On December 6, Pita Limjaroenrat, the previous leader of the Thai political party Move Forward, spoke to Korea University (KU) students at the College of Political Science and Economics (PSE) in a Q&A session from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. In his opening remarks, the politician expressed that he sees potential for Thailand to learn from Korea’s economic and political model. He then addressed questions related to his party’s core beliefs and his attempted bid for Prime Minister (PM).

Commenting on Move Forward’s astounding success – especially among young voters – Limjaroenrat alluded that taking distance from the longstanding yellow and red shirts’ movements might have favored the popularity of the party. The reason could be, according to the ex-leader, that “the polarization of the country has been responsible for its economic stall;” on the other hand, his party’s campaign clearly expressed a state of dissatisfaction with Thailand’s “systematic inertia” and a desire for reform.

Turning to the challenges that lie ahead of Korea and Thailand’s relations, Limjaroenrat explained that several issues need to be addressed for his nation to become a trusted friend of Korea. He promptly pointed to the conundrum of illegal employment of Thai laborers as a primary example, emphasizing that such issues require a willingness to cooperate between private companies and public institutions.

The discussion concluded with a message for students and youngsters aspiring to make a change in politics. Limjaroenrat stressed the importance of bringing a fresh perspective and actively engaging in politics on a day-to-day basis.