Korean honeymooners flock to Phuket

The wedding chapel at Laguna Phuket caters to wedding

parties from all over the world, including Korea.

PHUKET CITY: -- Korean couples are flocking to spend their honeymoons in Phuket because of our bargain prices and our beaches, but mainly because they have fun here.

According to South Korea’s honorary consul in Phuket, Tossaporn Thepabutr, one in four Korean brides chooses to spend her honeymoon in Phuket.

Mr Tossaporn, who is also the wealthiest member of the Thai Parliament, was named honorary consul to Korea after that country opened its new consular office in Phuket in July last year.

It is also becoming very fashionable for high society couples in Korea to spend their holidays here.

Kim Pae Woen, who heads the Korea Association in Phuket, said the ‘marrying seasons’ in Korea are in March, which is springtime, and September, which is autumn.

“The rest of the time it is either raining or too cold,” he said.

About 50,000 Korean newlyweds honeymoon in Phuket every year, he said.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-08-13

Korean honeymooners flock to Phuket

The wedding chapel at Laguna Phuket caters to wedding

parties from all over the world, including Korea.

PHUKET CITY: -- Korean couples are flocking to spend their honeymoons in Phuket...

Flocking? Coincidentally, I was talking to a Thai tour bus operator this very evening about the low season. Also coincidentally, I said that this time of year is when the Koreans come and the man said there weren't any, not that I'm calling this piece from the Gazette fiction just to plug the Laguna Phuket wedding chapel.

Strange plug.

I teach Korean expats and their children. (To justify my following paragraph).

The marrying season and honeymoon season are not the same. They take their honeymoons later on, from April through to late June and October up to December 20th. That is it.

July to August is family season. The rest is dead water.

Of 19 Koreans that I have worked with, all except for 1, has left the island, either due to the airport closures or lack of work. This season, the Koreans are extremely budget conscious and are not falling for the 0 dollar tours, like the Chinese are. So they are not spending at Wan Talang and other ripoff joints around town and the Korean guides are not making that much in commission.

Strange plug...

Indeed.

I wonder what the link is between Mr. Tossaporn (the "wealthiest member of the Thai Parliament" and South Korea’s honorary consul in Phuket) and the Laguna.

Come back Chris, I don't recall such blatant plugs when you were in charge.

"Korean couples are flocking to spend their honeymoons in Phuket because of our bargain prices and our beaches, but mainly because they have fun here."

Is the figure up or down on previous years? Where are these "bargain prices"? At Laguna Phuket? What beaches do they go to? What do they do to have fun? Where is "news" in this news story? How about a word from the couples themselves if they are in Phuket in abundance?

Did Laguna Phuket pay for this plug?

Glad I am not the only one who noticed yet another useless press release from the Laguna.

And I still can't figure out why anyone would want to get married on a swamp!