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Enforcement Spillover : Thai Tourists and Immigration Inspection at South Korean Borders

초록(요약문)

This study examines how Thai nationals experience immigration inspection at South Korean borders in the post-COVID period and how immigration control practices aimed at preventing irregular migration affect legitimate Thai travelers and perceptions of South Korea. Drawing on the concepts of mobility and bureaucratic violence, the study explores how border enforcement shapes travelers’ experiences beyond formal immigration policy. Using qualitative thematic analysis, the research analyzes fifteen in-depth interviews with Thai nationals who experienced immigration inspection at South Korea airports between 2022 and 2026. The findings suggest that nationality functions as an informal category of risk, shaping border encounters before individual circumstances are fully assessed. Participants described recurring experiences of secondary inspection, opaque entry criteria, discretionary decision-making, limited opportunities for clarification, and continued scrutiny despite prior approval through the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization （K-ETA） system. Building on these findings, this study proposes the concept of enforcement spillover to describe how migration control measures designed to deter irregular migration extend their effects to legitimate travelers who share the same nationality as the targeted population. The study contributes to scholarship on border control, mobility, and the unintended social consequences of immigration enforcement.

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목차

Abstract i
Chapter 1: Introduction 1
1.1 Research Background and Motivation 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 4
1.3 Research Questions and Objectives 7
1.4 Significance and Contributions 8
1.5 Scope and Limitations 10
1.6 Organization of the Thesis 10
Chapter 2 Literature Review 12
2.1 Migration Networks and Cumulative Causation: Thai migrants Context 12
2.2 Border Control and Migration Governance 19
2.3 State-Level Bureaucracy and Discretion at the Border 24
2.4 Research Gaps 26
Chapter 3 Research Methodology 29
3.1 Research Design and Data Collection 30
3.2 Recruitment of Interviewees and Selection Criteria 31
3.3 Demographic Profile of Interviewees 33
3.4 Interview Conduct and Language 36
3.5 Data Analysis 36
3.6 Ethical Considerations 37
Chapter 4 Results and Discussion 39
4.1 Conceptualizing Thai Tourists’ Border Experiences 39
4.2. Temporal Contextualization of Immigration Enforcement 43
4.2.1. Phase I: Post-COVID Reopening the Border （2022） 44
4.2.2. Phase II: Escalation （2023 - 2024） 45
4.2.3 Phase III: Partial Stabilization （2024-2026） 46
4.3 Recurring Patterns in Immigration Inspection 48
4.3.1 Secondary Screening as a Routine Practice 48
4.3.2 Opaque and Inconsistent Entry Criteria 51
4.3.3. Credibility-Based Questioning 55
4.3.4 Officer Conduct and the Presumption of Suspicion 58
4.3.5 Telephone Interpretation and Unequal Voice 61
4.3.6 K-ETA, Document Preparation, and Korean Contacts 63
4.4 Consequences for Legitimate Thai Travelers 68
4.4.1 Anticipatory Anxiety and Self-Regulation Before Travel 68
4.4.2 Waiting and Uncertainty During Secondary Inspection 71
4.4.3 Material, Administrative, and Emotional Harm 73
4.4.4 Changing Perceptions of South Korea 76
4.5 Theorizing Enforcement Spillover 81
Chapter 5 Conclusion 92
5.1 Summary of Findings 92
5.2 Limitations of the Study 100
5.3 Recommendations for Future Research 100
References 102
Appendix I: Interview Questions 107

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