Korea Plug Type and Adapter (2026): Do You Need an Adapter or a Converter?

South Korea uses Type C and Type F plugs (two round pins) and 220V at 60Hz. If you’re coming from the US, Canada, the UK, Australia or Japan, you’ll need a plug adapter. Most phones and laptops handle 220V fine, but a few things from home don’t. Here’s how to check in 30 seconds.

This guide contains affiliate links, including Amazon links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Korea Bestie earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

Last checked: October 2026. Dollar figures use about 1,330 KRW = 1 USD (October 2026).

First time in Korea? Start here: our step-by-step guide from landing to your first day.

Korea plugs at a glance

Do you need an adapter?

Adapter vs converter: check the label

An adapter changes the plug shape. A converter changes the voltage. Look at the small print on your charger or device:

• “INPUT: 100–240V ~ 50/60Hz”: you only need an adapter. This covers almost every phone charger, laptop charger, camera charger and power bank charger made in the last decade.
• “120V only” or “110V”: plugging it straight into 220V can destroy it. You need a voltage converter, or leave it at home.

Hair dryers, straighteners and other heaters

• Many hair tools sold in the US and Japan are 110–120V only. Even with a converter, heating devices draw a lot of power and small travel converters can overheat.
• Most hotels in Korea provide a hair dryer, so you may not need to pack one. Check your booking before you go.
• If you love your styler, look for a dual-voltage model and switch it to 220V.

Practical tips

• Pick a slim adapter. Many Korean sockets sit in a round recess, and bulky universal adapters sometimes don’t push in far enough.
• Bring one adapter plus a USB charger with several ports. One wall socket can then charge your phone, watch and power bank at once.
• Newer hotels often have USB ports beside the bed, but don’t count on them.
• Power banks go in your carry-on, not your checked bag. Korean airports enforce this strictly.

Forgot your adapter? Buying one in Korea

• Convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven) and Daiso sell small plug adapters. Koreans call the simple round-pin one a dwaeji-ko (돼지코, “pig nose”).
• Electronics shops at Incheon Airport and big stores like Hi-Mart also stock universal adapters.
• Many hotels lend adapters at the front desk. Ask before you buy.

How many adapters do you need?

Hotel rooms in Korea often have only two or three sockets, and some are hidden behind the bed. One adapter plus a small travel power strip (or a multi-port USB charger) lets you charge everything at once. A charger with several USB-C and USB-A ports is the lightest option for phones, earbuds and a watch.

What about power banks on flights?

• Power banks must go in your carry-on, never in checked luggage.
• Korean airlines tightened the rules in 2025: many now ask you to keep power banks out of overhead bins and not to use them on board. Check your airline’s current rules before you fly.
• Large batteries above 100 Wh need airline approval; most phone power banks are well below that.

Do Korean hotels lend adapters?

Many mid-range and upscale hotels can lend an adapter from the front desk, but don’t count on it in small guesthouses. If you forget yours, convenience stores and Daiso sell simple adapters for a few thousand won (see our Myeongdong shopping guide for the big Daiso). Hair dryers are standard in most hotel rooms, so you can usually leave yours at home. Packing everything else? See the Korea packing list.

FAQ

Is Korea’s plug the same as Europe’s?
Yes. Korea uses the same round-pin Type C and F plugs as most of continental Europe, so European plugs fit without an adapter.

Can I use my iPhone or Samsung charger in Korea?
Yes. Phone chargers are almost always 100–240V. You only need a plug adapter if your plug has flat or three pins.

Can I use my American hair straightener in Korea?
Only if the label says dual voltage (110–240V). A 120V-only straightener needs a converter, and it is usually easier to use the hotel’s dryer or buy a cheap one in Korea.

Sources: Trip.com – South Korea plug types and voltage · The Soul of Seoul – power adapters in Korea
Photos: Grandmaster Huon / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 · Retired electrician / Wikimedia Commons, CC0