Travel adapter from United States to South Korea — do you need one?

Q: What plug is used in South Korea?

South Korea uses Type C and Type F plugs at 230 V, 60 Hz.

Compare the plug shapes, voltage and frequency in United States and South Korea, and find out which adapter you need before you travel.

Adapter required

Yes — coming from United States, you will need a travel adapter for South Korea. United States uses Type A/Type B plugs, and South Korea uses Type C/Type F, so the pin shapes will not fit any wall socket. Voltages differ (120 V at home vs 230 V abroad), so check the label on each device. Most modern dual-voltage chargers handle the swing without a converter, but heating appliances usually do not.

Voltage converter may be needed. Check your device label — most modern electronics (phones, laptops) support 100–240 V and only need a plug adapter. Hair dryers, kettles, and older appliances may need a step-up or step-down converter.

United States (home)

Type A Two flat parallel pins 100–127V Type B Two flat pins + round ground 100–127V

South Korea (destination)

Type C Two round pins (Europlug) 220–240V Type F Two round pins + side earth contacts 220–240V

Electrical specifications in South Korea

Voltage

United States 120 V

South Korea 230 V

Differs

Frequency

United States 60 Hz

South Korea 60 Hz

Match

More about plugs in South Korea

In South Korea, the standard power plug is Type C and Type F. The country runs on 230 volts at 60 Hz. That means wall sockets in South Korea can be one of 2 different shapes — Type C, Type F, and your plug needs to physically match the socket to fit.

Full South Korea plug guide