In some ways, Seoul and Bangkok seem like natural bedfellows. Both are massive cities with incredible street food and nightlife, where the only thing easier to get than discounted Botox is pictures that will gain you hundreds of Instagram followers.
On the other hand, of course, Thailand has many cultural differences with Korea, even if for some travelers this makes a pairing all the more appealing. Certainly this is the case for Thais, who up until a controversy in recent years traveled to South Korea in crazy numbers.
Regardless of why you’re thinking of traveling from Thailand to Korea (or vice-versa), this post will help you work out all the necessary details.
Why Thais Love (Or Used to Love) Korea
If you tried to book a flight from Bangkok to Seoul in the pre-pandemic days, you’d be lucky to get a seat, let alone at a good price. At this time, Korean culture reigned supreme in Thailand, from K-Pop and K-Dramas, to Korean fashion and hairstyles, to cosmetic brands (and surgery), to food. Perusing many Thai friends’ Instagrams, I felt like I was looking at an ad from the Korea Tourism Organization.
Unfortunately, in more recent times, this affection has cooled, due to actions the Korean government in response to Thai immigrants residing and working in Korea illegally, known as “little ghosts.” In response to this, Korean authorities began randomly denying entry to Thais, even people with confirmed hotels and tourists who were obviously tourists visiting for leisure. This understandably led to bad press—and, now, bad blood.
Ways to Travel Between Thailand and Korea
Fly nonstop from Bangkok (BKK) to Seoul, Busan or Daegu
You’ll be spoiled for choice flying from Bangkok’s main Suvarnabhumi Airport to Seoul. The question is whether to fly a full-service carrier (such as Thai, Asiana or Korean Air), or to choose a low-cost carrier. Well, a low-cost Korean carrier like Air Busan, as all Thai low-cost carriers fly to Korea from a different airport.
Fly nonstop from Bangkok (DMK) to Seoul
Indeed, if you want to reach Korea from Bangkok’s low-cost airport Don Mueang, you’ll be limited to Thai low-cost carriers. Well, I say limited, but in reality you’ll have your choice. The most common one (and the most comfortable one, on account of its larger planes) is Thai AirAsia X.
Fly nonstop from Chiang Mai to Seoul or Busan
Ending your Thailand trip in the north? You can fly nonstop from Chiang Mai International Airport to Seoul or Busan, on a number of carriers. In addition to being less crowded than either of Bangkok’s airports, CNX is also closer to the center of town, making for a quicker journey in several respects.
Fly nonstop from Phuket to Seoul
Another alternative for reaching Seoul from Bangkok is to fly from Phuket instead. This is obviously convenient if you plan to be there, though it has a few downsides. Namely, that Phuket’s airport is pretty far from many hotels and resorts on the island, and is also kind of a dump.
Connect in Hong Kong or Taipei
Obviously, a nonstop flight is always preferably, particularly since many flights from Southeast Asia to Northeast Asia travel overnight. Who wants to lost valuable travel time? However, one advantage to connecting from BKK to ICN or PUS? Connecting via HKG or TPE on superlative airlines like Cathay Pacific, EVA Air and Starlux.
Is Korea Much More Expensive Than Thailand?
Korea is obviously a much richer country than Thailand, with both a higher standard of living and a higher cost of living as well. But is it really that much more expensive as a travel destinations? Well, yes and no. Yes, if you want to enjoy the same sorts of things in Seoul that you do in Bangkok. What you pay for a budget hotel in Korea might get you semi-luxury in Thailand.
On the other hand, flying from Bangkok to Korea (at least in the mid-2020s, as I’m writing this), isn’t as much of a shock as you would think. For one, Thailand has gotten much more expensive in recent years; I’d say that many things cost double what they did in 2010, when I first visited. Conversely, the Korean won has been persistently weak, making the relative cost of traveling there lower than it’s ever been.
Other FAQ About Traveling from Thailand to Korea
How long does it take to go from Thailand to South Korea?
Flights from Thailand to South Korea are quick, often taking just five hours or so, and sometimes less if they’re a strong tailwind. Going in the other direction this can take longer due to headwinds; it isn’t uncommon for a Seoul-Bangkok flight to have a 7-hour gate-to-gate travel time.
How do I get from Thailand to Korea?
The only realistic way from Thailand to Korea is by plane. In most cases, this involves flying nonstop from one of Bangkok’s two airports to Seoul, but flights are also available from Bangkok to Busan and Daegu, and from both Chiang Mai and Phuket to Seoul.
Can you drive from Thailand to Korea?
In theory, it is possible to drive from Thailand to Korea. However, there are two main obstacles, the obvious one being the impassable hermit kingdom of North Korea. While you could technically drive from Bangkok to Dalian or Shanghai in China and take a ferry from there, to me this isn’t really “driving” all the way.
The Bottom Line
There are as many ways to travel from Thailand to Korea as there are things to do in both countries. Most travelers will take one of the dozen or so daily flights between Bangkok’s two airports and Seoul. However, depending on your travel needs, you might fly from from Bangkok to a secondary Korean city, or even from Chiang Mai or Phuket to Seoul. Getting to Korea is easy—that’s the good news. The better news? Whether you need help planning your trip to Thailand, to Korea, or to both countries, I can create a perfect personalized itinerary for you!
