behavior towards Southeast Asians is emblematic of a broader issue of racial profiling and discrimination that, regrettably, remains pervasive in various parts of the world. In South Korea, a country renowned for its cultural exports and a popular destination for tourists worldwide, such experiences starkly contrast with the welcoming image it seeks to project. This contradiction not only tarnishes South Korea’s reputation as a tourist-friendly destination but also betrays a deeper societal issue that needs addressing.

 

By Arun Saronchai

 

Full story: THAI ENQUIRER 2024-02-23

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

brilliant - now they know how it feels for tourists getting interogated entering thailand and their silly requirements, ie onward flights / 20K cash / proof of hotel blah blah blah.

Racism is not an exclusive trait of Whites, as many would have us believe.

South Koreans and Thais are also racist.

 

But this is not the case.

If this is the case, it is best to simply boycott South Korea entirely. It is not like they offer entirely unique sights. You don't want us? OK. No problem. See ya. 

Not surprised here.

Tens of thousands of Thais work illegally in S. Korea. My brother in law was one of them until caught and deported last year.

Now busy trying to get enough money together to return, again illegally.

there are approx 100 000 thai working illegally in SK. i'm sure that has nothing to do with it. 

Is that something like the pot and the kettle?? Many Thais abused their visa for overstaying in S Korea and stayed to work there.. Wondering why there are stricter measures now for Thai??? Thailand is doing the same with other countries too

...get a taste of your own medicine, khun thai! (no mischief on my part, though!)

As mentioned in earlier posts...this treatment toward Thais is quite usual. I've been in line at immigration and there are people scanning arrivals and picking out suspect people. Most young women..and men.

Illegal workers and hookers are the main targets....

Shoe is on another foot!

So one Thai person had issues. That's the basis for this rant.

 

Interesting that there are no Thai officials, like the Minister of Foreign Affairs or the PM who loves yacking, quoted in this article.

 

I think an electronic travel authorization is required. Maybe South Korea should make the visa application process more demanding.

 

This "little Ghost" problem has been an issue for ages. Thai government officials need to be working on a resolution. Blaming South Korea is not a solution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 23, 20242 yr by bamnutsak

1 hour ago, patongphil said:

Not surprised here.

Tens of thousands of Thais work illegally in S. Korea. My brother in law was one of them until caught and deported last year.

Now busy trying to get enough money together to return, again illegally.

 

This. It's not "racism", it's a real problem. Silly headline based on the experience of one Thai "netizen".

 

If he wants to see what "dehumanizing" looks like, he might want to take a peek at his own immigration's treatment of Burmese, Cambodian, Loatian (legal) workers right here in his own backyard.

Not sure if it is racism, or trying to prevent illegal immigration. 

But some South koreans are also a bit racist. 

I was visiting a korean  friends  from college house, one of his male cousins that was also there 

Said to me, " you are hairy like a monkey"  I looked at him and replied, "and you are  hairless like a pig" 

For some reason he did not say another word to me. 

 

Sounds like something that North America, and Europe, could learn from....

No, it's not racist, but instigating media hypes about illegal workers in Thailand, while, at the same time, whitewashing illegal Thai workers abroad as "little ghosts" is. - Illegal work by Thai "travellers" is a big problem in many Asian countries.

Edited February 23, 20242 yr by StayinThailand2much

I feel dehumanized after reading that AI generated word salad.

So many Thais turning up and working illegally, what do they expect? Four of our family have been there 6 years, another one got deported and one turned back at the airport last year. Koreans must get a bit jaded with their lies at immigration.

Pot, meet Kettle.

 

South East Asian is not a race, neither is Thai.

 

The person was suspect because of their Ethno-National affiliation.......Thai.

 

Perhaps not one of the Thais that has spent a fortune on plastic surgery to make themselves look Korean, or a much worshipped Luk Kreung television performer.

 

Hilarious to hear a Thai bleating about foreign Ethno-Nationals perceived  "racial prejudice", while ethnic prejudice and preference rages, approved, encouraged and unabated, within their own "Nation".

 

 

Edited February 23, 20242 yr by Enoon

Great to hear that Thais are getting the same treatment that they dish out to foreigners who are entering or living in Thailand, round of applause to the Koreans 👍🏻

5 hours ago, PJ71 said:

brilliant - now they know how it feels for tourists getting interogated entering thailand and their silly requirements, ie onward flights / 20K cash / proof of hotel blah blah blah.

Around 10 days ago when I arrived in Bangkok I was NOT asked a single question ! 🤷🏼‍♂️

They don’t like it when they get a dose of their own behavior another point how many hundreds of thousand people are working illegally in South Korea I know so many girls that went over there for so-called Massage work or farming. They’re making 10 times the money they can make here I can appreciate, what they try to do TIT 

3 minutes ago, TheFishman1 said:

They don’t like it when they get a dose of their own behavior another point how many hundreds of thousand people are working illegally in South Korea I know so many girls that went over there for so-called Massage work or farming. They’re making 10 times the money they can make here I can appreciate, what they try to do TIT 

 

More like 4x but then the cost of living is much higher

And what about Thais discriminating foreigners through dual pricing and charging foreigners up to 100x the price what Thais, or just Thai looking, have to pay. 

4 hours ago, huangnon said:

 

This. It's not "racism", it's a real problem. Silly headline based on the experience of one Thai "netizen".

 

If he wants to see what "dehumanizing" looks like, he might want to take a peek at his own immigration's treatment of Burmese, Cambodian, Loatian (legal) workers right here in his own backyard.

 

It seems that Thais can never look in the mirror. It's always someone else's at fault.

Edited February 23, 20242 yr by Bangkok Barry

Despite the fact that South Koreans are often rude & obnoxious given Thailands reputation which often precede's them I am not surprised, also many illegal Thai workers in Korea so they are doing what Thai's often do to foreigners, especially farangs. I would say what goes around comes around!

 

Edited February 23, 20242 yr by paul1804

20yr old better than average looking thai lady with long nails and silicons denied at immigration regardless of complete paperwork to allow work for 3 months on a farm picking strawberries? 

This comes to mind.

suck it up Thailand.

 

Edited February 23, 20242 yr by quake

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

If this is the case, it is best to simply boycott South Korea entirely. It is not like they offer entirely unique sights. You don't want us? OK. No problem. See ya. 

But but but but.... Kpop!

5 hours ago, patongphil said:

 

 

Edited February 23, 20242 yr by NatureFilm