Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa recently engaged in discussions with South Korea’s Cho Tae-yul to address travel restrictions affecting Thai citizens. During the meeting held last week, as reported by Yonhap news agency, Maris advocated for easing the stringent entry measures under the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) system.
Although K-ETA grants preliminary travel authorization to visitors, it does not guarantee entry, resulting in numerous Thai travelers being turned away at South Korean airports. This restrictive entry policy has spurred a social media campaign urging Thai tourists to choose other destinations. The number of Thai visitors to South Korea then decreased by 21% in the first four months of 2024 compared to the previous year.
South Korea’s heightened scrutiny is part of efforts to control illegal immigration and unauthorized employment, with Thai nationals often being closely monitored. In response to Thailand’s request during a bilateral consular meeting in Seoul earlier in February, South Korea acknowledged the need for strict entry inspections due to the increased number of undocumented Thai residents.
Despite the existing challenges, South Korea expressed a desire to continue collaborative efforts in a progressive manner, noting the ongoing diplomatic dialogues to resolve these travel issues. (NNT)
