Changing view of S-E Asians among South Koreans

They're realising that Asean citizens living in their country are not all low-wage workers

Filipino Joeffrey Calimag (left), Singaporean Diane Rozells and Thai Utai Uprasen are all members of the Council of Asean Professors in Korea, an advisory committee launched in August last year to promote grassroots-level exchanges and partnership be
Filipino Joeffrey Calimag (left), Singaporean Diane Rozells and Thai Utai Uprasen are all members of the Council of Asean Professors in Korea, an advisory committee launched in August last year to promote grassroots-level exchanges and partnership between Asean and South Korean scholars, while at the same time helping South Koreans understand Asean better. ST PHOTO: CHANG MAY CHOON
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When Professor Utai Uprasen first moved to South Korea from Thailand a decade ago, he used to get curious questions about his heritage.

"When I say I'm from Thailand, they'd automatically think I'm a migrant worker in factories," he told The Straits Times.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 26, 2020, with the headline Changing view of S-E Asians among South Koreans. Subscribe