Gear & packingBy Clever Tourists · Published
South Korea uses Type C and F sockets (two round pins) at 230 volts and 60Hz. US, Canadian, UK and Australian visitors need a plug adapter; visitors from continental Europe usually do not. Phone and laptop chargers marked 100-240V work fine. Devices that are 100-127V only, such as some US hair tools, need a converter or should stay home. We were in South Korea from June to July 2023, in Seoul, Jeonju, Suncheon, Busan, Jeju, Gyeongju and Sokcho, and the sockets you meet are consistent across the country.
WorldStandards lists South Korea as Types C and F at 230V and 60Hz. Type C has two round pins and no earth; Type F is the Schuko, the round plug with earth clips at the sides. The Europlug (Type C) fits both. Korean sockets are often recessed, so very chunky adapters may not seat properly; a slim adapter or one with a short plug body is easier.
Frequency is 60Hz, not 50Hz. It rarely matters for chargers, but some old clocks and motorised devices designed for 50Hz may run slightly fast.
• USA, Canada, Mexico: yes, a Type C adapter. Voltage is 230V, so check chargers say 100-240V.
• UK, Ireland: yes, Type G does not fit.
• Australia, New Zealand: yes, Type I does not fit.
• Continental Europe: no, Types C and F match.
• Japan: yes, Japan uses Types A and B at 100V.
Phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, e-readers and power banks use chargers rated 100-240V, so only a plug adapter is needed. Hair dryers, straighteners, kettles and curling irons from the US that are rated for 120V only can overheat or fail at 230V, even through an adapter. Check the label. If you need one, buy a dual-voltage travel model, or use the hair dryer your accommodation supplies.
Our South Korea packing list lists what else to bring, including medicine rules and seasons.
Many hotels and guesthouses have USB sockets near the bed, but sockets are often few. A small multi-port charger or a travel strip helps. Cafes in Seoul often have sockets along the walls, although we cannot promise they are available in every cafe. Carry a charged power bank for long days of navigation, since maps and translation apps drain batteries. Keep it in your carry-on bag for flights; check your airline's rules before you fly.
For data, our South Korea eSIM guide covers options so your phone is working when you land.
Electronics stores, big marts and convenience shops sell travel adapters and USB chargers, and airport shops stock them at higher prices. It is simpler and cheaper to arrive with one. Slim universal adapters fit recessed sockets better than bulky ones.
See power plugs by country for other countries and Japan plug and voltage if you continue there, as the voltage is very different. Our Korea route shows the order of cities, things to know before visiting South Korea covers daily practicalities, and can you drink tap water in South Korea answers a common practical question.
• Bulky adapters in recessed sockets. Some Korean sockets are set back; a chunky adapter may not make contact. Try a slim one.
• Assuming 110V. Some travellers expect 110V. WorldStandards lists 230V, so check chargers say 100-240V.
• Using a 120V-only hair tool via an adapter. It will overheat. Use the hotel dryer or a dual-voltage model.
• Leaving a charger in a guesthouse. Check the sockets before you check out.
One slim universal adapter or a Type C adapter, one multi-port USB-C charger, short cables and a power bank. Add a data plan ahead of time; our South Korea eSIM guide covers that. If you are continuing from Korea to Japan, remember the voltage drops to 100V and Type A and B sockets are used. See our Japan plug guide.
Korean accommodation ranges from modern hotels with bedside USB ports to traditional guesthouses with few sockets, so a short extension lead with a few sockets is useful if you travel with several devices. If you are two people sharing one adapter, a multi-port USB charger lets both phones charge from a single socket overnight. Keep cables short, label them if they look alike, and pack them in one pouch so you notice when one goes missing. Before you leave each place, run through the socket check: bedside, desk, behind the TV and under the bed. Korea's summer is hot and humid and its monsoon brings heavy rain, so keep chargers and cameras dry on day trips. Winter is cold enough to shorten phone battery life outdoors, so a power bank in an inside pocket helps.
Types C and F, two round pins, at 230V and 60Hz.
Yes. US flat-pin plugs do not fit, so bring a Type C adapter. Also check that chargers are rated 100-240V.
Only for 100-127V-only devices such as some US hair dryers. Chargers rated 100-240V do not need one.
Yes. Types C and F match Korean sockets.
South Korea uses 230V at 60Hz as listed by WorldStandards.
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