SURAT THANI — May 13, 2026: Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated Wednesday that the government cannot assist Thai workers banned by South Korea for violating immigration or labor laws, emphasizing that individuals must bear responsibility for their actions abroad.

During an interview at 14:20 while visiting Koh Phangan in Surat Thani province, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul responded to reports that South Korea had blacklisted seasonal agricultural and fisheries workers from four northeastern Thai provinces—Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, and Maha Sarakham—for the entire year of 2026.

Anutin said he had not yet received official confirmation but stressed that countries have the right to ban foreign workers who enter or work illegally. He drew a parallel to illegal foreign workers in Thailand, who are similarly banned. He referenced ongoing inspections on Koh Phangan, where authorities discovered unlicensed accommodations, illegal villas, and unlicensed businesses. Even if individuals claim to be investing in Thailand, breaking the law negates that, he said. The same principle applies to Thai workers abroad: if they violate local laws, those countries have the right to ban them. "Therefore, one simply must not break the law," he stated.

When asked about the government's plan to resolve the issue, Anutin replied directly: "We will not. We cannot help because you broke the law yourself." However, he emphasized that the Thai government would provide full assistance if Thai citizens working legally overseas faced unfair treatment or abuse.

Regarding whether South Korea's restrictions could impact Thai tourists, Anutin said, "One rotten fish spoils the whole basket." He urged Thai workers abroad to act responsibly and stressed that labor issues and tourism should not be conflated. He rejected concerns that Thai tourists would face increasing difficulties entering South Korea, noting that the country continues to benefit economically from Thai visitors who spend money on shopping and beauty services. "Thailand is an important economic partner for South Korea," Anutin emphasized. He added that should problems arise, he would address them directly with the South Korean government, noting that officials from both countries maintain strong relations.

SA KAEO — Thai authorities arrested 24 Thai nationals near the Cambodian border on May 13, 2026, while they were allegedly attempting to cross illegally to open so-called 'mule accounts' for criminal networks in exchange for payment, officials said.

The arrests were carried out by Khlong Hat Task Force personnel under Burapha Task Force, Ranger Company 1301 and local administrative officers near a forested border area in Ban Non Sao Ae village in Aranyaprathet district.

Officials said the group consisted of 12 men and 12 women who were intercepted while walking along a natural border route in an apparent attempt to cross into Cambodia illegally.

During questioning, all 24 suspects reportedly admitted they had been recruited by brokers to travel to Cambodia to open bank accounts for criminal groups.

The suspects told investigators they had each been promised 25,000 baht for opening the accounts. They said Thai intermediaries had transported them to the border area, where Cambodian contacts were expected to receive them after crossing.

Authorities took the group for further questioning at a ranger unit under the 13th Ranger Regiment before transferring them to Khlong Nam Sai police station for legal proceedings.

Kitamura Michi, a 34-year-old adult film actress who debuted in August 2024, has sparked fresh discussion after opening up to Japanese media about her romantic life and the reasons behind her career decision.

Kitamura revealed she spent eight years with her ex-husband, both dating and married, hoping marriage would resolve their relationship issues. However, the couple went without sexual intimacy for a full four years. Additionally, they disagreed fundamentally about having children—she wanted to start a family while he did not—leading them to separate. She views this pivotal moment as the turning point that led her into the adult film industry.

After the divorce, her life changed dramatically. She admitted to living more freely during one period to compensate for the colorlessness of her married life, describing it as "going wild." She recounted having intimate encounters with different men in the morning and evening, continuing this pattern for three months straight.

When she first entered the industry, she lacked confidence in her appearance and worried she wouldn't appeal to viewers. However, the response exceeded her expectations, with many fans appreciating her unique image and charm. Regarding her family, she revealed her father was initially furious and considered cutting ties, but gradually accepted her over time, telling her "this is your life." Though her parents don't discuss her work directly, they continue to show concern.

As for the future, Kitamura acknowledged harboring dreams of marriage but has no plans to leave the industry soon, as she finds the work fulfilling and takes pride in it. She joked that finding a partner willing to accept both her and her profession might be her greatest challenge at the moment.

Country singer Lamyai Haisongkham has recently opened up about her relationship with Kritsada Wongkaew, known as 'Captain Chang,' after the couple drew public attention. At the PULZAR engine oil product launch at Park Hyatt Bangkok, Lamyai shared that this love has developed naturally and feels good because her partner cares for and supports both her and those around her.

'This love is wonderful. It's just beginning but it feels like a good starting point,' she said. 'We haven't known each other long, but it's been a gradual, natural process. I don't know what happened before, but right now everything feels okay. I feel respected and well taken care of. I have to say, I used to be the one paying for things, but now I'm the one being treated.'

