More Thai people prevented from entering South Korea

SEOUL, Sept 25 – The Thai ambassador to Seoul said the number of Thai people whose entry into South Korea is rejected has not dropped. He does not think advanced visa application will solve the problem and warned visitors to observe the law. Ambassador Sarun Charoensuwan said the number of illegal Thai immigrants in South Korea doubled in the past three years. About 100,000 Thai people lived in South Korea and illegal Thai migrant workers formed their majority, he said. According to the ambassador, illegal Thai migrants work as fruit collectors. South Korean authorities are carefully checking visitors to curb the number of illegal migrant workers and social problems although illegal workers help support the South Korean economy. People from many countries try to sneak into South Korea for a monthly salary of 30,000-40,000 baht as arrested illegal migrant workers will only be repatriated and blacklisted. Thai job seekers usually arrive as tourists who are allowed to stay in South Korea for 90 days without having to seek a visa in advance. Ambassador Sarun disagrees with the idea of some Thai tourists that Thai tourists should be required to apply for visas in advance to solve the problem of entry denial at airports. He said 400,000-500,000 Thai people toured South Korea annually and only 20,000 of them were denied entry. The prior visa requirement would otherwise affect many Thai people, he said. (TNA)