Lopburi Police Arrest Korean Golf Tour Operators

Picture courtesy of Daily News

Tourist police in Lopburi have arrested two people linked to an unlicensed golf tour operation after 22 South Korean tourists were left without agreed accommodation, meals and golf programmes. The incident caused significant disruption and financial hardship for the visitors, prompting urgent intervention by multiple authorities to protect the tourists.

The case came to light when officers at Lopburi City Police Station were contacted for assistance. The group of 22 South Korean tourists, led by Mr Woo Seung Dea, reported that they had been abandoned during a pre-booked golf tour in Thailand. They said the problems initially began on 9 January 2026, when services outlined in their package suddenly stopped being provided.

According to the investigation, the tourists had booked a golf tour package through Four Season Service Co Ltd after contacting Ms Alisa Pheukklin, a Thai national, in November 2025. They paid more than 100,000 baht in total, excluding airfare, for accommodation, meals and golf activities. Despite this, hotels stopped providing food as agreed, the group was unable to access golf courses and they were forced to pay for vehicle hire themselves.

Following the complaint, Pol Lt Col Somkuan Taengprom, senior inspector of the Lopburi Tourist Police, coordinated with the Tourist Police Investigation Division, the Lopburi Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports, the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, and the Lopburi Damrongtham Centre. Officials inspected The Safe Hotel in Pa Tan subdistrict, Mueang district, Lopburi province. The inspection found that the company was operating a tour business without a licence.

Two suspects were arrested on 19 January. Ms Alisa was charged with jointly operating a tour business without authorisation, while Mr Kim Young Tai, a South Korean national, was charged with operating a tour business without permission and working as a foreigner without a work permit. Both suspects confessed to all charges and were handed over to investigators at Lopburi City Police Station for legal proceedings.

Daily News reported that to minimise the impact on the tourists and preserve confidence in Thai tourism, tourist police and related agencies oversaw arrangements to ensure accommodation, meals and travel programmes were provided until the end of the trip as originally agreed. The Lopburi Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports is also coordinating assistance and compensation in line with regulations.

Key Takeaways

• Twenty-two South Korean tourists were affected after an illegal golf tour operator failed to deliver promised services.

• Two suspects were arrested and confessed to running an unlicensed tour business and working illegally.

• Authorities stepped in to complete the tourists’ trip and arrange official assistance and remedies.

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Dailynews 2026-01-21