Sachin Awasthi, an Indian content creator, said he was detained by immigration authorities in both South Korea and China while travelling with his wife.

Posting on Instagram, Awasthi said he was held for 38 hours on Jeju Island. He said the couple was denied entry and taken to a holding area without any clear explanation.

“No proper explanation just told to wait. And we waited,” he wrote.

He added that the detention centre was like a jail, with no sunlight or access to the outside, and that they were given jail food. Awasthi claimed authorities pressured them into booking an expensive return ticket.

He said the ordeal continued during transit through China, where they faced restricted communication, limited food and water, and monitored use of restrooms. “By the time we were told we would be sent back, we were mentally drained. The return ticket cost almost 10× the normal price,” he said.

Awasthi said he was not sharing the story for sympathy or drama. “Immigration decisions are their authority. But they did not have any right to treat us like criminals,” he wrote. He added that travel, which looks glamorous online, can test people emotionally in unexpected ways.

He also said he has posted a detailed account on his YouTube channel, explaining what happened, why it happened and offering advice to travellers.

Check full text of post here:

Detained for 38 hours in South Korea (Jeju Island) & China.

We landed in Jeju Island, South Korea excited and ready for our trip.

Within a few hours, everything changed.

We were denied entry and taken to a holding area. No proper explanation just told to wait.

And we waited.

Hours passed without clarity. They kept us in their detention centre (it was similar to a jail with no sunlight & no access to outside) and also gave us jail food. Nobody told us what was going to happen. They blackmailed us to booking a really expensive return ticket.

Later, during transit through China, it continued. More waiting. More supervision. Communication was restricted. No use of phone and no food and limited water. sleeping conditions were worst. Even the use of restrooms was monitored with a police official who had a bodycam and went to washroom with us.

By the time we were told we would be sent back, we were mentally drained. The return ticket cost almost 10× the normal price. At that moment, we didn’t have the energy to argue. We just wanted to get out safely.

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.

Travel looks glamorous online. But sometimes, things change in a few hours and test you emotionally in ways you never expect.

I’ve shared the full detailed story on my YouTube channel, what happened, why it happened, and what you should know before traveling.

Watch the full video.
Link in bio.

Check post here:

Social media reactions:

The posts reflected shock, concern and empathy from users, with many calling the incident harrowing and raising questions about the treatment of travellers by immigration authorities in Jeju and China.
“Weak passport has got nothing to do with this. It’s how terribly the immigration and airlines of Jeju and China treated them. The entire video is heart-wrenching,” said one user.

“Whoever hasn’t watched the video, Please do. It’s so harrowing. You don’t get the entire intensity and seriousness of it from this photo,” commented another user in reply to the post.

Another user said, “I am glad you guys are safe. This is a deeply rooted issue and needs to talked about. Ty for sharing.”