The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed rumours in the social media that South Korea planned to stop giving a visa waiver to Thais which has been in effect since 1981 due to the influx of refugees and illegal immigrants.
Ministry spokeswoman Busadee Santipitaks said yesterday that the ministry has yet to receive any notification from South Korea about the rumoured termination of the visa waiver.
She insisted the visa waiver agreement between Thailand and South Korea remains in effect.
According to South Korea's mass circulation Chosun Ilbo daily, the Korean Ministry of Justice lobbied to end the visa-free entry for Thais.
"Back in June, when xenophobia reached fever pitch due to the arrival of dozens of Yemeni refugees on Jeju Island, the Justice Ministry considered suspending or cancelling the visa waiver for some nationals who are prone to outstaying their welcome," the newspaper reported last week.
"Thais topped the list since they make up an estimated 100,000 of about 310,000 illegal immigrants in South Korea."
But the attempt failed when the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs intervened.
"The Justice Ministry relented in the face of opposition from the Foreign Ministry, which argued that Thailand is a major partner in South Korea's foreign policy and a main stopover on the escape route of North Korean defectors," reported the Chosun Ilbo.
"If Seoul unilaterally suspended the reciprocal visa waiver, this could have caused a diplomatic dispute with Thailand, a major destination for 1.71 million South Korean tourists last year."
Ms Busadee, however, warned Thai passport holders that South Korean immigration authorities strictly screen visitors upon arrival, and urged Thais to adhere to South Korea's immigration law.
Statistics Korea reported recently that Thais are the No.1 overstayers in the country. It estimated some 65,000 Thais currently have remained illegally past the 90-day limit allowed with the visa-free entry.
