YouTuber Sachin Awasthi claimed that he and his wife Deepshikha Mishra were detained by immigration authorities in South Korea for 38 hours and denied entry to Jeju Island.
In a viral Instagram post, Awasthi said he was forced to book an expensive return flight to India
“We landed on Jeju Island in South Korea excited and ready for our journey,” he wrote. “We were denied entry and taken to a holding area. No proper explanation, just to wait. And we waited.”
The influencer said they were held by South Korean authorities for “38 hours – with no explanation.”
“They kept us in their detention center (it was like a prison with no sunlight and no access outside) and they also gave us food in the prison. No one told us what was going to happen,” Awasthi said.
“They blackmailed us into booking a really expensive return flight,” he claimed. “The return ticket cost almost 10x the normal price.”
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“More waiting. More surveillance in China
Sachin Awasthi said he faced the same ordeal while in transit through China, where he and his wife were made to wait, under strict surveillance and limited communication.
“Later, during transit through China, it continued. More waiting. More surveillance. Communication was limited. No phone use and no food and limited water. Sleeping conditions were the worst,” he wrote in the viral post.
“Even the use of the toilets was monitored by a police official who had a camera and went to the toilet with us,” he added.
‘Travel looks glamorous online, but…’
By the time the couple were told they would be sent back to India, they were psychologically exhausted, according to Awasthi. “We didn’t have the energy to argue at that point. We just wanted to get out safely.”
He clarified that he did not share his story for sympathy or drama. “Immigration decisions are their authority. But they had no right to treat us like CRIMINALS.”
On a side note, the influencer said: “Travel looks glamorous online. But sometimes things change in a matter of hours and test you emotionally in ways you never expect.”
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Who is Sachin Awasthi?
Sachin Awasthi is a popular Indian YouTuber and digital content creator. He is best known for his interesting comedy sketches, parodies and cultural commentary.
Born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Awasthi holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and initially gained attention for his “POV” (point-of-view) videos that humorously depict everyday Indian life, family dynamics and social trends.
Over the years, he expanded his content to include travel vlogs and amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on YouTube and Instagram.
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‘It’s terrifying’: Netizens react
Social media users were in disbelief and said Awasthi’s ordeal was “truly terrifying”. Some even suggested that he faced detention because India had a “weak passport”.
However, another user soon clarified: “The weak passport has nothing to do with it. It’s how horrible Jeju and China’s immigration and airlines treated them. The whole video is heartbreaking.”
The influencer said in his YouTube vlog that the Indian embassy in South Korea did not help them. In response, several users said: “I saw the video and still the Indian embassy did not pick up the call 🤷♂️ The embassy should have intervened and helped them in this matter.”
One user who sympathized with Awasthi said: “This is so unfair and extremely sad brother. I can’t imagine how you must feel. I am a frequent traveler myself and the excitement of exploring a new place can still stop because it is unimaginable. We really want an explanation from the authorities as to why this happened.”
