Traveling to Korea

[Bob1million]

Hello to the readers wasn't quite sure where to post this but I feel the Pattaya has the strongest forum.

So before I get started please understand it's been a stressful couple of days. Ok now on Wednesday my Thai wife flew to Korea for a 7 day holiday, all relevant documents prepared 100% by myself + the cash Etc. I wanted to be spot on with everything given Koreas history of rejecting Thai people. Well on Thursday morning my wife calls to tell me she'd been detained on arrival. The next call I got was from her to say that she had been questioned by Korean customs who by the way could hardly speak English and she was to be placed on a plane the next day back to Thailand. The reason we'll who really knows. They simply indicated that she was at risk of illegally working. So she was taken to secure room. Not permitted to shower limited toilet stops and if she wanted food had to give money to the guard, who returned with a small amount of food and the change was split up between the other guards. She wasn't permitted an interpreter and was treated like a prisoner. I tried for most of the day calling various government agencies here who just gave me the run around basically saying nothing we can do, and the Korean Embassy simply did not want anything to do with it and hung up on me. I finally spoke with a man from the division of protection ( of Thai people , he said send me an email

I certainly did and no reply no phone call. Tried to contact him again. My response he busy. Well there you go the Thai governments can't be bothered helping there own people in a Serious crisis. So if anyone's girlfriend or wife is considering a trip to Korea I would suggest they forget it or travel at there own risk. It seems that the Korean

Customs can do whatever they want no

questions asks and that's a dangerous thing. Especially if Thai governments are not prepared to support or assist there own people. This is my proven opinion. I'll close this subject now and post. Hope it helps any future travelers.

[LennyW]

Unfortunately Korea is a big problem for Thai women travellers, well known fact, so is Singapore and now also Malaysia is getting tricky, airport entry that is, apparently the land borders with Malaysia are a bit of a free for all!.

 

But like any immigration at any port they have virtually unlimited powers when it comes to entry, the Thai govt and the Korean govt are not obliged to assist in anyway, the onus is always on the traveller to prove legitimacy of their intended stay, sad but true.

 

I travel through Bangkok airport 3 or 4 times a month on business and i can assure you it is the same here, many times i have seen Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese women being escorted by immigration officials on to a homeward bound flight, many times in tears.

 

[Rimmer]

Pattaya forum is for all things to do with Pattaya as this has nothing to do with Pattaya I am moving it to the visa forum

[theoldgit]

Sorry to hear of your wife's experience Bob, as LennyW pointed a number of ASEAN countries are tightening up there immigration checks on unaccompanied Thai travellers, male and female, and a number are being denied entry and returned home. Unfortunately the fact that she's been denied entry is now on record and needs to be declared in the event she applies for a visa for some other countries.

Unfortunately countries like South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan suffer from a disproportionate number of Thai people overstaying, and some genuine visitors suffer as a consequence.

I'm not really surprised that the Thai Embassy wouldn't intervene, they wouldn't normally get involved in another countries immigration policies and actions.

If you and your wife felt strongly enough you could register your concerns with the appropriate authorities in S Korea, though I'm not sure what their response would be, if any.

You say you had properly prepared all the documents, what were they and was she able to answer questions about the purpose of her trip when questioned?

Were you traveling with her or was she travelling alone, are you based there, here in Thailand or elsewhere?

I have to say that when my girlfriend and I travelled to South Korea, albeit a few years ago, she didn't encounter any problems whatsoever, she was questioned with courtesy and landed quickly. We did see a lot of Thai people whilst there, but as I say that was a few years ago.

[Bob1million]

Hello and thanks for the kind response. Yes she was traveling alone. I prepared all the hotel bookings etc. she flew Thai airways and had cash with her. She said she answered all questions correctly although she said there English was very bad.
I'd researched this country before hand so I wanted to make sure everything was done 100%. I'm from Aus and I worked in the government for a number of years so I'm aware of the difficulties that one may have. But regardless of the outcome no person should be treated like a illegal immigrant if there paperwork is in order. In addition to this they have the right to not give food, water or a shower unless you pay. She had no food had to pay, they distributed the money between themselves and she got small food. The water she paid and no shower. On her return the next day and in the night when she slept she had nightmares. I know because I was awake.
Anyway I would not like anyone else to be subjected to this treatment.
So that's the reason for this
Post.
Regards ....


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[theoldgit]

In most countries they're supposed to give a reason why a person is refused admission, and the decision wouldn't normally be made by the IO at the border arrival desk.

Was she asked for details of her ties to her home country?

