Kang Seung-woo is the Business Desk editor at The Korea Times. Prior to this position, he covered politics, national affairs, finance and sports.
Rising Thai politician seeks to tackle growing challenges between Seoul, Bangkok
Pita Limjaroenrat speaks to the media following Thailand's general election in Bangkok, Thailand, May 15. Courtesy of Move Forward Party
By Kang Seung-woo
Ex-leader of Move Forward Party visits Korea
Thailand has meant a lot to Korea. In the past, the Southeast Asian country dispatched more than 11,000 troops to fight in the 1950-53 Korean War, and it is currently the central hub in the region for the consumption of Korean culture, represented by hallyu, or the Korean wave.
Plus, this year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.
However, bilateral relations are now being put to the test as a growing number of Thai travelers are being denied entry to Korea, mainly based on a long-running issue of undocumented Thai immigrants, sparking calls on social media to boycott travel to Korea.
Pita Limjaroenrat, a rising political star of Thailand, said it is crucial to conduct a comprehensive investigation and confront the underlying factors contributing to these refusals.
“I understand the prerogative of authorities to assess each entry on its own merits, particularly to mitigate risks,” Limjaroenrat said in a joint interview with The Korea Times and its sister paper The Hankook Ilbo. The interview was conducted on Sunday, a day before his four-day visit to Korea.
“However, it’s imperative to delve deeper and address the root causes of such denials. Are they linked to the broader concern of illegal workers from ASEAN countries? Korea's stringent measures may indeed be a response to this overarching issue.”
The 43-year-old said he will engage with members of the Thai community in South Korea who are living and working here legally during his trip, which he believes will provide a clearer picture of the challenges they face and the possible areas where the Thai government, and specifically the opposition, can intervene constructively.
Recently, some Thai travelers have been denied visit permits during the online application process or denied entry upon arrival and sent back despite holding valid documents. This prompted a backlash, eventually leading to Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin ordering an investigation into the issue.
The issue of refusal of entry has spilled over into a #banKorea hashtag on social media platforms that has generated more than 1 million posts.
In response, Korea's justice ministry, in charge of immigration affairs, said it will try to make sure that no innocent visitors to the country suffer mistreatment during the immigration screening process.
The former leader of the Move Forward Party said his party can leverage its position in the parliament through the committees it chairs to propose and support legislation that facilitates smoother bilateral movements.
“Our actions will aim to create a framework that not only addresses the immediate concerns of entry denial but also contributes to a comprehensive solution to the problem of illegal workers,” he said.
“By ensuring robust legal pathways and safeguarding the rights of workers, we can minimize the circumstances that lead to unauthorized stays. This proactive legislation will be key to upholding the rights of our citizens abroad and maintaining the strong relationship between Thailand and Korea.”
According to the Ministry of Justice, some 157,000 Thai nationals are residing here without permits, and most of them are jobseekers who entered Korea as tourists and have remained beyond their authorized period of stay to work in manufacturing and agriculture.
“The Thai government should expedite talks with Korea to establish a regulated and fair labor export system in sectors facing labor shortages. This would ensure proper taxation, legal protection for workers and a dignified experience for Thai tourists, without the fear of discrimination,” he said.
Limjaroenrat, who led his party to win 151 seats in the House of Representatives in the general election in May, chose Korea as his second foreign visit after the United States in October. His trip will focus on cultural, economic, technological, educational and political dimensions.
“There has been much interest in soft power in Thailand, but I have always felt that Thailand has been missing the core of the issue,” he said.
“So I am coming to learn. I will be meeting with the president of the Korea Creative Content Agency, the leadership of YG Entertainment and Krafton, an esports company. I am also meeting investors and large Korean companies as well with hope to encourage them to invest in the gaming, creative sector, as well as automobiles in Thailand.”
He said he also hopes that this visit will be an opportunity to discuss and potentially model its digital and cultural policies to be more conducive to fostering creativity and innovation by observing Korea's successful policies and frameworks.
“We can adapt and implement them within the Thai context to support our own creative talents,” he added.