How do you visit Jeju Island? Indian travel advisory explained after influencer ‘detained’

Jeju Island, a popular travel destination near South Korea, entered pop culture, courtesy of Korean dramas. It serves as a backdrop for popular K-dramas such as When Life Gives You Tangerines and Welcome to Samdal-ri. Now, the island is grabbing headlines in India not because of a new show, but for denying entry and deporting Indian vlogger Sachin Awasthi and his wife, Deepshikha.

Awasthi later described the experience as "the worst 24 hours of my life", alleging that immigration officials rejected them without checking return tickets or booking. He shared the harrowing experience on Instagram, three days after his return from the island.

Following the incident, the Indian Embassy in Seoul issued an advisory for Indian travellers visiting Jeju Island under the visa waiver scheme.

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Here is all that you know about the incident.

What was the row involving vlogger Sachin Awasthi?

Indian content creator Sachin Awasthi was travelling to Jeju Island with his wife in late December last year for a festive break. He had the hotel bookings, return tickets, and insurance for the trip.

But all did not turn out as planned when the couple landed on Jeju Island. He said problems first arose in Bangkok after airline officials asked to see a specific amount of cash, refusing to accept bank or card statements. "If you want to board the flight, bring cash otherwise, get out of the way," he alleged they were told.

According to his social media post, Awasthi flew to Jeju after arranging the money. But at immigration in Jeju, officers saw their Indian passports, took fingerprints, and moved them to a waiting area. Here, they were given detailed forms and interviewed through a phone interpreter. He alleged that the rejection notice stated that the "purpose of stay was not clear".

According to Awasthi, they were held in a detention facility with basic provisions and restricted movement until a return flight was organised. He chose to book a next-day ticket, but complained it was "really expensive". He described the waiting area for their return flight as "worse than a detention centre".

In the post, the influencer wrote, "They kept us in their detention centre (it was similar to a jail with no sunlight & no access to the outside) and also gave us jail food."

On their way back home, Awasthi and his wife took a flight to Shanghai, China, and then to India. The vlogger claimed that the horrible treatment continued in China as well. In Shanghai, they said they were made to wait under supervision, with restricted communication, no phone access, no food, and limited water. “The sleeping conditions were the worst, and even bathroom trips were monitored by a police officer with a bodycam,” he added in the post.

He further stated that he did not share the experience to gain sympathy. He emphasised that immigration decisions lie with the authorities. "But they did not have any right to treat us like CRIMINALS."

He added that behind the glamour seen online, travel can quickly turn unpredictable and emotionally testing.

How did India respond?

Following Awasthi's now viral post, the Indian Embassy in Seoul issued a travel advisory for Indian nationals travelling to Jeju Island under the visa waiver scheme. The embassy clarified that entry under the Jeju visa-free facility is permitted strictly for short-term tourism. However, final admission into Korea is determined solely by immigration authorities at Jeju International Airport in accordance with Korean law. It stressed that the visa waiver scheme does not guarantee entry.

The embassy issued a list of documents that travellers must carry with them which includes a confirmed return air ticket, hotel reservation covering entire stay, detailed travel itinerary (day-wise plan), proof of sufficient funds (recent bank statements/international cards/forex), passport valid for at least six months, travel insurance (strongly recommended) and contact details of accommodation. The embassy further warned that passengers who were unable to clearly explain their travel plan could be at risk of entry denial.

Jeju Island is witnessing a surge in foreign tourists, driven by both the growing popularity of Korean culture and the desire to explore beyond South Korea’s busiest cities. File photo/Reuters

Why is entry into Jeju Island difficult?

Jeju Island is a semi-autonomous province with certain administrative powers distinct from mainland regions. The province was granted self-governing status to preserve its distinct culture and natural surroundings, encourage economic development through deregulation, and establish itself as a “Free International City” from July 1, 2006.

To encourage tourism, Jeju has for years offered a limited visa waiver allowing travellers from many countries to enter directly without a mainland South Korea visa, provided they fly in on direct international routes and stay on the island.

Previously, some travellers used Jeju’s visa-free entry to reach mainland South Korea and then overstayed or moved on unlawfully. This has led authorities to periodically increase scrutiny, particularly for higher-risk nationalities.

What do travel experts have to say on the case?

Visa specialist Priyesh Sharma said the Indian passport doesn’t carry much weight, pointing out that even Shah Rukh Khan has faced detention before and that being famous or popular online doesn’t matter to immigration authorities.

"You can be a big shot in India and have millions of followers, they (immigration of the host country) won't care, remember people like Shahrukh Khan have been detained, then who are folks like you and me? Unless the MEA contact person is on your speed dial, please tread carefully with an Indian passport," he wrote on social media platform X.

Travel content creator and expert "Backpacking Daku" said on X that tourists should exercise caution in light of the case.

He said Jeju’s special self-governing status means travellers should think about the strength of their passport and consider getting a visa beforehand. He added that global rules and attitudes toward certain passports can’t be changed, so planning and paperwork are essential.

Tourism surge in Jeju Island

Jeju Island has witnessed a surge in tourism in recent times. The place is attracting tourists from all over the world to experience the cultures and landscapes following the appearance of the island in several K-dramas.

Jeju served as the backdrop of Korean dramas When Life Gives You Tangerines, Boys Over Flowers, and Island, among others. But, When Life Gives You Tangerines has the biggest role in increasing tourism in the island nation.

Set amid the island’s fishing villages, the series captured global attention and rose to No. 1 on Netflix’s non-English television charts. Following its staggered release in March, the surge in interest has translated into increased travel, with foreign arrivals growing each month from April.

Overall, the island recorded a 17.5 per cent year-on-year rise in overseas visitors, a figure local authorities have openly linked to the show’s popularity.

With inputs from agencies