Thai Foreign Minister Requests South Korea to Relax Travel Rules

[snoop1130]

 

Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa has recently had talks with his South Korean counterpart, Cho Tae-yul. The focus of their discussion was the travel issues faced by Thai citizens due to South Korea's strict entry policies. According to a report from the Yonhap news agency, the meeting took place last week.

 

Maris has asked that the rules under South Korea's Electronic Travel Authorization (known as K-ETA) be eased. While the K-ETA system does provide initial approval for travelers, it does not promise entry into the country. This policy has led to many Thai tourists getting turned away at South Korean airports.

 

This restriction has triggered a social media campaign in Thailand urging travelers to consider other destinations. As a result, there has been a 21% decrease in Thai tourists visiting South Korea in the first four months of 2024 compared to the same period last year.

 

South Korea's strict entry regulations are a part of its efforts to prevent illegal immigration and unauthorized work issues. The Thai community has been a particular area of focus. During a meeting in Seoul earlier in February, South Korean officials explained that their rigorous entry checks were necessary due to the increased number of Thai people living in the country without the correct documentation.

 

Despite these difficulties, South Korea has shown willingness to work towards a solution. They have expressed their desire to work with Thailand in a constructive way to resolve these travel-related issues, and diplomatic discussions are ongoing.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-08-06

 

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[ikke1959]

There were many THais illegal in Korea, so normal that the rules were being made stricter...  Look what Thailand does itself with their rules for visa

[BayArea]

as long as these " little ghosts" persist in SK, the rules will continue to be strict. 

[stoner]

how do you say big nope in korean. 

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

South Korea's strict entry regulations are a part of its efforts to prevent illegal immigration and unauthorized work issues. The Thai community has been a particular area of focus. During a meeting in Seoul earlier in February, South Korean officials explained that their rigorous entry checks were necessary due to the increased number of Thai people living in the country without the correct documentation.

Seems fair.... maybe S.Korea isn't as desperate for tourism as Thailand is, who then seem to go missing and become illegals.

 

Edited August 6 by hotchilli

[Jangunnim]

So Thai-South Korea visa deal gives Korean nationals and Thai national visa free entry for 3 months in the other country, but didn't thailand just hand out 2 month unilateral visa free entries to multiple countries that have no reciprocal agreements with Thailand? I don't know but it looks little ridiculous in that light.

[Sydebolle]

Once the Thais have learnt to follow general rules and laws, that illegal entries are a no-no, prostitutes are officially not welcome and as long as there are plenty of alternative laborers (from Cambodia, Myanmar etc.); latter following the Korean script ..........

You can take a Thai out of Thailand but you cannot take Thailand out of a Thai! 

[TheFishman1]

There’s so many illegal Thai people working in that country all the way from massage parlors you know the happy ending type cultural work there the people get there. They never come back they work illegally. What do you expect? TIT

[watchcat]

30 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

Once the Thais have learnt to follow general rules and laws

 

Will never happen in my lifetime.

[radiochaser]

8 hours ago, stoner said:

how do you say big nope in korean. 

전혀 안 돼요.

[StayinThailand2much]

On 8/7/2024 at 3:41 AM, BayArea said:

as long as these " little ghosts" persist in SK, the rules will continue to be strict. 

 

Love that term and distinction; Koreans working illegally in Thailand are 'criminals', but Thais doing the same in South Korea are "little ghosts"... 👻

[Pouatchee]

On 8/7/2024 at 9:26 AM, Sydebolle said:

prostitutes are officially not welcome

 

Right... but unoficially they are very sought after.... korea is an ultra macho state where most men cheat on their wives. Do i have stats to back that or a link? No... but i taught mannyyy korean kids and through the grapevine i found out that all these fathers were partying it up with hoes...

 

Koreans are ultra nationalistic and worse than thais. I tried to work there a month and a half. Never been so miserable. It is a sad and overall ugly country where most of the fields are used for growing cabbage and there are hardly any trees or wildlife... most of it was already eaten... if you have a dog... be careful. Although illegal the dog meat trade is still going on. Sad place to be alive

Edited August 8 by Pouatchee