South Korea uses the Asia/Seoul time zone, abbreviated KST, which is UTC+9. It does not observe daylight saving time; the time is the same all year. Korea Standard Time (KST) is UTC+9 all year; the country last used daylight saving time in 1987 and 1988. Use this page to check the exact current local time in South Korea, with the date, UTC offset and time zone, updated in real time.

Official time zone: Asia/Seoul (Asia)

Estimated population: 51,748,739 people.

Local fact: Korea Standard Time (KST) is UTC+9 all year; the country last used daylight saving time in 1987 and 1988.

Offset from UTC—

Daylight saving time—

Compared to New York—

Frequently Asked Questions About the Time in South Korea

What time is it in South Korea right now?

The exact time in South Korea, Asia, appears on the main clock at the top of this page and updates every second using the Asia/Seoul time zone, with no need to reload.

What time zone does South Korea use?

South Korea (Asia) uses the Asia/Seoul time zone from the IANA database, which corresponds to UTC+9. This is the reference that devices and servers use to calculate local time.

What is the time difference between South Korea and New York?

The difference is calculated by comparing the Asia/Seoul zone with New York (Eastern Time), so it updates automatically if either zone changes its clocks. The +HR and -HR tags on the cards show how many hours each place is ahead of or behind South Korea.

Does South Korea observe daylight saving time?

Does not observe daylight saving time; the time is the same all year. This page calculates the time with the Asia/Seoul zone, so it always shows the current local time in South Korea, including any seasonal clock change.

How do I compare the time in South Korea with other cities?

In the Time Across the U.S. and World Times sections you can see the time in other places and how many hours they are ahead (+) or behind (-) South Korea. If the calendar day is different, the date is shown, for example Sun Oct 18. Every card links to that place’s page.

Can I see the time in South Korea in 12-hour or 24-hour format?

Yes. Use the 12-hour (AM/PM) or 24-hour selector below the main clock; the change applies to every card and your preference is saved in your browser.