South Korea has gone from "the country you visit after Japan" to a standalone destination for South African travellers in just a few years. K-pop, K-drama, Korean food culture, and the country's reputation for safety and infrastructure have made it one of our fastest-growing tour bookings. The decision most travellers face: do Korea solo or a Japan + Korea combo?
Side by side
| Detail | South Korea solo | Japan + Korea combo |
|---|---|---|
| Land cost (from): | R39,000 | R72,000 |
| Length: | 7 to 9 days | 13 to 16 days |
| Cities: | Seoul, Busan, Gyeongju, sometimes Jeju | + Tokyo, Kyoto/Osaka, Hakone or Mt Fuji |
| Meals included: | Breakfasts + 3 dinners | Breakfasts + 6 dinners |
| Group size: | 15 to 26 | 18 to 32 |
| Departs from: | JHB via Asia hub | JHB via Asia hub |
| GO English: | Year-round | Year-round |
Korea solo: focused and modern
Seven to nine days is the sweet spot because Korea is small, you can see Seoul, Busan, Gyeongju (the ancient Silla capital), and sometimes a flight to Jeju Island. The pace is fast and urban. Korean food is the daily highlight: barbecue, banchan side dishes, street food at Gwangjang Market, late-night chicken and beer in Hongdae. Coach tours are well-organised; the country's infrastructure makes everything punctual.
Japan + Korea combo: a bigger story
Two weeks across two countries. The combo tours usually start in Japan (Tokyo, then Kyoto and/or Hakone) and finish in Korea (Seoul, Busan), or vice versa, with a flight between the two countries. You see the cultural depth of Japan and the modern energy of Korea side by side, which is illuminating, they are genuinely different despite both being "East Asian".
The cost reality
R33,000 more for the combo. You're effectively buying a second tour. The combo tours don't discount heavily versus doing each separately, you save about R6,000 to R8,000 on group bookings, plus the convenience of one Tour Director handover.
Flights are the real saving. JHB to Tokyo and JHB to Seoul both cost about the same (R22,000 to R28,000). But a JHB-Tokyo-Seoul-JHB open-jaw is only R2,000 to R3,000 more than a single return, vs paying for two return flights on two separate trips (which would be R44,000 to R56,000 total flights).
Visa
Korea: SA passport gets visa-free entry for 30 days (under the K-ETA system, which costs about R200 and is online). Japan: SA needs a paper visa, R750, 5 to 7 days through Cape Town consulate. The combo means doing both, easy enough but allow 2 to 3 weeks lead time.
Who should pick which
Korea solo: you've done Japan already; you want a shorter trip; budget-conscious; you're K-drama or K-pop curious; you want to come home well-fed.
Combo: this is the once-every-five-years big trip; you've never been to East Asia; you have 2 to 3 weeks of leave; you want maximum variety per trip.
Compare with our Japan vs South Korea piece. Browse Korea tours or Japan tours.
