By Kim Rahn
Forty Thai people who disguised themselves as supporters of a football club to enter Korea have disappeared, according to the Ministry of Justice, Saturday.
While there have been other cases of foreign groups staying illegally after entering as tourists, this is the first involving sports spectators. Thai people can stay in Korea for up to 90 days without visas under the visa waiver program between the two nations.
According to the ministry and Thai media, Buriram United Football Club brought about 100 supporters to Korea for a match against FC Seoul in the Asian Champions League on April 20.
Of them, 13 were denied entry at Incheon International Airport. “They claimed they came for the football game but failed to answer related questions at the immigration checkpoints,” a ministry official said. “They failed to give clear purpose of their entry, so we concluded they had attempted to stay illegally here.”
The rest entered Korea, but 40 disappeared after boarding a bus at the airport, The Nation, a Thai newspaper, reported, quoting club President Newin Chidchob.
Officials of Buriram United told Korean authorities they were unaware of the group’s real entry purpose and that the people were unrelated to the team, according to the ministry. “They also said they would strictly screen fans who would accompany the team for away matches,” the official said.
According to the ministry, some 93,000 Thais were staying in Korea as of last December, and about 52,000 were believed to be illegal aliens.