An Indian content creator, Sachin Avasthi, was detained and also denied entry as he landed on South Korea’s Jeju Island. For this, he said that the whole process between the two countries took almost 38 hours and involved closely monitored transit through China.
While describing the situation, he uploaded pictures with a caption and wrote, “Detained for 38 hours in South Korea (Jeju Island) & China. We landed on Jeju Island, South Korea, excited and ready for our trip. Within a few hours, everything changed.”
Denied Entry Without Explanation
Later, he said that immigration officials denied them entry and took them to a holding area without providing any explanation. For this, he wrote, “We were denied entry and taken to a holding area. No proper explanation, just told to wait. And we waited.”
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They spent hours without a clear explanation from the authorities and alleged that they were kept inside a detention centre “similar to a jail with no sunlight and no access to the outside,” and what was served to them he described as “jail food.” He further said, “They blackmailed us into booking a really expensive return ticket.”
Transit Through China
And this was not the end; according to him, the experience continued during the transit through China. He wrote, “More waiting. More supervision. Communication was restricted. No use of phone, no food, and limited water. The sleeping conditions were the worst.”
Sachin also said that even restroom movement was strictly monitored. He said, “Even the use of restrooms was monitored, with a police official who had a bodycam and went to the washroom with us.”
Forced Return to India
After reaching the limit of exhaustion, the authorities informed them that they would be sent back to India. “The return ticket cost almost 10 times the normal price. At that moment, we didn’t have the energy to argue. We just wanted to get out safely,” said Avasthi.
Clarifying his intent, Awasthi added, “I’m not sharing this for sympathy or drama. Immigration decisions are their authority. But they did not have any right to treat us like CRIMINALS.”
Avasthi alleged that they were treated like criminals by the immigration authorities, which was not right. “I’m not sharing this for sympathy or drama. Immigration decisions are their authority. But they did not have any right to treat us like CRIMINALS,” he added.
Detailed Video and Advice for Travellers
Later, Sachin Avasthi also posted a detailed video on the entire incident on YouTube, explaining what happened to them and what other travellers should plan before booking a ticket.
Previous Incident Involving China
It was not the first time that China was involved in detaining an Indian traveller. Last year, Prema Wangjom Thongdok said she was not allowed to board her onward flight to Japan and was held for 18 hours, according to Indian media. Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had taken up the incident “very strongly” with China.
“I was held at Shanghai airport for over 18 hours on November 21, 2025, based on claims by China immigration and China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited. They called my Indian passport invalid, as my birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh, which they claimed is Chinese territory,” she wrote in a post on X.
In another post, Thongdok said officials at the immigration desk told her that her “Indian passport is invalid because I was born in Arunachal Pradesh.”
According to Thongdok’s statement, Chinese immigration officers deemed her Indian passport “invalid” upon noticing ‘Arunachal Pradesh’ listed as her birthplace.