When asked how long it took to open her heart, Lamyai explained that their relationship didn't start with a traditional courtship. 'He didn't come courting me in the usual way. We had things to talk about and just gradually got to know each other. Eventually, we went out to eat together, and it felt like we were just friends. Then one day he invited me to pay respects at a temple and asked a fortune teller if she would like him. That's when I realized he was actually courting me.'

She described what she loves about him: 'He's been caring from day one. I don't have to do anything or pay for meals. He's very supportive.'

Regarding his understanding of her busy schedule, Lamyai said, 'He understands completely because he's so supportive. He doesn't just support me; he supports my friends too. Since I have many friends, he goes with us and I feel comfortable. He adjusts his time to be with me whenever I'm available. He hasn't tried to change anything about me, and it feels good because I used to be the one always supporting others. Now that he's supporting me, it's a different feeling.'

When asked if the public attention pressures her, she replied, 'It doesn't bother me. I'm letting everything happen naturally. Love is something that brings happiness today, but we don't know about tomorrow. Right now, I'm happy.'

On negative comments saying they're not suited for each other, Lamyai responded, 'Whether we're compatible is for us to decide since we're the ones living together. Other people only see the outside. I don't know what compatibility really means, but I know I feel comfortable.'

Regarding comments that 'Captain Chang' is obsessed with her, she laughed, 'Maybe. When we're together, we laugh more than we feel shy. From the outside, he looks like the serious Captain Chang type, but when we're together, we're both very silly. I'm naturally playful and he's funny too. We make each other laugh constantly. I even tease him about whether he's really so reserved. Close friends who know him can see that this relationship is good because he takes care of us all.'

On May 13, 2025, Prime Minister Anuthın Charnvirakul and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Choomklin led a multi-agency inspection team to Koh Phangan District in Surat Thani Province and Phuket to investigate foreign nominees conducting business and illegal encroachment on state forest land. The team included Deputy Secretary-General Nipont Chumngamsiriwong, National Park Director Arthapol Chaounchansaa, and Marine Resources Director Pinsak Suraswadee, along with military and police officials and local administrators.

Minister Suchart emphasized reviewing natural resources data in Koh Phangan, which spans 121,437.50 acres, including Khao Sam Roi Yot-Koh Phangan National Park (26,866.27 acres) where recent inspections found no encroachment. The Koh Phangan National Forest Reserve (3,441.40 acres) has had four cases prosecuted with no new encroachment detected currently.

The Prime Minister issued urgent policies to manage agricultural land by properly registering farmers' rights according to law while protecting the environment and preventing further forest encroachment. He ordered relevant agencies to use geographic data for monitoring to prevent multinational capital from exploiting Thailand's natural resources. After Koh Phangan, the PM's team proceeded to Phuket to address illegal encroachment on public beaches at Freedom Beach in Kathu District.

The acting ecclesiastical chief of Chumphon province has criticized a temple abbot's ban on monks from other temples sitting on the ordination platform during funeral rites as "too harsh," and has ordered an investigation into the controversy that erupted online. The incident occurred at Tham Pru Ta Kian Temple in Tha Sae District, Chumphon, where the abbot refused to allow monks from Khao Chedi Temple to participate in the ceremony, citing "temple rules." This sparked widespread debate among Buddhists and Chumphon residents questioning the appropriateness of excluding monks from participating in funeral rites, especially since both groups are disciples of the late respected monk Luang Pho Prong Chotigo.

On May 13, 2025, reporters met with Phra Kru Bundit Thammatada, the acting ecclesiastical chief of Chumphon province, at Koh Kaew Dusitiyarangsrit Temple in Muang Chumphon District. He stated that while he had not yet received formal detailed reports, any temple implementing specific rules should notify the ecclesiastical administration so they can assess appropriateness. He emphasized that times have changed and flexibility and dialogue are necessary in many matters.

According to preliminary information, the incident may have occurred because the funeral sponsor invited monks from Khao Chedi Temple without consulting or informing the abbot of Tham Pru Ta Kian Temple beforehand, which may have caused the dispute. Currently, many temples lack sufficient resident monks, so inviting monks from other temples to participate in ceremonies is a common practice. The funeral sponsor and temple should have communicated and reached understanding beforehand to avoid problems during the merit-making ceremony.

"If there really is a rule banning visiting monks from participating in chanting, personally I think it needs to be reconsidered because it seems too harsh. However, we don't yet know all the facts and I don't want to make premature judgments," Phra Kru Bundit Thammatada said, adding that the ecclesiastical administration would contact the provincial religious supervisor, district ecclesiastical chief, and the abbot of Tham Pru Ta Kian Temple to gather facts before determining further action.