Born the son of former prime minister General Chatichai Choonhavan and Than Phu Ying Bunruen Choonhavan, Kraisak attended Saint Gabriel's College in Bangkok and Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Wilbraham, Massachusetts.

Kraisak was an adviser to the prime minister (1989–1991) and was in charge of peace negotiations with Cambodia.

After the coup in 1991, he was appointed chief adviser to the Governor of Bangkok (until 1995) on urban pollution and arts and culture.

After the coup, local media claimed that the military junta approached him to become the foreign minister of the interim civilian government.

He held the position of the President of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) which is composed of like-minded members of parliaments from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) who work together to restore freedom in Myanmar.