Thai tourism agency requests visit by 'Descendants of the Sun' star: report

Thailand's tourism agency has asked its South Korean counterpart to help bring a South Korean star from the sensational hit drama "Descendants of the Sun" to the country, The Nation reported Thursday.

Since it premiered on Feb. 24 in South Korea and China, the drama has been an instant hit in the two countries and other Asian nations.

According to the report in the Thailand daily newspaper, Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), asked the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) to help arrange a meeting between Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and lead actor Song Joong-ki.

The TAT governor is reported to have said the lead actor's visit to Thailand would encourage Thais to travel to South Korea, which saw the number of Thai visitors drop to 370,000 in 2015 from

400,000 a year earlier due to the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.

Separately, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, during his visit to South Korea this week, called on both countries to work toward co-producing movies and TV dramas, saying it would enhance the tourism industries in both countries. 

"Dr. Somkid's suggestion is inspired by the success of the film 'Lost in Thailand,' which ignited a boom in Chinese visitors.

Similarly, we could make 'Love in Thailand' since a lot of South Korean couples come here for their honeymoons," the TAT chief was quoted as saying.

The prime minister took office in 2014 through a military coup.

Last week, he recommended people watch the Korean TV series and said he would give his full support to any drama that instills a patriotic spirit in people.

The drama centers around the romantic relationship between a South Korean special forces captain, played by Song Joong-ki, and a doctor, played by Song Hye-kyo, in the fictional war-torn nation of Uruk. (Yonhap)