Travel · South Korea · Type C/F · 220V
South Korea: Europe's plug, America's frequency.
South Korea is the East Asian outlier. Its neighbours take flat pins; Korea takes round ones. Sockets are Type C and Type F — the two-pin Europlug and the grounded Schuko — at 220V, but on 60Hz rather than Europe's 50Hz. Nothing you own plugs in without an adapter.
Korea against its neighbours
A Tokyo–Seoul–Shanghai trip crosses three socket regimes, and only one rejects a US plug outright.
| Country | Plug types | Voltage | Frequency | US flat pins fit? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | C, F (round pins) | 220V | 60Hz | No — adapter required |
| Japan | A, B (flat pins) | 100V | 50 / 60Hz | Yes |
| China | A, I, C | 220V | 50Hz | Often |
| United States | A, B | 120V | 60Hz | — |
Type C is the ungrounded two-round-pin plug, 4.0mm pins on 19mm centres. Type F adds two earth clips on the rim of a recessed socket and is what anything with a metal case uses. A Type C plug fits happily into a Type F socket, which is why a single cheap Europe-style adapter covers Korea end to end — it just does not carry a ground through.
Why 60Hz at 220V is unusual, and why you can ignore it
Most 220–240V countries run 50Hz; most 60Hz countries run near 120V. Korea and the Philippines are the notable exceptions to that pairing. Korea finished converting from 110V to 220V in the mid-2000s, which is why old guidebooks still mention dual sockets. Assume 220V today.
Frequency changes nothing for your electronics. A switching power supply converts incoming AC to DC immediately; 50Hz or 60Hz alters only how many times per second it does that, and the specification stamped on your charger — 100–240V ~ 50/60Hz — already covers both. Frequency matters to synchronous motors and mains-timed clocks, which is a category no traveler carries.
What to actually pack
- Type F
Type C/F plug adapter (US to Europe/Korea)
The right shape for Korean sockets, with side earth clips so grounded cords keep their ground.
- Output plug
- Type F, grounded
- Also covers
- Most of Europe
- Function
- Shape only, no conversion
- Universal
Zendure Passport III 65W
Universal travel adapter with GaN charging built in — one wall socket, laptop and phone both at speed.
- Class
- 65W GaN, multi-port
- Plug heads
- Universal, incl. C/F
- Passes
- 220V unchanged
- 65W
UGREEN Nexode 65W GaN 3-port
Pair with one flat adapter: three devices charge from a single Korean outlet with no daisy-chaining.
- Output
- 65W shared
- Ports
- 2× C, 1× A
- Input
- 100–240V
What runs as-is, and what genuinely needs a transformer
Runs as-is on a plug adapter: phones, laptops, tablets, camera chargers, drone batteries, e-readers, electric toothbrushes, cordless shavers, power banks. Read the input line on each brick once at home and you will never think about it again.
Needs a real voltage converter, or better a dual-voltage replacement: hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons, travel kettles, small corded appliances with AC motors. A converter is heavy, rated in watts, and only worth carrying if the device genuinely cannot be replaced — the trade-offs are spelled out in travel adapter vs converter. For choosing the brick that goes on the other side of the adapter, see the best travel chargers.
More country guides
FAQ
What plug adapter do I need for South Korea?
A Type C or Type F adapter — the same round-pin shape used across continental Europe. If you carry any grounded three-prong cord, choose the Type F version with earth clips on the sides.
Does a European travel adapter work in Korea?
Yes. Korea uses the same Type C and Type F sockets as most of continental Europe, so one adapter covers both regions. The voltage is also the same at 220V.
Why is Korea 60Hz when it uses European plugs?
Korea kept the 60Hz frequency it built its grid on while converting the supply voltage from 110V to 220V. Frequency has no effect on switching power supplies, which are all rated 50/60Hz.
Can I use my US hair dryer in Seoul?
Only if its label says 100 to 240 volts. A 120V-only dryer on Korea's 220V supply draws roughly three and a half times its design power and fails almost immediately.