Charging your iPhone 5S from a power outlet in South Korea

A guide showing how to power the iPhone 5S from a South Korean power outlet using the USB Lightning Apple cable and a Type C Europlug power charger and charging the iPhone 5S using a Schuko Type F USB plug.

South Korean power outlet

When organizing a trip it's useful to know in advance if you'll be able to charge all your vital electrical devices such as mobiles and laptops when you arrive. Without knowing which power socket to expect you may pack the wrong power charger, therefore needing to buy or borrow a potentially overpriced charger when you need to recharge which might be incompatible. Various combinations of voltages and region codes can all lead to confusion when planning to stay in another country if you've never visited before. The following instructions tells you exactly what you'll need to power your iPhone 5S when going to South Korea by using their standard F or C type South Korean 220 volt 60Hz plug outlets, Type F plug outlets will be used by a majority of South Koreans. Most power supplies will vary depending on which country you're in so please read the Wiki Connections world power sockets list where you'll find a full list of destinations. When travelling to South Korea from a different country please ensure your iPhone 5S can be charged using a 240v supply. If the iPhone 5S was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110 volts double check the iPhone 5S is dual-voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional power transformer to prevent the device from overheating during charging. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5S.

Charging the iPhone 5S in South Korea

Can the iPhone 5S be used in South Korea?

Yes, you can connect the iPhone 5S to a South Korean power outlet by using the correct power convertor.

What is the best travel adapter for the iPhone 5S in South Korea?

When travelling to more than one country and bringing along more than your iPhone 5S the best international travel adapter for South Korea is a multiple USB adapter which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. South Koreans use two different standards of wall outlets (types F and C) and using a travel adapter like this ensures that you are covered for type C.

Because these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle 100 volts - 240 volts will mean you can travel to multiple countries around the world simply by changing the heads. If your type of iPhone 5S is compatible with Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much quicker charging times by using one of these USB power chargers, plus additional support for certain power hungry devices.

This means you can charge more than one device at once without needing to bring individual power adapters. Only needing a single lightweight travel charger will also keep the size and weight down, making it perfect to fold up and store in hand baggage. Because of their flexibility these types of power adapters can be used at home so when you’re not travelling they can sit overnight charging multiple phones and tablets without needing an additional plug socket.

If you travel to different places we suggest searching for this type of versatile power adapter online. The multipurpose power adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for powering multiple USB devices in numerous different countries.

Alternative travel adapter for South Korea

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to charge devices using USB, however for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which is necessary for travellers to counties with unreliable power grids to prevent damage to any connected appliances. These power converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Continental Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling compact option for travellers originating from North America visiting South Korea using type B American plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs. This is a cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with only 1 less AC outlet for almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 2 AC outlets but offers 5 USB charging ports. This versatile power strip is compatible with both American plugs and popular plug types A, D,E/F, G, H, I, L and N making it suitable for a majority of travellers from around the world visiting South Korea. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for the iPhone 5S in South Korea?

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 5S from a South Korean power outlet

A guide showing how to power the iPhone 5S from a South Korean power outlet using the USB Lightning Apple cable and a Type C Europlug power charger.

  1. In order to power your iPhone 5S from a South Korean power outlet you'll need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - usually included with the device by Apple.
  2. Begin the process by plugging the Type C USB power plug adapter in the South Korean power outlet. The power supply (known as a Type C power outlet [3]) can be recognised by two holes adjacent to each other for live and neutral. Please be aware that that Type C electrical sockets are less commonplace in South Korea as Type F sockets.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple Lightning cable into the mains power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5S. The iPhone 5S Lightning connector can be found at bottom of your iPhone 5S under the home button.
  4. Switch on the South Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of your iPhone 5S screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the mobile is charging and takes around 60 to 240 minutes to fully recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 5S from a South Korean power outlet

Powering the iPhone 5S with a South Korean power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

Using the USB Lightning Apple cable and a Type F Schuko power charger to charge your iPhone 5S with a South Korean power outlet.

  1. If you want to power the iPhone 5S using the South Korean power outlet you will need to buy a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - Apple will usually include this USB cable with the iPhone 5S.
  2. Start by plugging the Type F USB power plug adapter into the wall supply. You can identify the wall outlet by the two large adjacent holes next to each other where the live and neutral pins go, plus two thin grounding clips at the top and bottom. The most common sockets found in South Korea are Type F electrical outlets.
  3. Connect one end of the Apple power cable into the bottom of the USB power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5S. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5S situated at the bottom of the iPhone 5S.
  4. Turn on the South Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the phone will display a charge icon to indicate that the mobile is recharging, typically taking between 1 - 4 hours to recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5S with a South Korean power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

See also

  1. Visitkorea - Korea Tourism Organization site
  2. Apple - official iPhone user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  4. Type C USB power plug adapter - Conforming to Europlug specifications, the Type C USB power plug adapter incorporates two 4 mm rounded pins spaced 19 mm apart. It is engineered to adapt electrical outlets commonly found in Europe, converting them to USB-compatible charging ports..
  5. USB to Apple Lightning cable - The Apple Lightning cable is a charging and syncing cable for more recent Apple devices and connects compatible iPhones and iPads to a USB port.
  6. iec.ch - Type F power outlet
  7. Type F USB power plug adapter - Compliant with Europlugs and CEE 7/17 specifications, the Type F or Schuko adapter is engineered to adapt German electrical power outlets into USB-compatible ports..
  8. 4 Port USB Wall Charger - A 4-port USB wall charger is an electrical device that provides simultaneous charging for up to four USB-compatible devices. It often includes interchangeable international plug adapters for global use..