The Indian Embassy in Seoul has issued a travel advisory for Indian nationals visiting Jeju Island under South Korea’s visa waiver scheme, days after influencer Sachin Awasthi alleged he and his wife were detained and denied entry upon arrival.
Awasthi, known for his comic videos, shared a viral Instagram and YouTube post describing a “traumatising” experience at Jeju International Airport. He claimed that after landing, he and his wife were taken to what appeared to be a detention facility. “There was no sunlight, no glass to drink water… it looked like a jail barrack…,” he said, adding that they were made to wait for hours without clarity.
Following the social media uproar, the Embassy of India, Seoul said it frequently hears of inconveniences or denial of entry for Indian travellers arriving at Jeju Island under the visa waiver facility.
The embassy clarified that while Indians may travel to Jeju for short-term tourism without a pre-arranged visa, final admission is determined solely by immigration authorities at the airport in accordance with Korean law. “The visa waiver scheme does not guarantee entry,” it said.
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Travellers have been advised to carry printed copies of essential documents, including a confirmed return air ticket, hotel reservation covering the entire stay, a detailed day-wise itinerary, proof of sufficient funds such as recent bank statements or international cards, a passport valid for at least six months, travel insurance, and accommodation contact details.
The advisory stressed that passengers must clearly explain their travel plans and demonstrate adequate financial capacity for daily expenses, accommodation and transport. Immigration officers may conduct interviews on arrival, and inconsistent or unclear responses could lead to denial of entry.
It also underlined that the Jeju visa waiver does not permit onward travel to mainland South Korea. Attempting to leave Jeju without a valid visa is illegal and may result in travel bans.
If entry is refused, travellers will be returned on the next available flight of the same airline and may have to stay temporarily in a holding facility.
The embassy said it cannot overturn immigration decisions but will seek reasonable support from Korean authorities if needed.
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