Khong Residents Oppose Moving Korat Expo 2029 to Pak Chong

MGR Online•Society•8d ago

Reader Briefing

Residents of Khong District threaten to block Mittraphap Road to protest a proposed relocation of the Korat Expo 2029 to Pak Chong District.

•Protesters in Khong District oppose the National Economic and Social Development Council's proposal to move Korat Expo 2029 to Pak Chong District.
•Thawin Rattanaporn and Weerawit Chuechanat submitted letters to the Ministry of Agriculture, the NESDC, and Parliament on August 28, 2026.
•Minister Suriya Juirungruangkit stated the NESDC found Pak Chong has better transportation, medical facilities, and hotel capacity.
•The Cabinet is scheduled to consider the relocation on September 1.

•The National Economic and Social Development Council proposed moving the Korat Expo 2029 from Thephalai, Khong District, to Pak Chong District.
•On August 28, 2026, Thawin Rattanaporn and Weerawit Chuechanat submitted letters to the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Economic and Social Development Council, and Parliament to stall the move.
•Thawin Rattanaporn argues that holding the event in Khong District would distribute income more widely across lower, central, and upper Isan and Northern regions.
•Weerawit Chuechanat noted that Pak Chong has tens of thousands of hotel rooms while Khong District has only 90 rooms.
•Suriya Juirungruangkit stated the National Economic and Social Development Council's study found Pak Chong has superior transport networks and infrastructure.
•Protesters threaten to block Mittraphap Road if the Cabinet approves the relocation of the event.
•The Cabinet is scheduled to consider the relocation on September 1, prior to a report to the International Association of Horticultural Producers on September 4, 2026.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Weerawit Chuechanat

"Korat World Horticultural Expo must be held in Khong District only."

พืชสวนโลกโคราชต้องจัดที่อำเภอคงเท่านั้น

Thawin Rattanaporn(ถวิล รัตนพร)

Deputy Mayor of Non Daeng Subdistrict, Non Daeng District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

Weerawit Chuechanat(วีระวิทย์ เชื้อจันอัด)

Representative of the farmers' network and community enterprise operators in Khong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, also known as Kru Oat.

Suriya Juirungruangkit(สุริยะ จึงรุ่งเรืองกิจ)

Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

Prayut Chan-o-cha(ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา)ℹ️

Former Prime Minister who previously approved the budget and location for the horticultural expo.

National Economic and Social Development Council(สภาพัฒนาการเศรษฐกิจและสังคมแห่งชาติ)

The agency that proposed moving the event location based on a value and readiness study.

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives(กระทรวงเกษตรฯ)

The government ministry involved in the management and location proposal of the horticultural expo.

Cabinet(คณะรัฐมนตรี)

The executive body responsible for officially approving the event location.

International Association of Horticultural Producers(สมาคมพืชสวนโลกระหว่างประเทศ)ℹ️

The international body to which a report regarding the expo must be presented on September 4, 2026.

Khong District(อำเภอคง)

The original proposed location for the Korat Expo 2029 in Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

Pak Chong District(อำเภอปากช่อง)ℹ️

The proposed new location for the Korat Expo 2029 due to higher readiness.

Mittraphap Road(ถนนมิตรภาพ)ℹ️

The road that protesters threaten to block if the venue is moved.

Thephalai Subdistrict(ตำบลเทพาลัย)

The specific area in Khong District previously designated as the expo site.

Nakhon Ratchasima(นครราชสีมา)ℹ️

The province where the disputed event locations are situated.