“2 Weeks in South Korea”: SA Woman Breaks Down Full Holiday Costs and Itinerary of South Korea Trip

• Abo Mgidlana flew from Johannesburg to South Korea with Singapore Airlines and shared her full two-week budget breakdown
• The trip included a 16-hour Singapore layover, four days in Busan and five days in Seoul, covering flights, food, activities and shopping
• South Africans flooded the comments after the total came to just over R35,000, with many saying the price surprised them

A South African woman's honest breakdown of what a two-week trip to South Korea actually costs had people online reaching for their savings goals.

Abo Mgidlana posted the travel vlog on Instagram on 24 August 2026, and it quickly caught the attention of South Africans who have always been curious about the real cost of visiting East Asia.

"Here's how much I spent on my two-week trip in South Korea."

Her return flight with Singapore Airlines from Johannesburg to South Korea came to R15,384. On her way there, a 16-hour layover in Singapore gave her the chance to join the city's free transit tour, and she spent only R135 on bag storage and a slushie.

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Once she landed in South Korea, she bought an e-SIM for unlimited data for 10 days at R440, then took an intercity bus to her sister's place for R460, plus a short R120 Uber ride.

What the trip actually cost in South Korea

Abo and her travel companion spent four days in Busan and five in Seoul. Accommodation for those nine nights totalled R8,360. Getting around on subways, local buses, KTX trains and intercity coaches added up to roughly R2,000.

For activities, she visited Spa Land, Lotte World, the Sky Capsule, Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Gangnam Style street, and a well-known Korean library, and even hired traditional hanbok dress. That portion of the trip came to R2,500. Food across restaurants, cafes, street markets, and convenience stores cost between R3,000 and R4,000, while shopping, mostly skincare, snacks, and gifts, came to R3,000.

She also factored in a South Korean travel visa at R177 and travel insurance at R950. When everything was added together, the total came to just over R35,000. She said:

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"I feel like I got quite a lot out of this trip for what I spent."

View the Instagram video below:

Mzansi reacts to the South Korea budget

South Africans had plenty to say in the comments on the page:

@zempilo_mabaso wrote:

"So it's the same as going to Cape Town for 10 days 😅 the price is great ❤️"

@nale_lekhetho_ugc said:

"Wow, it is totally worth every cent."

@penny__mabitsa commented:

"Thank you for breaking it down ❤️❤️"

@chesneprinsloo replied:

"Saving this for next year, God willing ✨️ ❤️ thanks for this, darl"

@life_with_mishy added:

"I live in Korea, and this was insightful, and I hope you enjoyed ❤️😍"

@lovechild.nathi said:

"You definitely got a lot more out of the trip 🔥🔥"

More Briefly News stories on cost breakdowns

• A South African woman documented her four-day Victoria Falls trip on TikTok, sharing her travel experience and a detailed breakdown of the costs involved.
• A South African woman shared a detailed breakdown of her Switzerland trip, giving viewers a glimpse into the costs of travelling to the European destination and prompting discussion about its affordability.
• A group of travellers shared a detailed breakdown of their Cape Town trip, giving South Africans a look at how much they spent while exploring the Mother City.

Source: Briefly News