Korean Outlets and Plug Adapters: 220V, Types C and F, and Loose Adapters

Korean outlets supply 220V at 60Hz through two round holes, so flat-pin plugs from the US or Japan do not go in as they are. You need a plug adapter, and an adapter only changes the shape of the plug, not the voltage. Devices that accept 100–240V, such as phone chargers, need nothing more than the adapter; devices whose input range does not include 220V are a different matter. This guide covers which adapter to pick and where to buy one.

1. 1

   Korean outlets — 220V, 60Hz, two round holes

   According to the Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea), the standard voltage in Korea is 220V at 60Hz, and outlets have two round holes. The plug reference site WorldStandards lists Types C and F as Korea's official standards and says sockets and plugs have been standardized on Type F. Type F has two round pins plus grounding clips, and a Type C plug also fits a Type F outlet.

2. 2

   An adapter is not a voltage converter

   A plug adapter only reshapes your plug to fit a Korean outlet; the voltage stays the same. Changing voltage is the job of a voltage converter (step-up or step-down transformer). Samsung's Korean service center notes that a transformer changes only the voltage, not the frequency, and that a mismatch in voltage or frequency can cause malfunctions or damage. So the first thing to check is whether your device accepts 220V.

3. 3

   Read the INPUT line on the charger label

   Look for the INPUT rating printed in small type on the charger body or the plug. The travel site The Soul of Seoul explains that if it says "INPUT: 100-240V", an adapter alone is enough and no converter is needed; if it only says "INPUT: 110V" or "120V", you need a converter. Since Korean outlets are 220V and an adapter does not change voltage, the same goes for any rating whose range leaves out 220V, such as 100V. Phone and laptop chargers are usually 100-240V, but check the label on each device.

4. 4

   Check heat appliances like hair dryers and straighteners separately

   The Soul of Seoul says some older hair dryers and electric shavers are among the devices labeled only "INPUT: 110V" or "120V", and that anything that generates heat — hair dryers, straighteners, electric kettles — needs a careful check. A device whose input range does not include 220V should not go into a 220V outlet with just an adapter; use a converter or leave it at home.

5. 5

   If the adapter feels loose — thicker Type F pins (4.8mm)

   According to WorldStandards, a standard Type C (Europlug) pin is 4mm in diameter, Type F pins are 4.8mm, and a Type C plug also fits a Type F outlet. A Trip.com guide, however, says 4mm pins can be loose in Korean outlets and slip out, and that a Type F adapter with 4.8mm pins fits more firmly. The same page gives Korea's voltage incorrectly as 230V/50Hz, so treat it as a rough pointer. If your adapter keeps falling out, one option is to switch to one whose package lists the pin diameter or says "Type F" or "Schuko".

6. 6

   Where to get one — airport, convenience stores, duty-free, hotel

   VisitKorea says adapters are available at the airport, retail stores, major duty-free shops and convenience stores, and that you can ask your hotel front desk to lend or sell you one. The Soul of Seoul notes there are shops in the Incheon Airport arrivals hall, and that Daiso sometimes carries basic ones. Stock and pin size vary from shop to shop, so check the pin diameter on the package before buying.