Outlets and chargers in Korea: Do you need a plug adapter or a transformer?
Prepare for charging in Korea by reading your power adapter's Input label and choosing a suitable plug adapter. Learn how USB output differs from AC input, and what to check before packing a hair dryer, hair straightener, or power strip.
Outlets and chargers in Korea: Do you need a plug adapter or a transformer?
A four-outlet Schuko socket with grounding contacts along the sides.
Before packing chargers for a trip to Korea, start with the Input label on the power adapter that plugs into the outlet.
Look for Korea's 220V and 60Hz within its input range, then choose a plug adapter that connects your plug to the local outlet.
Hair dryers and hair straighteners need a separate check of their voltage, frequency, and power consumption.
Korean outlets and plug shapes
Korea's standard power supply is 220V, 60Hz, and its outlets have two round holes.
The plug type listed for Korea is Type F.
When choosing a travel adapter, look at both ends: the plug that goes into the Korean outlet and the socket that accepts your device's plug.
A simple plug adapter, often called a "dwaeji-ko" in Korean, changes the connection shape, not the voltage or frequency.
Never connect a 110V-only device to a Korean 220V outlet using just a plug adapter.
An assembled plug with two round pins and grounding contacts.
Input and Output tell you different things
For a phone or laptop charger, read the Input rating on the power adapter that plugs into the outlet.
Numbers such as 5V and 9V under a USB charger's Output describe the power it sends to your phone or other device.
The rating to compare with a Korean outlet's 220V is under Input.
The charger's label lists its input voltage and USB output ratings.
The ADTEC APD-V140AC2-BK in the photo is labeled Input: 100-240V~ 50/60Hz 2.0A(Max). The Output listed below it is the USB output.
The manual for Apple's A2305 USB-C power adapter lists an input of 100-240V~50-60Hz 0.5A.
That range includes Korea's 220V and 60Hz, so this model does not need a separate transformer to match the input voltage.
If you are bringing a different charger, read that product's model number and Input label.
Even when the input range matches, the connection must meet the travel adapter's current and power limits and grounding requirements.
For a device that requires grounding, use an adapter that supports a ground connection. Some travel adapters are suitable only for double-insulated equipment.
USB charging and AC sockets
Connecting a cable to a USB port is different from plugging your charger into an adapter's AC socket.
To use USB charging, read the product's input specifications, USB output ratings, and device compatibility guidance. To use its AC socket, also check the input specifications of the charger or appliance you plan to plug in.
Look for "USB charging output" and "AC socket rating" separately in the product information to decide what you can connect.
A built-in USB port does not mean the AC socket lowers the voltage. A simple plug adapter does not convert voltage.
Bringing a hair dryer, hair straightener, or power strip
First read your hair dryer's or hair straightener's voltage, frequency, power consumption, and instructions for use abroad for that exact model.
If its voltage differs from Korea's supply, you will need to consider a transformer or voltage converter.
The converter's maximum current and power ratings must also suit the appliance, and a difference in frequency can affect how the appliance operates.
If the product has a voltage selector switch, set it according to that model's manual.
If compatibility is unclear, do not plug it in to try it out. Give the manufacturer the model number and Korea's 220V and 60Hz supply details, and ask whether it can be used there.
Specifications vary between models, even within the same brand.
For example, Dyson's official guidance says the Supersonic Travel automatically adapts to 100–240V.
For this model, the manufacturer recommends a travel plug adapter rated for 1300W across the full 100–240V range.
When packing a hair dryer, follow the guidance for the exact model rather than relying on the brand name.
Power strips and extension cords from home also need ratings suitable for use in Korea.
Keep the combined load of the connected devices within the cord or strip's maximum current rating, and do not plug one extension cord into another.
Get your charging equipment ready before departure
Read the Input label and model number of each power adapter you plan to bring, then prepare a travel adapter with the right Korean plug, connection for your equipment, load rating, and grounding support.
Check the overseas-use requirements for each hair dryer or hair straightener separately.
If you want to pack less, ask your accommodation in advance whether it has a hair dryer. Bring an adapter suited to your equipment rather than counting on borrowing one.
Do not use a damaged travel adapter, and unplug it when it is not in use.
For phone connectivity, see the guide to eSIMs, SIM cards, and pocket Wi-Fi. For getting from the airport to your accommodation and settling in, continue with the guide to your arrival day in Korea.
Official guidance
• Korea Tourism Organization: Electricity in Korea
• Electrical Safety First: Plugs and voltage in South Korea
• Travel adapter safety guidance
• Apple USB-C power adapter manual with model-specific ratings
• Dyson Supersonic Travel official guidance
• Load limits for extension cords and power strips
Photo credits
• Socket · Santeri Viinamäki · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized
• Plug · Thomas Wydra (Mr.checker) · Public domain · Re-encoded as JPEG
• Charger label · RuinDig/Yuki Uchida · CC BY 4.0 · Cropped and resized