Korea Standard Time (KST)
South Korea uses Korea Standard Time (KST), which is UTC+9 — nine hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Korea does not observe daylight saving time, so the offset stays at UTC+9 year-round. This makes scheduling calls and flights straightforward since you never need to adjust for seasonal clock changes.
KST is the same time zone as Japan (JST) and parts of eastern Indonesia (WIT). North Korea also uses UTC+9 after briefly switching to UTC+8:30 from 2015 to 2018. If you are coordinating with someone in Tokyo, you are on the exact same clock.
Korea has never observed daylight saving time in the modern era. When your home country shifts clocks for DST, the time difference with Korea changes — not the other way around.
Time Differences From Major Cities
The table below shows the time difference between Korea and major cities. Note that the difference changes when your home city observes daylight saving time (summer time), since Korea does not.
| City | Standard Time Difference | During DST (Summer) |
|---|
| New York (EST/EDT) | KST = +14 hours | KST = +13 hours |
| Los Angeles (PST/PDT) | KST = +17 hours | KST = +16 hours |
| London (GMT/BST) | KST = +9 hours | KST = +8 hours |
| Paris / Berlin (CET/CEST) | KST = +8 hours | KST = +7 hours |
| Dubai (GST) | KST = +5 hours | KST = +5 hours (no DST) |
| Sydney (AEST/AEDT) | KST = −1 hour | KST = −2 hours |
| Tokyo (JST) | Same time | Same time (no DST) |
| Beijing (CST) | KST = +1 hour | KST = +1 hour (no DST) |
| Bangkok (ICT) | KST = +2 hours | KST = +2 hours (no DST) |
When it is 9:00am Monday in Seoul, it is 8:00pm Sunday in New York (EST) and 5:00pm Sunday in Los Angeles (PST). Korea is essentially "a day ahead" of the Americas.
Jet Lag Tips
The severity of jet lag depends on where you are flying from. Travelers from the US East Coast face a 13-14 hour difference, which is one of the toughest adjustments. From Europe it is 7-9 hours, and from Southeast Asia or Australia it is only 0-2 hours with minimal jet lag.
Korea's late-night culture actually helps with jet lag from the West. If you arrive exhausted and wide awake at 3am, 24-hour cafes, convenience stores, jjimjilbang (spa/saunas), and late-night restaurants are all available. Many travelers find that spending their first "sleepless" night in a jjimjilbang helps reset their body clock.
- From USA (13-17 hours) — expect 3-5 days to fully adjust.
- From Europe (7-9 hours) — expect 2-3 days to adjust.
- From Australia (0-2 hours) — minimal to no jet lag.
- From Southeast Asia (1-2 hours) — virtually no jet lag.
- Stay hydrated on the flight and avoid alcohol.
- Get sunlight exposure in the morning to reset your circadian rhythm.
- Resist napping past 20 minutes during your first day.
Business Hours & Daily Rhythm
Korean business culture runs on a later schedule than many Western countries. Standard office hours are 9:00am-6:00pm, but many workers stay later. Restaurants open from roughly 11:00am-10:00pm, with many staying open until midnight or later. Convenience stores are 24/7. Shopping areas like Myeongdong and Hongdae are liveliest from 4:00pm-11:00pm.
| Venue | Typical Hours |
|---|
| Offices | 9:00am-6:00pm (often later) |
| Banks | 9:00am-4:00pm weekdays |
| Restaurants | 11:00am-10:00pm+ |
| Cafes | 8:00am-10:00pm+ |
| Convenience stores | 24/7 |
| Shopping / malls | 10:30am-10:00pm |
| Palaces / museums | 9:00am-6:00pm (closed Mondays) |
| Nightlife | 10:00pm-5:00am+ |
Most palaces and national museums are closed on Mondays (or Tuesdays in some cases). Check specific opening days before planning your visit.
Korea Standard Time (KST)
South Korea uses Korea Standard Time (KST), which is UTC+9 — nine hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Korea does not observe daylight saving time, so the offset stays at UTC+9 year-round. This makes scheduling calls and flights straightforward since you never need to adjust for seasonal clock changes.
KST is the same time zone as Japan (JST) and parts of eastern Indonesia (WIT). North Korea also uses UTC+9 after briefly switching to UTC+8:30 from 2015 to 2018. If you are coordinating with someone in Tokyo, you are on the exact same clock.
Korea has never observed daylight saving time in the modern era. When your home country shifts clocks for DST, the time difference with Korea changes — not the other way around.
Time Differences From Major Cities
The table below shows the time difference between Korea and major cities. Note that the difference changes when your home city observes daylight saving time (summer time), since Korea does not.
| City | Standard Time Difference | During DST (Summer) |
|---|
| New York (EST/EDT) | KST = +14 hours | KST = +13 hours |
| Los Angeles (PST/PDT) | KST = +17 hours | KST = +16 hours |
| London (GMT/BST) | KST = +9 hours | KST = +8 hours |
| Paris / Berlin (CET/CEST) | KST = +8 hours | KST = +7 hours |
| Dubai (GST) | KST = +5 hours | KST = +5 hours (no DST) |
| Sydney (AEST/AEDT) | KST = −1 hour | KST = −2 hours |
| Tokyo (JST) | Same time | Same time (no DST) |
| Beijing (CST) | KST = +1 hour | KST = +1 hour (no DST) |
| Bangkok (ICT) | KST = +2 hours | KST = +2 hours (no DST) |
When it is 9:00am Monday in Seoul, it is 8:00pm Sunday in New York (EST) and 5:00pm Sunday in Los Angeles (PST). Korea is essentially "a day ahead" of the Americas.
Jet Lag Tips
The severity of jet lag depends on where you are flying from. Travelers from the US East Coast face a 13-14 hour difference, which is one of the toughest adjustments. From Europe it is 7-9 hours, and from Southeast Asia or Australia it is only 0-2 hours with minimal jet lag.
Korea's late-night culture actually helps with jet lag from the West. If you arrive exhausted and wide awake at 3am, 24-hour cafes, convenience stores, jjimjilbang (spa/saunas), and late-night restaurants are all available. Many travelers find that spending their first "sleepless" night in a jjimjilbang helps reset their body clock.
- From USA (13-17 hours) — expect 3-5 days to fully adjust.
- From Europe (7-9 hours) — expect 2-3 days to adjust.
- From Australia (0-2 hours) — minimal to no jet lag.
- From Southeast Asia (1-2 hours) — virtually no jet lag.
- Stay hydrated on the flight and avoid alcohol.
- Get sunlight exposure in the morning to reset your circadian rhythm.
- Resist napping past 20 minutes during your first day.
Business Hours & Daily Rhythm
Korean business culture runs on a later schedule than many Western countries. Standard office hours are 9:00am-6:00pm, but many workers stay later. Restaurants open from roughly 11:00am-10:00pm, with many staying open until midnight or later. Convenience stores are 24/7. Shopping areas like Myeongdong and Hongdae are liveliest from 4:00pm-11:00pm.
| Venue | Typical Hours |
|---|
| Offices | 9:00am-6:00pm (often later) |
| Banks | 9:00am-4:00pm weekdays |
| Restaurants | 11:00am-10:00pm+ |
| Cafes | 8:00am-10:00pm+ |
| Convenience stores | 24/7 |
| Shopping / malls | 10:30am-10:00pm |
| Palaces / museums | 9:00am-6:00pm (closed Mondays) |
| Nightlife | 10:00pm-5:00am+ |
Most palaces and national museums are closed on Mondays (or Tuesdays in some cases). Check specific opening days before planning your visit.