Sign in

Influencer Sachin Awasthi says detained for 38 hours in South Korea, China: ‘Blackmailed, no explanation’

Influencer Sachin Awasthi further claimed to have been kept in a detention centre “similar to a jail with no sunlight”.

Updated on: Feb 21, 2026, 20:38:36 IST
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

Popular YouTuber Sachin Awasthi has claimed that he was detained and denied entry in Jeju Island, South Korea and was kept for long hours in detention centre and forced to book an expensive return ticket back to India.

Sachin Awasthi said that he was “blackmailed” into booking “a really expensive return ticket”. (Instagram/sachinawasthiunscripted)
Sachin Awasthi said that he was “blackmailed” into booking “a really expensive return ticket”. (Instagram/sachinawasthiunscripted)

He said he faced the same ordeal during transit through China, where he was made to wait, kept under supervision and put under communication restriction.

In an Instagram post, Awasthi said he landed on Jeju Island, South Korea, with a group of friends and was “excited and ready” for the trip. But, he claimed, everything changed within a few hours and he was was treated like a “criminal”.

“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,” Awasthi wrote in the caption, along with photos of the alleged detention.

The influencer further claimed to have been kept in a detention centre “similar to a jail with no sunlight”. He also said that he was “blackmailed” into booking “a really expensive return ticket”.

“Hours passed without clarity. 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. Nobody told us what was going to happen for hours. They blackmailed us into booking a really expensive return ticket,” he added.

Sachin Awasthi claims a similar experience in China

Influencer Sachin Awasthi further claimed in his Instagram post that he had a similar experience in China as well.

“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. 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,” he wrote.

Awasthi clarified that he wasn't sharing the account for “sympathy or drama”. But, he said, 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,” he wrote.

  • HT News Desk
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    HT News Desk

    Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.