"Don't Travel to Korea" Angry Thai People [2023 Asia Newspick]④

Editor's NoteIn 2023, Asia Economy reported numerous news stories. Among them, we have selected the news that garnered the most empathy and reactions from readers on the internet and share the articles along with their backstories. As you review the popular articles from the last quarter, we hope you take time to reflect on the past year and prepare for the new one.

1. Angry Thais Say "Don't Travel to Korea"... Avoid Visits Due to Strengthened Interviews at Korean Immigration Offices (Reporter Kim Heeyoon)

Thailand is one of the countries in Asia where the K-pop craze is especially intense. However, at the end of October, a Thai media outlet reported that the number of Thais being denied entry to Korea is increasing, which has led to growing resentment toward Korea in Thailand. Seta Tawisin, the Prime Minister of Thailand, even expressed his intention to discuss the issue of Thais being denied entry in Korea with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The reason the Korean government tightened entry screenings for Thais was due to illegal overstayers. On November 3, the Ministry of Justice issued an explanatory statement regarding media reports on the denial of entry to Thais, stating that necessary measures were taken to prevent illegal overstaying. According to the Ministry of Justice, the number of illegal Thai overstayers was around 52,000 in 2015 but increased to 157,000 as of September this year.

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Reports have emerged that Thai travelers are avoiding visits to Korea due to the Korean Immigration Office.

"Don't Travel to Korea" Angry Thai People [2023 Asia Newspick]④

Tourists at a Thai airport.
Photo by AFP Yonhap News

On the 31st, Thai media The Tiger reported that although Korea has become a popular travel destination for Thais, an increasing number of cases are turning away due to excessive interviews at immigration offices, and enraged Thais are demanding a ban on traveling to Korea.

Korea is considered one of the most popular travel destinations for Thais, influenced by K-pop, dramas, and movies. Korea and Thailand have a visa waiver agreement, allowing Thai tourists to stay in Korea for up to 90 days without a visa for tourism purposes.

Earlier, on the 28th (local time), Thai media The Nation published an article titled "From Love to Hate: Why Thais Have Turned Their Backs on Korea," reporting on Thais avoiding travel to Korea. The main point was that although Korea has become a popular destination for Thais, excessive interviews at immigration offices have become problematic.

Recently in Thailand, the hashtags "Ban Korea Travel" and "Korean Immigration Office" ranked first on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). This was due to a surge in cases where Thais who traveled to Korea were turned away during entry screening because they failed to pass overly strict interviews.

According to the report, cases of Thais being forcibly sent back at immigration checkpoints have increased recently. The media explained this is because the number of Thais illegally staying in Korea has steadily increased.

A Thai woman who recently planned and visited Korea said, "Even though I presented numerous documents to prove my credibility, I was denied entry during the process and had to turn back." She added, "Having visited Korea several times, I knew the questions at the immigration desk well and prepared all travel-related documents, but I was denied entry because I brought too much money compared to my salary." She expressed anger, saying she had saved money for five years for this trip.

A Thai university professor said, "I have traveled to over 20 countries, but I was denied entry in Korea." Another Thai person said that after showing records of having visited Korea four times in the past, they were asked, "Why don't you visit other countries?" and criticized, "I was constantly interrogated as if I were a criminal."

Some Thais visiting Korea said they prepared all documents such as pay slips, bankbooks, travel plans, hotel information, and return flight tickets but were ultimately denied entry. It is also known that even Thai celebrities and influencers with clear identity and financial capability were denied entry.

Following the report, many Thai netizens shared similar experiences on social media (SNS). Some Thais pointed out, "We understand there are many Thais illegally staying in Korea, but denying entry to those legally visiting Korea for tourism is unfair."

On the 31st, during a press briefing by the Thai government, reporters raised the issue to Prime Minister Seta Tawisin, who said, "I have not heard of this matter," and added, "I will discuss the issue with the Minister of Foreign Affairs to resolve it."

2. "Have Some Shame" - Former Israeli Prime Minister Clashes with BBC Anchor Live

On October 7, Hamas invaded Israel, triggering the Israel-Hamas war. About three weeks after the outbreak, on the 22nd, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had a heated exchange during an interview with the British public broadcaster BBC. Bennett accused anchor Victoria Derbyshire of "taking Hamas's side," leading to a dispute. The interview was abruptly cut off when a black screen appeared.

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Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett argued with a BBC anchor during an interview, accusing the broadcaster of siding with Hamas.

On the 22nd (local time), Bennett appeared remotely on a morning political program hosted by BBC anchor Victoria Derbyshire. According to reports by The National and others, the interview was cut off after a tense exchange between Bennett and the anchor.

BBC anchor Victoria Derbyshire and former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
[Image source=Capture from X (formerly Twitter)]

During the interview, the anchor first cited the Geneva Conventions, stating, "Parties to a conflict must limit their operations to destroying or weakening the enemy's military resources and distinguish between civilians and combatants."

As the anchor was about to continue questioning, Bennett responded, "That is exactly what we do, and why we allow civilians to evacuate before strikes."

He added, "(Hamas) slaughters babies, burns them alive, and beheads babies taken from pregnant mothers. This is what we are dealing with."

