Compare: Seoul→Taipei (1,485 km) vs Seoul→Tokyo (1,149 km). Seoul → Tokyo wins by 336 km (23%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
1,485 km
923 miles · Flight: ~2h 21min · Drive: ~24h 8min
1,149 km
714 miles · Flight: ~1h 56min · Drive: ~18h 40min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 336 km (23%) · Flight time difference: ~25 min
Verdict
Seoul → Tokyo is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 336 km (23%) shorter, saves about 25 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 86 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Seoul → Taipei only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Seoul → Tokyo is the shorter route at 1,149 km, which is 336 km (23%) shorter than Seoul → Taipei. You would save approximately 25 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Seoul → Taipei | Seoul → Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,485 | 1,149 |
| Distance (miles) | 923 | 714 |
| Flight time | ~2h 21min | ~1h 56min |
| Driving time | ~24h 8min | ~18h 40min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~1,931 km | ~1,494 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 202° (SSW) | 97° (E) |
| Time-zone shift | None | +1h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~379 kg | ~293 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~330 kg | ~255 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$193 USD | ~$149 USD |
Flying from Seoul to Taipei produces roughly 379 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Seoul → Tokyo flight emits about 293 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 86 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 4 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 330 kg and 255 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Seoul to Taipei route covers 1,485 km (923 miles), staying within Asia. Seoul (population: 9,776,000) is located in Capital Area, South Korea, while Taipei (population: 2,646,204) is in Northern Taiwan, Taiwan.
The Seoul to Tokyo route covers 1,149 km (714 miles), remaining within Asia. Seoul (population: 9,776,000) is in Capital Area, South Korea, and Tokyo (population: 13,960,000) is in Kanto, Japan.
Flying from Seoul to Taipei takes approximately 2h 21min, while Seoul to Tokyo takes 1h 56min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 24h 8min for the first route and 18h 40min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Seoul, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Taipei and Tokyo as a destination.
The 336 km difference between these routes is noticeable in both travel time and fuel or ticket costs.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 1,931 km and 1,494 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 437 km of driving.
Taipei (Taiwan) has a population of 2,646,204 and is located in the Northern Taiwan region of Asia. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
Tokyo (Japan) has a population of 13,960,000 and is situated in Kanto, Asia. This major global city has multiple airports and world-class infrastructure.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Taipei (Taiwan) — a city of 2,646,204 in the Northern Taiwan region of Asia. Despite being the longer of the two at 1,485 km, it makes sense when Taipei itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 1,931 km of road and a fuel cost band around $193 USD. The initial bearing is 202° (SSW), so a great-circle flight leaves Seoul heading roughly SSW.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Tokyo (Japan) — a city of 13,960,000 in the Kanto region of Asia. It is also the shorter of the two at 1,149 km, saving about 25 min of flying and around 86 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 1,494 km of road and a fuel cost in the $149 USD range. Departing Seoul, the great-circle bearing toward Tokyo is 97° (E).
Seoul (37.57°, 126.98°) and Taipei (25.03°, 121.57°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Seoul (37.57°, 126.98°) and Tokyo (35.68°, 139.65°) have a +1-hour offset. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Tokyo is closer at 1,149 km, which is 336 km (23%) shorter.
1,485 km (923 miles). Flight: ~2h 21min.
1,149 km (714 miles). Flight: ~1h 56min.
Flying to Tokyo is faster at ~1h 56min, saving about 25 min compared to Taipei.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.