Why South Korea Visa Rules Don't Always Work In Jeju Island, Where Influencer Sachin Awasthi Was Detained

In late December last year, Indian travel vlogger Sachin Awasthi and his wife landed at Jeju Island expecting a festive break. Instead, they say they were denied entry, detained overnight in a holding facility and eventually deported.

Awasthi later described the experience as "the worst 24 hours of my life", alleging that immigration officials rejected them without checking return tickets or bookings and placed them in what he called "jail-like conditions". "Denying entry is their right," he said in his video, "but such treatment with us... was not justified in any way."

His case has since sparked debate among Indian travellers about Jeju's visa-free policy and whether it is as straightforward as it appears online.

What Happened In Jeju Island

Awasthi said he had read that Jeju Island was visa-free (which is true) "for the whole world except these countries", and after checking official websites, he found "no specific requirements written". He emphasised that he and his wife had strong travel histories, return tickets, hotel bookings, insurance and an established life in India.

Trouble, he claimed, began in Bangkok, where airline staff asked them to show a "specific amount of cash", insisting on physical currency rather than card statements. "If you want to board the flight, bring cash otherwise get out of the way," he alleged they were told.

After arranging the money, they flew to Jeju. At immigration, Awasthi said officers saw their Indian passports, took fingerprints and moved them to a waiting area. He recounted being given detailed forms and interviewed through a phone interpreter. According to him, the rejection notice cited "purpose of stay not clear".

"They doubt your intentions," he recalled being told. He insisted they had planned to visit Hallasan Mountain and other attractions but felt the decision had already been made.

He also alleged that after refusal, they were placed in a detention facility with basic food and restricted movement until a return flight could be arranged. He chose to buy a next-day ticket, describing it as "at least 10 times" the usual price. To wait for their flight, they were kept in what he describes "worse than a detention centre".

"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," Sachin Awasthi mentioned in his post.

After taking the flight to Shanghai, China, and then to India, he says, the horrible treatment continued in China.

The couple had to wait longer and remain under supervision. "Communication was restricted-no use of phone and no food, and limited water. Sleeping conditions were the worst. Even the use of restrooms was monitored with a police official who had a bodycam and went to the washroom with us," he shared.

The influencer said that he did not share his experience for sympathy from his followers or for drama. He noted that immigration decisions rest with the authorities. "But they did not have any right to treat us like CRIMINALS," Awasthi wrote.

He noted that travel looks glamorous online, but sometimes things change in a few hours, and it tests you emotionally in ways you never expect.

Korean immigration authorities have not publicly commented on his specific case. Under global aviation rules, airlines are responsible for transporting passengers back if they are refused entry.

So, what is exactly Jeju Island's special status and what travellers should consider before choosing a visa-free destination? Let us break it down.

Jeju Island And Its Special Status

Jeju is not just another destination in South Korea. It is officially the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, a semi-autonomous province with certain administrative powers distinct from mainland regions. It is a self-governing province to protect its unique culture and nature, promote economic development through deregulation, and foster a "Free International City" status, officially enacted on July 1, 2006. It was granted this status by the South Korean government to act as a, highly autonomous special administrative zone.

To promote tourism, Jeju has long operated a limited visa-waiver scheme allowing nationals of many countries to enter directly without obtaining a mainland South Korean visa, provided they arrive on direct international flights to Jeju and do not travel onward to the mainland.

Jeju Island prohibits visa-free entry for 23 countries; it is visa-free for the rest. Photo: Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Mumbai.

However, visa-free does not mean entry is guaranteed. Immigration officers retain full authority to refuse entry if they are not satisfied with a traveller's purpose, documentation or risk profile.

Importantly, Jeju's waiver does not override national immigration law. It functions within it. That means discretionary refusal powers remain intact. This is sometimes where tourists blame the immigration authorities for racism and rejecting visas even if all the documentation process is clear.

