We often hear about the experiences of tourists in Thailand, but there's rarely any discussion of Thais travelling abroad. This changed recently when the hashtag #BanTravelToSouthKorea began trending on X, with netizens accusing the country of discriminating against Thai tourists. Everyone from the average tourist to influencers joined the debate and shared stories of being interrogated and/or refused entry into South Korea despite having all the right paperwork.
South Korea's influence spreads globally, and it's especially strong in the kingdom where K-pop and K-entertainment are popular and accessible. A survey by digital payments company Visa revealed South Korea is among the top five travel destinations for Thais while another survey showed 250,000 Thais had visited the country in the first eight months of this year alone.
But many now feel they are unnecessarily subject to unfair treatment, and they have an explanation for why this is happening. They blame phi noi or the little ghosts who abuse the visa-free travel system to become undocumented workers in South Korea's manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
The trending topic even caught the attention of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin who has vowed to solve the matter with the help of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chakkraphong Saengmanee.
In its initial response, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea expressed regret and emphasised there is no policy to reject Thai tourists but said the outcomes may be based on decisions by individual officials rather than an official policy.
Both sides have agreed to discuss the issue at the upcoming Sixth Thai-South Korean Bilateral Consultative Mechanism meeting in South Korea.
While this issue may correct itself in coming months, the problem of phi noi has remained unsolved for decades. According to a 2022 report by the Korean Immigration Service, there are over 150,000 undocumented Thai workers in South Korea. The country is an attractive place to work since it offers a daily wage several times higher than that of the kingdom.
But finding work in South Korea legally is difficult due to the country's strict labour laws. Many who wish to work unfortunately resort to using recruitment agencies or simply overstay their visitor visa to work.
This has led to the creation of a vulnerable population who are often subject to exploitation and made to work in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. In 2007, the Employment Permit System (EPS) between Thailand and South Korea was set up to provide a legal framework for Thais wishing to work in South Korea. However, the EPS system is complex and time-consuming. It requires people to undergo several steps, including submitting paperwork, passing a medical examination, and passing a criminal background check that can take several months to complete.
It's no surprise then that many, in desperate need of work and money, bypass the EPS and rely on other channels to find work which makes them vulnerable to abuse. Some common tales include recruitment agencies charging high labour fees for their service, leading some to go into debt and further rely on making it to South Korea at all costs.
Often, migrants are promised high wages and good working conditions, but upon arrival, find themselves working in dangerous or unhealthy conditions for less pay than promised. This can lead to frustration and desperation, which can make migrants work themselves to death, literally.
This year, South Korea increased the quota for Thai labourers in South Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS) from 2,500 to 4,800. While this is a step in the right direction, it barely makes a dent in the actual demand of people who wish to work in South Korea.
When both sides finally do sit down to discuss the matter, it is hoped the conversation goes beyond just overreaching immigration officials. No one likes their hard-earned holiday ruined and genuine travellers turned away from the border.
Both governments should figure out a solution such as introducing checks on the K-ETA or Korea Electronic Travel Authorization application required for visa-free access. But the Thai government should also raise the issue of increasing the quota of Thai workers allowed to work in South Korea legally and crack down on recruitment agencies and traffickers. After all, it has a duty to protect the well-being of its citizens both at home and abroad.