How to charge the iPhone 6 when planning a trip to South Korea

Instructions showing how to power the iPhone 6 with a South Korean power outlet with a USB Lightning cable and a double pin Europlug Type C power charger and charging the iPhone 6 using a double pin Type F Schuko power plug.

South Korean power outlet

Varying complicated combinations of standards and plugs can all be confusing when planning to travel to another country especially to the first time traveller. However this isn't as complex as it appears, with only a handful of different types of plug sockets used in the world this article tells you exactly what to buy in advance to charge the iPhone 6 . The following step by step guide will show you exactly how to charge your iPhone 6 when you are travelling to South Korea using their standard types F or C 220 volt 60Hz power outlets, Type F plug outlets will be normally used by most South Koreans. When travelling to South Korea from another country check the iPhone 6 can be charged using a 240v supply. If it originated in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110 volts) check your iPhone 6 is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional voltage converter to prevent the device from overloading when charging it. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 6.

Charging the iPhone 6 in South Korea

Can the iPhone 6 be used in South Korea?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 6 in South Korea by using the correct power convertor.

What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 6 in South Korea?

If travelling with more than your iPhone 6 then the best travel charger for South Korea to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. South Koreans use two different standards of wall outlets (F and C) and using a power adapter like this ensures that you are covered for type C.

As these chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and can handle from 100 - 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa just by switching the heads over. If your iPhone 6 supports Fast Charge (not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from much quicker charging times with one of these types of USB power chargers, along with support for more power hungry devices. Having a 4 port adapter will also allow you to charge multiple devices simultaneously without needing to bring multiple power chargers. Only bringing a single USB travel charger will also keep the weight down, making it ideal to fold up in hand baggage while travelling. Because of their space saving flexibility these types of chargers can be used at home so when you’re not travelling they can be used overnight charging multiple phones and tablets using just a single plug socket.

We suggest searching for a flexible travel adapter similar to this online. The multipurpose travel charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for South Korea

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to recharge devices via USB, but for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which is crucial for visitors of counties with unreliable power grids to prevent damage to any connected devices from voltage spikes. These travel converters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular compact power converter for travellers originating from North America going to South Korea using type B American plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise 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 and offers almost the same functionality as the BESTEK with only one less AC outlet for almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers a flexible 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 most travellers from around the world visiting South Korea. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 6 in South Korea?

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 6 from a South Korean power outlet

Instructions showing how to power the iPhone 6 with a South Korean power outlet with a USB Lightning cable and a double pin Europlug Type C power charger.

  1. To power the iPhone 6 using a South Korean power outlet you will need to use a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple will normally include this cable when you buy the iPhone 6).
  2. First you'll need to insert the Type C USB power plug adapter in the South Korean power outlet. This plug outlet, also called the Europlug, can be identified by the 2 round adjacent holes. Type C electrical sockets in South Korea aren't as commonplace as Type F sockets.
  3. Then connect one end of the Lightning power cord into the bottom of the mains power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 6. The iPhone 6 Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 6 under the home button.
  4. Turn on the South Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of your iPhone will display a charge icon to indicate that the phone is charging and takes roughly 60-240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 6 from a South Korean power outlet

Charging the iPhone 6 from a South Korean power outlet by using a two pinned Schuko Type F USB adapter

Using a USB Lightning cable and a double pinned Schuko Type F power charger to charge the iPhone 6 from a South Korean power outlet.

  1. In order to power the iPhone 6 using the South Korean power outlet you'll need a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], Apple will normally include this cable when you buy the iPhone 6.
  2. Start the process by inserting the Type F USB power plug adapter into the power outlet. The recessed round wall supply (known as the Schuko outlet) can be identified by two 4.8mm adjacent holes next to each other where the plug outlet pins go along with a pair of two grounding clips above and below. The most common outlets found in South Korea are Type F power sockets.
  3. Connect one end of the Lightning charging cord into the mains USB charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 6. The iPhone 6 Lightning connector can be found at bottom of your iPhone 6 under the home button.
  4. Turn on the South Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of your mobile will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is powering up taking between 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 6 from a South Korean power outlet by using a two pinned Schuko Type F 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..