South Korea
Asia · 18 specs
Direct Answer
South Korea (KR / KOR / 410) operates on a 220 V / 60 Hz electrical grid using standard Type C and Type F (Schuko) sockets. Traffic drives on the right (RHT). The official currency is the South Korean Won (KRW, ₩), country calling code is +82, emergency dispatch is 112 (Police) / 119 (Fire/Ambulance), and paper standard is KS A 5201 A4.
Source: KATS (Korean Agency for Technology and Standards) / KEPCO / MSIT / ISO 3166-1 / Korea Post · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Official English Name | Republic of Korea ISO 3166-1 |
| Local Endonym | 대한민국 (Daehan Minguk) |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 | KR |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3 | KOR |
| ISO 3166-1 Numeric / UN M49 | 410 UN M49 (Code 142) |
| Country Calling Code | +82 MSIT (ITU-T E.164) |
| International Exit Code (IDD) | 001 (or 002/00700) Carrier selection prefix |
| Internet ccTLD | .kr (.한국) KISA Registry |
| Vehicle Registration Code | ROK KOR Standard Plate |
| National Currency (ISO 4217) | South Korean Won (KRW, ₩ / 원) 100 Jeon (subunits obsolete) |
| Mains Electricity Standard | 220 V (±13 V), 60 Hz KEPCO / KS C 8305 Standard |
| Electrical Plug Sockets | Type C (Europlug) & Type F (Schuko / KS C 8305) 16 A / 250 V |
| Road Traffic Driving Side | Right-Hand Traffic (RHT / LHD) Road Traffic Act |
| Primary Measurement System | Metric (SI) Framework Act on National Standards |
| Standard Office Paper Format | KS A 5201 A4 (210 × 297 mm) Standard |
| Consolidated Emergency Number | 112 (Police) / 119 (Fire & Ambulance) Direct Service Dispatch |
| Postal Code Regex / Format | 5 Digits (NNNNN, e.g. 03187 Seoul) Korea Post (5-digit Zone code since 2015) |
| Primary Time Zone | UTC+9 (KST–Korea Standard Time) Fixed standard (No DST) |
Abolition of the Traditional 'Korean Age' System (2023)
On June 28, 2023, South Korea officially enacted civil law revisions abolishing the centuries-old traditional 'Korean Age' counting method (hanguk nai), standardizing all administrative, judicial, and everyday age calculations strictly to the international system.
- Traditional vs. International: Under the former system, Koreans were considered 1 year old at birth and gained a year every New Year's Day (meaning a baby born on December 31 turned 2 years old the next day). The reform reduced citizens' official ages by 1 to 2 years.
Electrical Grid, Voltage & Plug Compatibility
- Nominal Grid Parameters: Operates on a single-phase standard of 220 V (±13 V), 60 Hz.
- Plug & Socket Hardware: Type C (Europlug) & Type F (Schuko / KS C 8305). In practical terms this covers Type C (ungrounded 2-round-pin Europlug, 2.5 A) and Type F (grounded German Schuko 2-round-pin, CEE 7/4, 16 A).
- International Traveler Guidance: Devices operating on 100–240 V (smartphones, laptops) require only a mechanical pin adapter. Single-voltage appliances from differing voltage regions require a certified step-down/step-up power transformer.
Telecommunications, Dialing & Emergency Dispatch
- International Dialing: The country calling code is +82. Outbound international calls from within the country require dial prefix 001 (or 002/00700) followed by the destination country code.
- Emergency Dispatch: Consolidated emergency services are reached at 112 (Police) / 119 (Fire & Ambulance). Calls are automatically routed to local public safety answering points with emergency vehicle dispatch.
Transportation, Driving Standards & Road Regulations
- Traffic Flow: Road traffic drives on the right (RHT) with Left-Hand Drive (LHD) vehicles.
- Standard Speed Limits: General regulatory speed limits default to 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up urban and residential zones, 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) on undivided rural roads, and 110–130 km/h (68–81 mph) on grade-separated divided motorways/expressways (unless lower local limits are posted).
- Safety Requirements: Mandatory seatbelt compliance for all occupants, zero-distraction handheld mobile phone bans while driving, and mandatory in-vehicle warning triangles.
Commerce, Currency & Document Standards
- Official Currency: Legal tender is the South Korean Won (KRW, ₩ / 원).
- Document & Paper Standards: Standard office printing, official government gazettes, and legal filings strictly utilize KS A 5201 A4 (210 × 297 mm). Standard business correspondence pairs with standard business envelopes.
- National Time Zone: Regulated under UTC+9 (KST–Korea Standard Time).
Postal Addressing & Administrative Divisions
- Postal Architecture: Postal delivery utilizes 5 Digits (NNNNN, e.g. 03187 Seoul).
- Standard Address Format: Structured in standardized hierarchy: Recipient Name → Street Address / Building Unit → Postal Code + City/Town → Province/State → Republic of Korea.