Korean Job Discussion Forums

[speakeasy]

There have been quite a few suggestions in other parts of the Forum to jump ship to Thailand as Won slides further against the U.S. dollar.

Take note:

Anti-government protests have grown over the past few days. At first there were incidents where the Thai police fired on protesters, but since then, the police have withdrawn from conflict.

Now the protest has taken to the airport in Bangkok, stranding travelers for the last day or so. Apparently they have sleeping bags, so this could last a while! While the protests may die down, the political complexities in Thailand certainly won't.

Not to be a fear monger, just thought it might be worth noting!

More info:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7750737.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7745158.stm

[mises]

Why not take the won drop not as an indication to jump to another failing Asian economy but as an indication to head home and go to trade school/grad school? There are few better places for a young man/woman to be during a recession than in (re)training.

[VanIslander]

[mises]

Ah, perhaps. Thailand is beautiful.

[mises]

Apparently the protesters have the airport disrupted:

http://ipezone.blogspot.com/2008/11/thai-airport-sieges-and-japanese.html

[sojourner1]

Yep, you can't fly out of Thailand until they stop this nonsense. Incoming flights are still running, but not outbound. I suppose if you were there right now and wanted out, you'd have to make your way to Vietnam over land and then buy a new ticket home. Back in August, I had a real gut feeling they'd shut the international airport, but I thought it would happen sooner than this or it would not happen until March or April after the high tourist season is over.

Why did the protesters pick Soowannapoom international airport as their venue instead of someplace else, because it's only effecting foreigners and the Thai people who work in tourism? Do you think this directly hurts the government as they have private jets and Mercedes to get around in? What point is there in hurting foreigners over it? Are the PAD trying to send a message to the world? If so, what is the world to do about it? No one else wants to get involved in Thailand's problem.

Will you still buy a ticket to Thailand this Winter knowing it may not be usable nor a pleasant situation to enter for vacation? That's too bad Thailand has these issues.

[Illysook]

I have a ticket to Thailand for Christmas and frankly, I'm a little worried.

[tiger fancini]

Thailand has really shot itself in the foot this time. You have a group of protestors who are being labelled terrorists occupying the airport. They don't look like classic terrorists, but they are armed and they have violated major laws through their actions. Their leader has said he will "fight to the death" to make the elected prime minister resign.
You also have a police force/military who are essentially ignoring the situation. It's been almost 5 days and nothing has been done to remove the protestors.
Then there is the prime minister, who also seems to think that if he is inactive enough and ignores the problem, it will magically disappear. Apparently when he addressed the nation yesterday, he was more concerned with what he did on his trip to Peru than the anarchy that he came back to.
And there are over 100,000 toursits stranded, who I'm sure will not be returning to the 'land of smiles' for a long time. Neither will their friends or families. Oh, and most of the foreign businesses that have invested in Thailand will probably be pulling out too.
I feel sorry for the Thai people, as I feel that this will be the biggest disaster, with wider-ranging consequences, that the country has ever faced.

[mises]