Three South Korean tourists arrested for overstaying visas in Thailand

Thai police received a request from the Police Consulate of the South Korean Embassy in Bangkok to extradite the three men. The South Koreans are wanted in their homeland on fraud charges, Pol Lt Gen Pakphumpipat Sajjapan, commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, told the Bangkok Post on Friday.

The detained South Koreans are believed to have worked in the textile industry in South Korea. They were charged with fraud before fleeing to Thailand on tourist visas to avoid prosecution.

One of the trio was arrested in early December for overstaying his visa. His case is being processed in court.

The other two entered Thailand on July 25 and August 3 respectively, and their tourist visas expired at the end of October. Police detained the two on January 10.

Overstaying for 90 days or more is a serious offense in Thailand, where offending tourists face deportation or being banned from reentering the Southeast Asian country.

Travelers from South Korean currently enjoy a 90-day visa exemption upon entering Thailand.

Thailand received 11 million foreign visitors last year, making its tourism industry among the fastest to recover in Southeast Asia following the pandemic.

The Thai government is targeting 25 million foreign arrivals this year.