He further said, "I believe the Geneva Conventions tell every country, 'You need to defend yourself.' We will defend ourselves."

A girl collecting her belongings at the hospital disaster site in Gaza Strip.
Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Bennett also directed criticism at the BBC. He claimed, "Last week, Islamic Jihad fired rockets at a hospital in Gaza, causing an explosion. The BBC reported it as an Israeli attack, but it was not done by Israel."

Earlier, Israel stated that the explosion at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza was caused by a misfired rocket launched by the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad. The United States, Canada, and France have supported Israel's claim.

Meanwhile, the BBC reported, "It is still difficult to determine the cause of the explosion," but noted, "Based on the flash in the sky and the explosion pattern captured on video, it is likely a malfunctioning rocket hit the hospital, and there is no typical evidence of an Israeli military strike."

Bennett criticized the anchor, saying, "All your questions are only about the people of Gaza," and "I know well that the BBC is siding with Gaza."

The anchor repeatedly denied this, but Bennett pointed out that the anchor never asked about the Israeli families killed by Hamas on October 7, saying, "You never asked about those children since the start of this interview."

The anchor tried to shift the conversation back to the issue of hostages abducted to Gaza, but Bennett said, "This is how the BBC operates," and expressed anger, saying, "The BBC lacks moral clarity. You should be ashamed of what you have done over the past week."

However, the anchor rebutted, "Before interviewing you, I interviewed a Palestinian political elder and asked him about the civilian massacres in Israel." The tense interview was abruptly cut off when a black screen appeared.

On the 21st (local time), a man in Ashkelon, Israel, is looking at a vehicle destroyed by a rocket attack. Since the outbreak of the bloody conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas on the 7th, the death toll on both sides has approached 6,000.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Bennett's criticism appears to reflect the dissatisfaction within Israeli society regarding the BBC's reporting tone on the Israel-Palestine war.

Since Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on October 7, the BBC has referred to Hamas as an "armed group" rather than "terrorists." The BBC explained this terminology is used to maintain objectivity without taking sides, but it faced criticism from the British Jewish community.

Eventually, on the 20th, the BBC announced it would no longer use "armed group" as the primary term for Hamas but describe it as a "group banned as a terrorist organization by the UK government and other countries." This change was made because the term "armed group" was no longer deemed accurate due to changing circumstances.

Meanwhile, BBC Director-General Tim Davie is scheduled to be summoned on the 25th to a committee composed of Conservative Party members to be questioned about reporting bias.

3. Quit Teaching and Got a Job at a Supermarket... "Earning a 15-Year Veteran Teacher's Salary in One Year" Sparks Interest in the U.S. (Reporter Lim Joohyeong)

The teacher shortage in the United States is severe. Increasing numbers of teachers are quitting due to heavy workloads, low pay, and stress. A teacher who quit after eight years and got a job at the large discount store Costco has become a hot topic. She said her income increased by 50% within one year of working at Costco. She earns a salary that a 15-year veteran teacher would receive and does not regret quitting teaching.

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A story about an eight-year veteran teacher in the U.S. who quit teaching and was re-employed as a Costco employee has become a hot topic. The teacher reportedly increased her income by nearly 50% within just one year of re-employment. Some say this vividly reflects the reality of the U.S. education system, which is suffering from chronic staff shortages and declining service quality.

The protagonist of this story is Maggie Perkins, a 31-year-old Costco employee. Perkins, who contributed her experience to the U.S. economic media CNBC, worked as a teacher until last year and was in her eighth year at that time.

However, burdened by heavy workloads, low pay, and job stress, she eventually gave up her beloved teaching career and started a new career as a Costco employee.

American teachers holding a wage increase rally in Oklahoma, USA, in 2018.
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

After working at Costco in Georgia, her income increased by 50%. Perkins explained, "It is the salary a 15-year veteran teacher would receive."

Perkins said, "I taught history and language to middle and high school students in public and private schools for eight years. In my last school year in 2022, my salary was $47,000 (about 63.5 million KRW)." She added, "I worked 60 hours a week and did a lot of unpaid overtime. It was a job that required tremendous patience. I could no longer find fulfillment or value in teaching."

She emphasized, "I will celebrate my one-year anniversary at Costco this fall. I am happier now than ever before."

Perkins also mentioned that many teachers in the U.S. are considering quitting teaching. She said, "My fellow teachers joke about quitting and working at Costco. I just turned that joke into reality."

Costco, the American warehouse discount store.
Photo by Yonhap News

In fact, cases of teachers exhausted by low pay and heavy workloads leaving the profession continue in the U.S. Chronic staff shortages are worsening the public education crisis.

The U.S. media Axios criticized in an article titled "Empty Classrooms" in August, stating, "The teaching profession is facing an existential crisis due to declining popularity."

The media cited a study from Kansas State University, noting, "There is currently a shortage of tens of thousands of teachers in the U.S.," and "160,000 teaching positions are filled by underqualified teachers." Some schools unable to find teachers are hiring college students as apprentice teachers.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2021, the median salary for U.S. teachers was about $61,000 (about 82.38 million KRW). However, teacher salaries vary greatly by region. About half of all teachers earned around $30,000 (about 40.51 million KRW).