Koreans long to get away from their daily environment and find some
form of peace when on holiday.


`Rest` and `healing` have become keywords when targeting the Korean
outbound tourism market. According to published data, Korea has the
second highest average number of working hours among the 34 member
states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development.


The result is that Koreans long to get away from their daily
environment and find some form of peace when on holiday.


Addressing travel trade at a seminar in Stellenbosch, Bradley Brouwer,
President: Asia Pacific, SA Tourism, emphasised that Koreans really
worked hard. "You`ll see their office lights on late at night and
early in the morning. They`ve therefore become obsessed with `rest`
and `healing`, and come to South Africa for a relaxing, good time. We
have what it takes to offer them this."


Sightseeing is also no longer their main reason for overseas
travel.


Koreans are now looking for freedom to explore their
destinations.


"They want more time to experience a country rather than just pose for
pictures in as many places as they can, and prefer to stay in only one
country or city to enjoy a leisurely trip," said Brouwer.


Thanks to travel-themed reality shows and travel programmes

focusing
on long-distance trips, Koreans are becoming more and more positive
about long-haul destinations. According to Brouwer, SA Tourism has
been conveying the message that "SA is not that far, because when you
get there it`s all worth it".


Travelling in groups of four or six, Koreans prefer free, individual
travel and, similar to other Asian markets, their average length of
stay is between eight and 14 days. They mostly go on overseas trips
during school breaks in January, July and August.


Known as one of the world`s most wired nations, Koreans are
`constantly connected`. "Whenever they have a five-minute break, they
would work on their laptops and a couple of smartphones all at the
same time, sending out info, replying to emails, tweeting and posting
on social media platforms," said Brouwer.


Brouwer recommended that the trade explore apps such as WeChat and
Line when targeting the Korean and other Asian markets. With
television ratings dropping and people`s lives becoming busier,
Koreans are increasingly using Internet-based video services in their
spare time. WeChat and Line not only gave users the option of easily
transferring large videos, but also of translating text, explained
Brouwer. V.1482

One of the highlighted topics: Critical Skills Visa.

- Key Insight: Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast track to working in South Afr...
- This matter relates to critical skills visa and its broader implications.
- Individuals are advised to seek professional guidance.

Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast trac V.6139
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One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, became a victim of identity theft in 2012 when fraudulent transactions occurred, using her personal details.

-The Pretoria High Court found that the department of home affairs had violated constitutional rights without due process.
-Only half of Lawyers for Human Rights` test group has been unblocked, while 385 000 identities remain blocked nationwide.
-LHR appeals extension, urges affected people to seek help now.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) are intensifying pressure on the department of home affairs over the national ID-blocking crisis, accusing the state of acting too slowly to unblock qualifying individuals despite a landmark court ruling.

In January last year, the Pretoria High Court found that the department`s practice of blocking IDs without due process was unlawful and unconstitutional. One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, a Swati citizen and South African permanent resident since 1998, fell victim to identity theft in 2012 when fraudsters used her personal details.

 V.6133
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6128
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6129
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A Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son have been released after spending more than three weeks in US immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake, her attorney told CNN on Saturday.

Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand. Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn`t want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN.

 V.6130
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On 22 July 2025, the Gauteng High Court dismissed Sitrusrand Boerdery`s review of the Department of Employment and Labour`s refusal to issue a Working Conditions and Salary Benchmarking Certificate, an essential precondition for obtaining corporate visas under the Immigration Act.

Acting Judge Kekana AJ held that the Department`s decision was lawful, rational and procedurally fair. This judgment illustrates how businesses can - and must - structure their corporate visa applications to meet statutory requirements, and how legal practitioners should prepare robust review challenges when administrative authorities decline to recommend foreign-work permits.

 V.6131
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The United States could forfeit an estimated 9.4 billion dollars in visitor spending over the next three years following the introduction of a new 250 dollars `visa integrity fee,` according to industry groups, who warn the policy risks undermining tourism and costing thousands of jobs.
The United States’ decision to introduce a 250 dollars `visa integrity fee` on international visitors has triggered sharp criticism from the global tourism industry, with officials warning that the measure could deter millions of travellers and cost the U.S. economy billions.
The 250dollar `visa integrity fee,` part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025, will take effect later this year. According to immigration law firm Envoy Global, it applies to all nonimmigrant visa holders which include students, tourists, temporary workers, and business visitors particularly from African countries. V.6132
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6127
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1. Right to Legal Representation•You have the right to consult with a legal representative.•Contact an immigration practitioner, legal aid clinic, or attorney urgently.•Do not sign any documents without understanding them fully. 2. Section 34 of the Immigration Act•You must be brought to court with 48 hours to confirm arrest but you can remain locked up very long as courts figure out what to do with you •If you`re found to be illegally in South Africa, you may be detained for up to 30 days (extendable by a magistrate) pending deportation.•BUT this cannot happen arbitrarily. You must be informed of your rights, and Home Affairs must follow due process.- becomes a nightmare , you could lose your job , business , place to stay V.6121
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Driving for Bolt, Uber, Mr D, or Checkers Sixty60?If you`re undocumented, you`re risking more than just your income.The Risks if You`re Not Legal: - Vehicle impoundment - Heavy fines - Arrest & deportation - Permanent bans from working in SA V.6122
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