Thai and Korean netizens clash after #BanKorea trends on X

The surge in online conversations has left many intrigued, especially by the surge in resentment towards South Korea, a cherished destination for Thai tourists.

The call for a travel ban has its roots in the frustrations of Thai travellers due to the stringent regulations enforced by South Korea's immigration office. Several Thai visitors to South Korea faced challenges during the immigration process, even after providing extensive documentation.

Numerous netizens who shared similar experiences online highlighted instances of Korean immigration officials displaying rudeness towards Thai travellers. This unfair treatment was compounded by the fact that some Thais managed to enter South Korea illegally to work in sectors like manufacturing and agriculture, where there was a high demand for manual labour.

These undocumented workers, often referred to as "Phi Noi" (little ghosts), are estimated to number over 100,000 individuals, residing in South Korea under the radar. It appears that both Thai and South Korean authorities are well aware of this issue. Regrettably, it is the legitimate Thai tourists who bear the brunt of the fallout.

In reaction, Korean netizens have joined the hashtag on X, arguing that Thais represent the largest group of undocumented workers in their country. They added that these individuals were involved in selling and using drugs, causing problems in South Korea. They also commended their immigration authorities for their efforts in screening people entering the country.

In response, many Thais have retaliated by questioning the legality of “Korean-owned” businesses in Thailand. Many Thais made the point that some Koreans were working in restaurants, clubs and barber shops in Thailand.

The problem of undocumented Thai labour in South Korea began around 2017. Information from the South Korean immigration office indicates that in 2018, there were a total of 168,711 Thai individuals in South Korea, including tourists and people who had overstayed their visas.

Out of this number, only 24,022 were legal migrant workers, which means the rest were illegal labourers, referred to in Thai as "Phi Noi”, numbering around 140,000 people. These workers are primarily employed in the automotive industry, followed by agricultural work, and massage parlours. They predominantly hail from the northeastern region of Thailand, with smaller numbers from the northern, eastern, southern, and central regions.