GOYANG — The Thai Embassy in Seoul highlighted Thai food products, culture and entertainment at the ASEAN Trade Fair 2025 while urging Thai travelers to South Korea to take out travel insurance before their trips.
Ten Thai exhibitors took part in the Nov. 13–16 event at KINTEX Exhibition Center 2 in Goyang, joining producers and buyers from across Southeast Asia. The fair, organized by the ASEAN-Korea Centre and regional trade agencies, aims to expand market access for ASEAN products.
Chawadol Nipathannont, minister and deputy chief of mission at the Thai Embassy, said Korean consumers remain highly receptive to Thai goods, especially food, as 300,000 to 400,000 Koreans visit Thailand each year. Thai exporters, he said, still face challenges, including strict regulations and the difficulty of securing reliable distribution partners.
He said Ambassador Thani Sangrat has made expanding Thai business and cultural visibility a priority. The embassy’s annual “Sawadee Thailand” festival, which attracts hundreds of thousands of Korean visitors, serves as a major platform to promote Thai cuisine, culture and consumer products. The embassy is also encouraging Thais in South Korea to establish legally registered associations to strengthen community networks.
Embassy Eyes Future “Thai Town”
The embassy is working to introduce recurring Thai markets in cities across South Korea as part of broader efforts to raise the visibility of Thai culture. Chawadol said the goal is to make Thai brands more familiar to younger Korean consumers.
He noted the rising popularity of Thai pop music, with Korean fans lining up overnight for fan events featuring Thai artists. Thailand’s cultural presence — from tourism and food to entertainment, TV dramas and the so-called Thai Wave — should be promoted as a unified ecosystem, he said.
A more organized Thai community could eventually pave the way for the country’s first “Thai Town,” he added. While the Thai population in South Korea is significant, it remains dispersed. “If we have more associations working legally and collaboratively, a Thai Town is absolutely possible,” he said.
Embassy Advises Travelers
Chawadol also urged Thai nationals to review South Korea’s entry rules before traveling, even though Thailand enjoys visa-free access. He stressed the importance of carrying travel insurance, calling it inexpensive, easy to obtain and essential in emergencies.
“Many people think that if they’re coming for only five to seven days, nothing will happen,” he said. “But having insurance at least gives you peace of mind. Korea is very familiar to Thai visitors, and everyone is welcome. But before you travel, please make sure you have travel insurance.”
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