Why Visa-Free Does Not Always Mean Risk-Free

According to official sources, Jeju is a visa-free destination for Indian passport holders arriving directly, subject to conditions. But several nuances matter:

1. Arrival route: Travellers must enter Jeju directly from overseas. If routed via mainland South Korea, a regular visa is required.

2. Stay restrictions: Visitors under the waiver cannot travel to the mainland.

3. Officer discretion: Immigration can deny entry if intentions are unclear or documentation is insufficient.

4. Financial proof: While not always explicitly published in simple terms online, officers may assess ability to fund the stay.

Awasthi in his videos did say that officials did not check his documents properly. "Without checking anything... how did they reject me?" he asked. From the immigration perspective, officers are not obliged to disclose detailed reasoning beyond broad grounds such as unclear purpose.

Backpacking Daku, a travel content creator and travel expert commented on the case on X and said that tourists should urge caution.

He noted that Jeju is a special self-governing province and that travellers should evaluate "how powerful is our passport" and whether applying for a visa in advance might be safer. "You cannot change the way the world operates or how they treat a certain country's passport holders," he wrote, adding that documentation and risk assessment are crucial.

Rising Scrutiny And Mainland Loophole Concerns

There have been past instances of travellers attempting to enter mainland South Korea via Jeju's visa-free route and then overstaying or moving onward unlawfully. As a result, authorities have periodically tightened scrutiny, particularly for nationalities considered higher overstay risks.

Awasthi himself said that in his later research he found "some people mainly Indians and Chinese try to enter South Korea mainland through Jeju. So now they do this with almost all Indians." There is no official blanket ban on Indian nationals, but anecdotal reports suggest higher scrutiny in recent years.

This pattern is not unique to South Korea. Countries such as Georgia have also denied entry to Indian travellers despite visa-free or visa-on-arrival provisions, citing discretionary powers.

The Airline Factor

Under international aviation regulations, especially IATA, if a passenger is refused entry, the airline that transported them is typically responsible for returning them. That often explains why airlines monitor refused passengers and may restrict booking changes.

Jeju Island is a special self-governing province. Photo: Unsplash

Backpacking Daku pointed out that airlines are obligated to ensure passengers land back in their home country. He added that cash checks are uncommon but may occur if airlines fear a passenger could be denied and repatriation costs would fall on them.

Special Zones Are Governed By Special Rules

Jeju's autonomy was designed to boost tourism and foreign investment. But autonomy also means layered governance. The island can promote visa-free entry while national border control standards remain unchanged.

In simple terms, visa-free access reduces paperwork before travel. It does not reduce scrutiny at the border.

For Indian travellers, especially those planning high-cost international trips, this creates a calculation. Applying for a standard South Korean tourist visa through official channels may cost time and fees, but it reduces the uncertainty of on-arrival discretion. Visa-free travel saves effort upfront but carries higher unpredictability.

What You Should Consider Before Choosing Visa-Free

Cases like Awasthi's highlight a broader reality of international travel:

• Strong documentation matters but does not override officer discretion
• A clean travel history helps but is not decisive
• Transit visas and airline routing can complicate matters
• Embassy assistance in airport detention scenarios may be limited

Backpacking Daku shared an anecdote from a Balkan land crossing involving a Japanese passport holder. Even with one of the world's strongest passports, the officer reportedly said, "This passport maybe the most powerful in the world but not here in my country."

Not A Blanket Rule

Jeju Island remains a major tourist destination known for its volcanic landscapes, beaches and Hallasan Mountain. Thousands of travellers enter successfully every year under the visa-waiver programme.

But Awasthi's experience shows that visa-free does not guarantee a holiday. "Denying entry is their right," he acknowledged. His grievance, he said, was about the manner of treatment.

For Indian travellers weighing Jeju's visa-free option, the key lesson may not be fear but preparation and risk awareness. Sometimes the longer, paperwork-heavy route offers peace of mind. And in international travel, that peace of mind can be worth far more than the visa fee itself.

READ MORE: Why Georgia Is Fast Becoming A Sour Trip For Indians Despite 40% Increase In Visitors In 2025