“Visiting Artsakh in 2026: A Country That Disappeared Overnight”: South Korean travel blogger on occupied Artsakh

South Korean travel blogger YoungMin Skies, who has visited 129 countries, traveled to Azerbaijani-occupied Artsakh and shared his personal impressions and emotions from what he witnessed, describing what has happened to the region since 2023.

“An ethnic homeland that disappeared overnight”

The author describes Artsakh as a land where Armenians have lived for centuries. According to him, the region effectively disappeared “overnight” when the entire Armenian population — around 120,000 people — was forced to leave their homes. The blogger also recounts how the Azerbaijani government, taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic, launched an attack on Artsakh together with Turkey, and subsequently carried out an ethnic cleansing of the region.

Construction instead of memory

Arriving in Artsakh in 2026, the blogger encountered a radically transformed reality. On one hand, a large-scale state reconstruction program: destroyed cities are being turned into “smart” ones, new infrastructure is being built, and the “Great Return” project is underway. On the other — a systematic erasure of Armenian presence: buildings are being demolished or rebuilt, place names are being changed, and everything that recalls the former inhabitants is steadily disappearing.

A controlled narrative

The trip took place under strictly controlled conditions — as part of an organized group with guides conveying the official version of events exclusively. According to the author, already in Stepanakert, the guide began presenting a one-sided account: the region’s former residents were referred to as “illegal settlers,” and attempts to impose a unilateral narrative were felt throughout the tour. Azerbaijani music played loudly the entire time — the blogger responded with dry humor: “Yes, yes, we get it — we’re in Azerbaijan.”

The first stop in Stepanakert was the “Dedo-Babo” monument. The blogger documented that the monument is being systematically vandalized.

Beyond the propaganda, he also encountered practical difficulties — bureaucracy, non-functioning websites, and outright tourist scams. He noted that a solo trip under current conditions is impossible; travel is only permitted with guides.

“The hardest journey of my life”

YoungMin Skies described what he witnessed as the most difficult experience in all his travels. He compared the destroyed cities to the aftermath of wars in the Middle East, stressing that human-made tragedies look the same everywhere. As a Korean, the author draws a personal parallel with his own country’s history, speaking of the pain of losing one’s homeland and historical memory.

The blogger concludes: “The victors can rewrite history, but that does not erase what was. The world must remember — because culture and heritage built over millennia can vanish in a matter of days.”

“Perhaps Armenians will one day be able to return there — but only as visitors. It will never be their home again,” the author concludes.