South Korea – Power plug, socket & mains voltage in South Korea

What type of plugs and sockets are used in South Korea?

When you are going on a trip to South Korea, be sure to pack the appropriate travel plug adapter that fits the local sockets. But what do those electrical outlets look like? In South Korea, types C and F are the official standards.

Background information

Obsolete type C Bakelite wall socket (1950s)

South Korea has standardized on type F sockets and plugs. Type C and type E plugs can also be used thanks to their compatibility with type F sockets.

Typically, type C plug sockets are not allowed to be installed in South Korea: these outlets are not earthed and are therefore considered dangerous. Only type F power points are permitted because they are grounded and therefore significantly safer.

The only (and rare) exception to this rule is that an old type C outlet should be replaced by a new one. After all, if you hook up a grounded wall outlet (i.e. type F) on a two-wire circuit, the socket will not be grounded, but people will get the wrong impression that it is actually grounded. No need to say, this would be a potentially dangerous situation.

Nowadays, however, type C receptacles are not frequently installed anymore, since older properties are almost always completely rewired when they are renovated or significantly altered.

Click here for a global map showing the spread of the different plug types used around the world.

Click here for a detailed list of the countries of the world with their respective plug and outlet types, voltage and frequency.