'Very moving to see Thai prayers for Koreans in distress'

[Lite Beer]

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
'Very moving to see Thai prayers for Koreans in distress'
The Sunday Nation

South Korean Ambassador Jeon Jae Man writes his message

BANGKOK: -- South Korean Ambassador Jeon Jae Man speaks to Nation Multimedia Group Editor-in-Chief Thepchai Yong about the ferry tragedy near South Korea's Jindo Island and more. The following are excerpts:

I know this is a very difficult time for everyone in Korea. So what is the latest you have heard from Seoul concerning the rescue operation?

Our government and the people of Korea are making every effort to find the victims still surviving and we're trying to take the ship out of the sea, while we're supporting the bereaved families.

So the government is working very hard?

Yes, our prime minister went there two days ago and our president went there too and promised that the government will not spare any effort.

It is quite understandable why many people are angry, they think the operation is a bit slow.

Yes, at first there was some confusion, about reporting casualties, but now we're making a concerted effort.

You know Thai people are quite fond of Korea in many respects - the culture and the tourist affection, and of course many Thais also visit Jeju Island every year. With this incident, what do you want to tell the Thai people - what kind of situation are you facing?

I was moved very much today to see many Thai friends writing prayers for Koreans in distress. And this is very good symbol showing the closeness between Korean people and Thai people. Many Thais are going to Korea. For example, last year the number of visits by Thai people to Korea was 370,000 people. This is quite a huge number for Korea and it ranks around fourth among foreign country visitors. And although this is a very unfortunate and tragic incident in Korea, we are confident that Koreans will get over this misfortune and Korea will be upgraded with lessons learned from this incident.

So you are saying that the issue of safety for tourists should not be a problem?

Yes, the safety code will be upgraded and we'll pay more attention to the safety of Koreans, of course, including foreigners coming to Korea as tourists.

Touching on the bigger picture of Thai-Korean relations, how do you see the

present state of Thai-Korean relations?

I think the current status of Thai-Korean relations cannot be better. It's at the highest point since there're many visits at the highest level… From Korea, the official visit of the [Korean] president was made in the year 2003… The [last] official visit [by a Thai PM] was made two years ago.

And last year I could receive our prime minister who made a visit to Thailand [for the first time] in 19 years. As I told you the number of visitors to Korea and to Thailand has been increasing rapidly and in other parts, Korean mass culture is well received in Thailand. And there're many dramas and so-called K Pop. And I came to know that there are K Pop cover dances and there's an annual dance festival in Korea and the Thai team got the first prize consecutively for two years. That shows how well Korean culture is received in Thailand.

So why do you think K Pop is popular in Thailand? There must be something extraordinary about it.

I think the Korean musicians are very creative and Korean pop music is also well received in America and also in Europe. It's amazing!

-- The Nation 2014-04-20

[noitom]

It's unusual for Thais to ever empathize with any other nation on its tragedies. They usually get embarrassed in to running a story in the Thai press days or weeks after an international incident. Unless of course Thais were involved. For example MH370 had no known Thais on board and therefore it was second or third class news. The Katrina hurricane. in the US had Thailand days later committing to send $10,000 USD. Countless other global incidents and human tragedies have either been totally ignored or haphazardly noted later by the Thai press.

Rarely if ever do you see Thai wealth giving in any tragedies or at all even in the Thai homeland. Thai self centeredness is a shameful characteristic of Thais. They say what goes around comes around.

[baxida]

It's unusual for Thais to ever empathize with any other nation on its tragedies. They usually get embarrassed in to running a story in the Thai press days or weeks after an international incident. Unless of course Thais were involved. For example MH370 had no known Thais on board and therefore it was second or third class news. The Katrina hurricane. in the US had Thailand days later committing to send $10,000 USD. Countless other global incidents and human tragedies have either been totally ignored or haphazardly noted later by the Thai press.

Rarely if ever do you see Thai wealth giving in any tragedies or at all even in the Thai homeland. Thai self centeredness is a shameful characteristic of Thais. They say what goes around comes around.

Do you know the saying "Charity starts at home"?

Did you not just use Katrina as an example of Thai's donating money to the US? Oh sorry "days later" not acceptable in your assessment.

Their are a lot of self-centered people EVERYWHERE not just in Thailand, and there are a lot of press institutions who omit stories EVERYWHERE!

I guess if a country doesn't come cartwheeling in with guns blazing then they are being self-centered????

Moron.

[Trembly]

It's unusual for Thais to ever empathize with any other nation on its tragedies. They usually get embarrassed in to running a story in the Thai press days or weeks after an international incident. Unless of course Thais were involved. For example MH370 had no known Thais on board and therefore it was second or third class news. The Katrina hurricane. in the US had Thailand days later committing to send $10,000 USD. Countless other global incidents and human tragedies have either been totally ignored or haphazardly noted later by the Thai press.

Rarely if ever do you see Thai wealth giving in any tragedies or at all even in the Thai homeland. Thai self centeredness is a shameful characteristic of Thais. They say what goes around comes around.

