On 25 June 2022, H.E. Mr. Witchu Vejjajiva, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the ROK, hosted a dinner in honour of H.E. Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Labour, and his high-level delegation at the Ambassador’s residence, on the occasion of their official visit to the ROK during 24-27 June 2022. During the visit, Minister Suchart met with Mr. Lee Jeong-Sik, Minister of Employment and Labour of the ROK, to discuss ways to increase employment opportunities for Thai workers in the ROK, including through the Employment Permit System (EPS). Minister Suchart also visited Samho Development Company in Hwaseong to explore potential in expanding Thai labour market in the ROK and met with Thai workers currently residing in the ROK. In this connection, Minister of Labour and the Ambassador had exchanged views on work to protect Thai nationals and ways to revitalize the Thai and the ROK economies. The Ambassador reaffirmed the Embassy’s readiness to support the Ministry of Labour and to follow up on the results of the meeting between the Minister of Labour and his ROK counterpart.

On 15 June 2022, Mr. Bancha Yuenyongchongcharoen, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Royal Thai Embassy, along with ambassadors and representatives from ASEAN embassies in Seoul, attended a study trip at the Korea Gas Safety Corporation (KGS) Headquarters in Chungcheongbuk Province. Mr. Lim haejong, CEO of KGS, and KGS executives extended a warm welcome to the ASEAN delegation. KGS delivered presentations on the ROK’s gas law system and gas safety welfare management. After the presentations, the ASEAN delegation visited KGS’ Industrial Gas Safety Tech Center, which carries out treatment of up to 27 types of toxic gases and is the world’s 3rd most advanced center of this kind. KGS CEO informed that at present, KGS has signed MoUs on energy safety management with Indonesia and Vietnam, and is ready to discuss cooperation with other ASEAN countries including Thailand. KGS is a government-owned corporation under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, established in 2001. Its main tasks include inspection and certification of gas equipment, developing gas-related regulations, establishing safety plans from gas accidents, and conducting R&D on gas safety technology. KGS has hosted four seminars on ‘ASEAN-Korea Energy Safety Management Policy’, which serves as a platform for the ROK to share its experiences on gas safety management.

On 17 June 2022, H.E. Mr. Witchu Vejjajiva, Ambassador of Thailand to the ROK, welcomed Mr. Tanes Petsuwan, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Asia and the South Pacific), and Mr. Patima Jeerapaet, CEO of Thai Air Asia X, during their visit to the ROK on TAT’s Sales Connection Roadshow. The TAT Deputy Governor informed Ambassador about TAT’s strategy for expanding tourism promotion market in the ROK, which is now facing an upwards trend as Thailand has opened up the country and the ROK has canceled mandatory quarantine for travelers. Other supporting factors include the resumption of international flights, including Thai Air Asia X which now operates 3 flights/week between BKK and Seoul since this month. The Ambassador advised the TAT side on their plan for activities under the ‘Visit Thailand-Korea Year 2023-2024’. TAT will jointly organize activities with the ROK’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism all throughout the 2 years to further promote tourism between the two countries. On the evening of the same day, the Ambassador, together with Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, delivered opening remarks at the ‘Amazing Thailand Amazing New Chapters’ reception, organized by TAT Seoul Office to promote Thailand’s opening of the country, at Westin Josun Hotel Seoul.

On 9 June 2022, H.E. Mr. Witchu Vejjajiva, Ambassador of Thailand to the ROK, met with Mr. Kim Won-kyong, Executive Vice President of Global Public Affairs, Samsung Electronics, on the occasion of the Ambassador’s assumption of duty. Ambassador sought EVP Kim’s assessment of Thailand’s investment climate as Samsung Electronics is the largest Korean investor in Thailand. EVP Kim opined that Thailand has high attractiveness for investment. At present, Samsung operates two factories in Thailand: Samsung Electro-Mechanics factory in Chachoengsao Province, and Samsung Electronics factory in Chonburi Province. Ambassador emphasized the Thai side’s readiness to facilitate should Samsung decide to expand investment in the country, especially towards high-tech industries such as 5G and semiconductors which can contribute to increasing Thailand’s technological competitiveness. Samsung has a total investment value of over 15,000 million baht in Thailand in the white goods industry, which covers 5 main products – laundry machines, refrigerators, air conditioners, ovens, and dishwashing machines. The company’s manufacturing base in Thailand has the capacity to produce the highest number of electrical appliances out of all Samsung factories in 28 countries worldwide.

On 7 June 2022, H.E. Mr. Witchu Vejjajiva, Ambassador of Thailand to the ROK, attended the Opening Ceremony of ‘Seoul Food 2022’, South Korea’s largest international exhibition for food products organized by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), as well as the Opening Ceremony of the ASEAN Trade Fair organized by the ASEAN-Korea Centre, at KINTEX Exhibition Center. After the opening ceremonies, Ambassador, along with Ms. Chananya Punnarugsa, Director of Thai Trade Center, Seoul, visited Thai entrepreneurs at Seoul Food’s Thai Pavilion, arranged by the Department of International Trade Promotion. A total of 17 Thai businesses in the food industry showcased their products in the Pavilion and joined business matching sessions with Korean importers. The products included condiments, noodles, processed fruits, coffee, dried snacks, fruit-based ice-cream, coconut oil, and plant-based meat. As for the ASEAN Trade Fair, the Ambassador met with a total of 5 Thai businesses from the food packaging industry who presented innovative products developed from environmentally-friendly and recyclable materials.