A TikTok clip of a Thai worker living in South Korea playing with what appears to be a yaba pill has sparked controversy and concern over possible damage to the reputation of Thai workers in this East Asian country.
MYSTERY PILL: A screenshot of a TikTok video of an unidentified pill in the hand of a man believed to be a Thai worker in South Korea.
Last week, the video clip posted by a TikTok user using the account name @breadphranakorn went viral and triggered fierce criticism especially among Thai workers in South Korea before it was removed.
The account owner, whose identity is still unknown, released two later clips in which he claimed to have fashioned non-narcotic pills to resemble the illegal methamphetamine variant for a joke. He said he was disappointed that the clip caused such a stir and upset that it wasn't one of his more positive posts that had attracted attention.
Jakkrawut Moontha, a labour volunteer who coordinates labour affairs and helps Thai workers in South Korea, said if this matter is taken up by the South Korean police, Thais who travel to work in South Korea could face an even tougher screening procedure.
Many who posted commented on the video on his Facebook page also shared these concerns.
According to Mr Jakkrawut, many Thai workers in South Korea, both those with the appropriate visas and those working illegally, become involved with drugs.
This controversy involving a Thai worker in South Korea happens to have come at a time when South Korean authorities are flexing their muscles in a bid to clamp down on drugs, gambling, prostitution and money laundering, particularly among migrant workers, he said.
Mr Jakkrawut said he understood the Thai embassy in South Korea must already be aware of the video after it had gained such widespread attention of social media.
Suchat Phonchaiwisetkun, director-general of the Department of Employment, however, said the man in the clip was likely to be working illegally in the country as the vetting process, under the Employment Service System (EPS), for legal migrant workers involves strict rules regarding criminal records.
A source at the police's Special Branch Bureau (SBB), the agency which screens Thai labourers, said as the bureau was still discussing the matter with the Foreign Ministry, it could not yet discuss the information it has gathered regarding the matter.
In most cases, he claimed, those Thai workers caught committing criminal acts in the country were there illegally having overstayed their visas after entering as tourists, said the source.
"Some of them like to brag on social media that they were able to work in South Korea after being certified by the Special Branch Bureau despite their criminal background," said the source.
This has led to a false perception that the bureau's standards are lax and put the South Korean authorities on alert, said the source.
"But the truth is only those who have committed petty crimes, such as gambling, can still gain certification.
"Authorised to exercise its judgement in certifying Thai nationals going abroad, the SBB absolutely will not allow anyone involved in serious crime to go to work overseas. We follow all the appropriate international guidelines and screening protocols" said the source.
Current regulations permit those who have entered on a tourist visa to extend their visa further after their initial entry period expires if the SBB signs off on their behaviour having been exemplary during their time in the country.
Many with the intention of overstaying their visas and continuing to work illegally in South Korea also like to apply for this extension to their 90-day permit as it makes it easier for them to go undetected by the local authorities, said the source.
Before Thais can legally work in South Korea, they must pass a standardised Korean language test by South Korea's EPS for foreign workers.
The system was adopted by the country's Department of Employment to accommodate the increasing number of Thais wishing to work in South Korea due to the higher wages on offer there.
Chen Hak Ki, a representative of the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea), said 11,112 Thai workers had applied to take the test this year, most of whom would have been labourers.
However, the quota for South Korea's agricultural and livestock sectors was set at just 710, while only 1,981 Thai men were to be allowed to work in the construction industry.
The HRD Korea representative said the minimum wage in South Korea in 2021 will be 8,720 won per hour, or about 273 baht, totalling about 50,000 baht per month for full-time work.
Workers under the EPS are also entitled to the same employment opportunities and welfare programmes as full South Korean nationals.