Utter nonsense. You must have been somewhere else after the Japanese mega earthquake and Tsunami.

[f0xxee]

It's unusual for Thais to ever empathize with any other nation on its tragedies. They usually get embarrassed in to running a story in the Thai press days or weeks after an international incident. Unless of course Thais were involved. For example MH370 had no known Thais on board and therefore it was second or third class news. The Katrina hurricane. in the US had Thailand days later committing to send $10,000 USD. Countless other global incidents and human tragedies have either been totally ignored or haphazardly noted later by the Thai press.

Rarely if ever do you see Thai wealth giving in any tragedies or at all even in the Thai homeland. Thai self centeredness is a shameful characteristic of Thais. They say what goes around comes around.

"It is unusual for Thais…" Is your opinion only.

I work for a large Japanese Corporation. The day after the Tsunami we started a fund drive with the idea of donating to the Japanese Red Cross. The input from Thais was overwhelming and heart warming.

Thailand also donated well to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan last year.

In 2011 I drove to BKK during the flood to get roof racks fitted to my car. There was a 2 hour delay while they were brought from the other side of the city, the delay caused by floodwaters. As me and the missus sat there, several trucks full of rice, canned food and water arrived. The young staff and their friends started bagging it. My missus asked what it was about. The owners Thai/Chinese daughter explained it was going to Ayudhya for the flood victims, and asked us if we would help and perhaps donate some cash. We did both, the money we donated was out the door and back in 30 minutes with receipt and more staples from Tesco.

I find your reply repulsive. I find your "first out the box" need to denigrate Thailand negative and hard hearted. What have YOU done for anyone lately?

[Thai at Heart]

It's unusual for Thais to ever empathize with any other nation on its tragedies. They usually get embarrassed in to running a story in the Thai press days or weeks after an international incident. Unless of course Thais were involved. For example MH370 had no known Thais on board and therefore it was second or third class news. The Katrina hurricane. in the US had Thailand days later committing to send $10,000 USD. Countless other global incidents and human tragedies have either been totally ignored or haphazardly noted later by the Thai press.

Rarely if ever do you see Thai wealth giving in any tragedies or at all even in the Thai homeland. Thai self centeredness is a shameful characteristic of Thais. They say what goes around comes around.

"It is unusual for Thais" Is your opinion only.

I work for a large Japanese Corporation. The day after the Tsunami we started a fund drive with the idea of donating to the Japanese Red Cross. The input from Thais was overwhelming and heart warming.

Thailand also donated well to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan last year.

In 2011 I drove to BKK during the flood to get roof racks fitted to my car. There was a 2 hour delay while they were brought from the other side of the city, the delay caused by floodwaters. As me and the missus sat there, several trucks full of rice, canned food and water arrived. The young staff and their friends started bagging it. My missus asked what it was about. The owners Thai/Chinese daughter explained it was going to Ayudhya for the flood victims, and asked us if we would help and perhaps donate some cash. We did both, the money we donated was out the door and back in 30 minutes with receipt and more staples from Tesco.

I find your reply repulsive. I find your "first out the box" need to denigrate Thailand negative and hard hearted. What have YOU done for anyone lately?

I agree. The willingness of normal Thais to help and give time is very strong. They might not donate huge wedges of cash,because most don't have huge wedges of cash.

But in terms of assisting strangers and the needy, they average Thai and by that I mean, those who aren't rich, or driving Mercedes very people, are very generous.

[unclekleef]

It's unusual for Thais to ever empathize with any other nation on its tragedies. They usually get embarrassed in to running a story in the Thai press days or weeks after an international incident. Unless of course Thais were involved. For example MH370 had no known Thais on board and therefore it was second or third class news. The Katrina hurricane. in the US had Thailand days later committing to send $10,000 USD. Countless other global incidents and human tragedies have either been totally ignored or haphazardly noted later by the Thai press.

Rarely if ever do you see Thai wealth giving in any tragedies or at all even in the Thai homeland. Thai self centeredness is a shameful characteristic of Thais. They say what goes around comes around.

The only good thing about your post is the replies it brought, nit the usual Troll rubbish, but from people who unlike you are happy to be allowed to live here, and appreciate all that is around us, the kindness and generosity of people who do not have a lot to give, but their time and caring. I would love to know how much YOU donated to the above disasters and even the Tsunami that hit here? To be honest, if brains were taxed, you could donate the refund you would get.

[Tchooptip]

It's unusual for Thais to ever empathize with any other nation on its tragedies. They usually get embarrassed in to running a story in the Thai press days or weeks after an international incident. Unless of course Thais were involved. For example MH370 had no known Thais on board and therefore it was second or third class news. The Katrina hurricane. in the US had Thailand days later committing to send $10,000 USD. Countless other global incidents and human tragedies have either been totally ignored or haphazardly noted later by the Thai press.

Rarely if ever do you see Thai wealth giving in any tragedies or at all even in the Thai homeland. Thai self centeredness is a shameful characteristic of Thais. They say what goes around comes around

For example MH370 had no known Thais on board and therefore it was second or third class news.

I've seen it every every night on the Thai News-Hour???