Thai officials are seeking answers after it was revealed South Korea rejected almost 30,000 visa applications from Thais last year.
Thai Immigration Bureau Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Nathathorn Prousoontorn raised the issue when he met with South Korean officials today to discuss immigration policies.
Last year 28,750 Thais were deported from South Korea, including 8,733 who had overstayed their visas or were convicted of illegal activities.
This was a sharp rise from 2014, when 12,564 Thais were deported.
An average of just 700 South Koreans are deported from Thailand each year.
South Korea said the main reason for Thai nationals having their visas rejected was because they had failed to comply with immigration policies.
This included failing to state return flights, planned accommodation in South Korea and their travel plans.
Another reason for visa rejection included the person being on an immigration blacklist, South Korean officials said.
Pol Lt Gen Nathathon accepted the reasons and said Thai authorities would inform Thai travelers of South Korea’s immigration policies in order to reduce visa rejections.
