Popular Indian travel vlogger and content creator Sachin Awasthi revealed in a recent video that he and his wife were detained for 38 hours in South Korea and China following an entry denial at Jeju Island.
Awasthi, who frequently documents his international travels for his growing audience, alleged that South Korean immigration officials subjected them to racial profiling and held them in jail-like conditions without adequate food or communication.
The incident occurred during a planned holiday trip where the couple intended to take advantage of the island’s visa-free policy for Indian tourists.
The ordeal began when immigration officers at Jeju International Airport pulled the couple aside for questioning despite their valid travel documents and extensive travel history.
Awasthi stated that an interpreter provided via telephone was unprofessional and repeatedly asked if they were seeking refugee status, a legal protection granted to people fleeing their home country.
Despite explaining their itinerary and established business in India, they were issued an entry denial based on an allegedly unclear purpose of stay.
Following the denial, the couple was moved to a detention facility that Awasthi described as a dark, windowless room resembling a prison barrack.
He claimed that officials forced them to sign documents promising they were receiving proper accommodation. In reality, they were allegedly given only small amounts of sweet juice and bread, with no access to proper meals or clean drinking water.
Awasthi also highlighted a perceived collusion between immigration and budget airlines, claiming that airline staff pressured him into buying exorbitant tickets for the next available flight.
He alleged that Juneyao Air and China Eastern staff used high-pressure tactics, with one official reportedly sending threatening messages to another detained traveller.
The vlogger noted that while the state has the right to deny entry, the dehumanising treatment of genuine tourists is a violation of basic dignity.
The situation reportedly worsened during their transit through Shanghai, China, where they were held for another eight hours.
Awasthi claimed that Chinese police monitored them constantly, even following them into the restroom and ordering them to keep the door open.
They were allegedly prohibited from using their phones to contact family members in India, causing significant distress to their relatives during the period of total silence.
Sachin Awasthi is a well-known content creator and travel vlogger who often shares detailed guides on international destinations to help aspiring creators and tourists navigate foreign borders.
He concluded the video by warning Indian travellers to be cautious when planning trips to Jeju Island, suggesting that a recent increase in illegal immigration attempts has led to a blanket suspicion of all Indian passport holders.
Awasthi stated that he is sharing this story to raise awareness about the risks of the visa-free route, which he believes has become a trap for unsuspecting tourists.
