I am planning a RTW trip, and I am trying to decipher the rules to see if my plan will work.

I am in Busan, Korea (PUS) just an hour ferry ride from Fukuoka, Japan (FUK). I would like to take a trip to Taipei soon (TPE), and a month or so later, travel to the US, Europe, and back to Asia.

Does it make sense for me to purchase a RTW ticket originating in Japan? I could take the ferry to FUK, go to TPE, then back to PUS, stay there until I need to start my "actual" RTW trip.

I see the rules say that you cannot visit a destination more than once. Is destination defined as a city or a country? I ask this because if I return to PUS from TPE, will I be able to get back to PUS when I conclude my world trip.

Also, do I need to use a Japanese travel agent to get the RTW ticket, or can any travel agent issue a ticket originating in Japan?

Also, is it true that a stopover is defined as more than 24 hours in once city?

Your help is deeply appreciated!

Yes, it would make sense for you to purchase a RTW ticket originating in Japan. To answer some questions:

I see the rules say that you cannot visit a destination more than once. Is destination defined as a city or a country? I ask this because if I return to PUS from TPE, will I be able to get back to PUS when I conclude my world trip.
Also, do I need to use a Japanese travel agent to get the RTW ticket, or can any travel agent issue a ticket originating in Japan?
Also, is it true that a stopover is defined as more than 24 hours in once city?

So just to clarify...does the country I buy the RTW ticket in need to be the country my itinerary originates?

No, but the fare will be the higher of that applicable to country of origin or country of purchase (except fares purchased in Canada).

incorrectly posted... sorry!

A few more questions:

1) If I am US Silver, I can get a 25% bonus on US, UA, and a few other partners. When choosing my flights, will I get the 25% if there is a UA flight number (example UA 8810/8906 operated by LH from LHR to DEL via frA) even if it is operated by a carrier that doesn't give the 25% bonus?

2) I am starting in Japan and I am doing most of my long hauls on US flights, is there any way for me to purchase my RTW from USAirways, since I get triple miles with my Juniper card? They don't seem to have a ticket office in Japan...

Thanks to FT for all of the great help with this.

From the DM rules I would suggest that the bonus applies only to flights operated by US Airways, US Airways Express carriers, US Airways Shuttle, ANA, United, Hawaiian and Big Sky Airlines. You may want to verify this over at the US Air forum.

Based on the rules it is possible, if at least one segment is flown on the ticketing carrier. Airline agents sometimes refuse ticketing if the first segment is not on their airline, but this is not part of the fare rules.

The best way is to find a good TA (in your case in Japan) who can issue an RTW w/o help from an airline. US Air ticket stock would not be a problem then.

remember that the RTW needs to originate and end in the same country!

Theoretically yes, but you can always forget about the lat coupon.