Prapatpon Kulamard (Thai: ประพัศร์พงษ์ กุลมาตย์) (born July 18, 1982), also known as Pat Kulamard, is an entrepreneur, television host, international consultant, and political activist from Thailand. He is known for his work hosting the Thai travel TV show Asian Ways (Title in Thai: รายการเปิดโลกอาเซียน).
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Personal life
Prapatpon Kulamard was born on July 18, 1982, in Bangkok, Thailand. In 1987, at the age of five, he moved to the United States of America and lived together with his uncle in San Jose, California. His uncle ran a Thai restaurant there.
He attended James Logan High School, located in Union City, California.
During his teenage years he was involved in the local boxing scene in San Jose and competed as a semi-professional boxer.
In 2002 he decided to move back to Thailand to be with his family. In 2007 he decided to further his education. Prapatpon studied for a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication Technology at Ramkhamhaeng University. His grandfather, Pramuan Kulamard (Name in Thai: ประมวล กุลมาตย์), who was a politician, is one of the co-founders of Ramkhamhaeng University.
Business Ventures
During his studies he became interested in the airsoft sport and opened an airsoft business in Bangkok, Thailand, together with one of his University friends. They imported, sold, upgraded and repaired airsoft guns under the name “Wizard Airsoft”. During this time, he also organized several national air-soft competitions sponsored by the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT). Prapatpon Kulamard ran this business until 2011, when he became involved in Thai politics.
Following his involvement in Thai politics, Prapatpon Kulamard assisted one of his friends in starting up an English language school named “The New York Educational Institute” in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2011.
At the end of 2013, he started the automotive company “Helios Performance Automotive Parts.” The company manufactures and sells performance automotive products and is specialized in universal stainless steel mufflers.
Consultancy
From 2011 onward, Prapatpon Kulamard has worked as an independent international consultant and intermediary. He assists Thai companies who are looking to expand their business abroad or are looking to do business with companies located in other countries.
Politics
After ex-prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh left Thailand’s Pheu Thai Party in 2011. Prapatpon Kulamard was invited by Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to join the New Aspiration Party and assist in the party’s election campaign for the 2011 general elections in Thailand.
During this time, Prapatpon Kulamard grew displeased with the way the Thai political system was run. Shortly after, he formed the “Thai Labor Now!” political activist group. The aim of this group was to stand up for the rights of the blue-collar population of Thailand and expose corruption within the Thai political system.
Due to legal and political pressure, the group was disbanded several months after the conclusion of the 2011 general election.
Television
In late 2011 Prapatpon Kulamard was contacted by a television production company via his father. He became involved in the production of the TV Show ASEAN Ways (Title in Thai: รายการเปิดโลกอาเซียน) and soon after became the new host and executive producer of the show. ASEAN Ways was a politically tinted travel TV show, aired on national TV on NBT (Thai Channel 11).
The show showed tourist attractions throughout the nations of the ASEAN community. It also featured interviews with Thai ambassadors stationed in the countries they visited, mainly talking about the country’s involvement in the ASEAN community.
The show was sponsored by the Royal Thai Development Projects, an organization started by His Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. Each episode of the TV show featured a segment showcasing one of the Royal projects within Thailand.
Due to several disagreements with the producer of the show, Prapatpon Kulamard left the show in 2012 after a single season.