I would certainly be raising my concerns with the Korean immigration authorities, pointing out that she was a genuine tourist denied entry for no good reason, I would be complaining about the apparent corruption with the food issue, in many countries this element of the operation is contracted out. You've worked in government so you know to stick to the basic facts of the grievance and not be too emotive.

My sister in law had a similar experience in Singapore when she went to visit her Singaporean boyfriend, no amount of reasoning would convince them that she was anything else but a young hooker, they refused to call the boyfriend who was waiting in arrivals, or the boyfriends father who was an executive with Tiger beer. They rubbed salt into the wounds by charging her for her overnight detention costs.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Bob1million]

Hello there
In regards to the refusal of entry they said that her story was wrong they just didn't believe she was there for a holiday. In fact they tried to get her to sign some form which indicated she in fact was attempting to enter the country for illegal purposes, something like that I'm not 100% sure.
In any case she refused to sign. Really I still cannot believe that people in a official capacity can resort to these measures and no questions asked, and nobody cares.
Ok thanks for the reply.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[overherebc]

1 hour ago, Bob1million said:

Hello there
In regards to the refusal of entry they said that her story was wrong they just didn't believe she was there for a holiday. In fact they tried to get her to sign some form which indicated she in fact was attempting to enter the country for illegal purposes, something like that I'm not 100% sure.
In any case she refused to sign. Really I still cannot believe that people in a official capacity can resort to these measures and no questions asked, and nobody cares.
Ok thanks for the reply.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

Not so long ago Korea sent quite a few Thais back for overstay and illegal working both male and female. Thailand did the same in response and since then both have been fairly regularly doing it.

It's unfortunate that some innocents get caught up in the system. 

When I worked there many Thais were on long overstay and working as maids for local families and in restaurants.

To be honest I'm not sure which side started it first.

[Gulfsailor]

My gf And daughter are interested in a trip to South Korea. Having visited the country about 25+ times myself for work, and absolutely dislike the place, they can travel without me.

But we have been hearing a lot of these stories where Thais are being refused entry. Although Thailand and S Korea have a visa waiver agreement, would a Thai's chances of being denied not significantly be reduced with an actual visa obtained beforehand? Can a Thai obtain a tourist visa from the S Korean embassy or consulate in Thailand, or would they just refuse to process it, stating there is no need for a visa?

[KhunBENQ]

I am late on this thread but can tell you:

At least three deportations of young women from the village trying to enter Korea.

Two managed to stay illegally for a while before being deported.

They very stupid enough to try it again(!) although I urged them not to waste their money.

One was stopped in Bangkok before even departing, reason unclear though (might have been a fraudulent travel agent).

One male working illegally for about two years now.

Once literally jumped over a fence to escape a raid.

 

Visa exempt travel to Korea and other countries has been spoiled by abuse.

And who is astonished.

Those fighting to earn 300/400 Baht a day see a chance to reach a land of milk and honey (Korea, Japan).

 

 

[overherebc]

6 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

I am late on this thread but can tell you:

At least three deportations of young women from the village trying to enter Korea.

Two managed to stay illegally for a while before being deported.

They very stupid enough to try it again(!) although I urged them not to waste their money.

One was stopped in Bangkok before even departing, reason unclear though (might have been a fraudulent travel agent).

One male working illegally for about two years now.

Once literally jumped over a fence to escape a raid.

 

Visa exempt travel to Korea and other countries has been spoiled by abuse.

And who is astonished.

Those fighting to earn 300/400 Baht a day see a chance to reach a land of milk and honey (Korea, Japan).

 

 

 

The place I often ate at had a young Thai guy working as cook and he was quite open about his two year overstay.

[overherebc]

I know it's way too much to ask, but, wouldn't it be nice for even one person who claims that overstaying in Thailand by them has no effect on anyone else to read this thread and perhaps feel a tinge of guilt.

[Bob1million]

My gf And daughter are interested in a trip to South Korea. Having visited the country about 25+ times myself for work, and absolutely dislike the place, they can travel without me.
But we have been hearing a lot of these stories where Thais are being refused entry. Although Thailand and S Korea have a visa waiver agreement, would a Thai's chances of being denied not significantly be reduced with an actual visa obtained beforehand? Can a Thai obtain a tourist visa from the S Korean embassy or consulate in Thailand, or would they just refuse to process it, stating there is no need for a visa?

That's an idea but don't know really.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[theoldgit]

They wouldn't process a visa application if a visa isn't required, and in any case a visa doesn't guarantee that the IO at the border will allow you to enter the country, you can still be refused entry if they suspect that you're not a genuine visitor and may not abide by the immigration laws of the particular country.