How to charge the iPhone 5 when planning a trip to South Korea

Using the Apple Lightning connector and a two pinned Type C power adapter to charge the iPhone 5 from a South Korean power outlet and how to recharge the iPhone 5 using a two pinned Type F power charger.

South Korean power outlet

Varying different combinations of standards and plugs can all be daunting when planning to travel to another country, especially if you've never visited before. With only a handful of different types of common standards being used throughout the world this guide shows exactly what you'll need to purchase in advance to power the iPhone 5 in South Korea. These instructions were specifically written to stop you worrying if you'll be able to charge the iPhone 5 when you're in South Korea.When you are travelling to South Korea this page has useful instructions showing how to power your iPhone 5 using the standard Type F or C 220 volt 60Hz plug outlets, Type F power outlets will be typically used by a majority of South Koreans. You'll discover that power will change depending on which area you are visiting so please read the Asia page for a complete list of countries. If you are travelling to South Korea from a different country ensure that the iPhone 5 can accept a 240v supply. If your iPhone 5 originated in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 120v check your iPhone 5 is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional power transformer to prevent the device from being damaged when powering up. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5.

Charging the iPhone 5 in South Korea

Can you use the iPhone 5 in South Korea?

Yes, you can connect the iPhone 5 to a South Korean power outlet.

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

If travelling to more than one country then the best international travel charger for South Korea is a multiple USB port adapter which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two standards of power outlets that South Koreans use (types F and C) and using a travel charger like this will ensure that you are covered for type C.

Because these chargers come with interchangeable plugs and can handle 100 to 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa just by changing the plugs over. If your model of iPhone 5 is compatible with Fast Charge then you'll benefit from faster recharging times by using one of these travel adapters, plus compatibility with more power demanding devices. Having a 4 port adapter will allow you to recharge multiple devices at once without needing to buy multiple travel chargers for your trip or using up additional wall sockets. By only packing a single international USB travel charger will help keep the weight and size down, making it ideal to store in hand baggage whilst travelling. Because of their space saving versatility these types of adapters can be used back at home as well as abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple tablets, smartphones and speakers and using only a single wall outlet.

We suggest searching for a multipurpose travel adapter like this online. The power adapter illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for powering multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries with perfect reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for South Korea

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country who only have USB devices such as the iPhone 5, however for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters 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 power converters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both South Korea and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable option for travellers originating from America visiting South Korea.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs and offers almost the same functionality as the BESTEK with just one less AC outlet for almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 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 ideal for a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting South Korea. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for the iPhone 5 in South Korea?

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

Using the Apple Lightning connector and a two pinned Type C power adapter to charge the iPhone 5 from a South Korean power outlet.

  1. In order to charge your iPhone 5 using a South Korean power outlet you'll need to use a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (usually already included with your device by Apple).
  2. Begin by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and plugging it in the power outlet. The power supply (called the Europlug) can be identified by the 2 holes next to each other where the live and neutral pins sit. These outlets aren't as common in South Korea as Type F sockets.
  3. Then connect one end of the Lightning charging cable into the mains USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 5 under the home button.
  4. Turn on the South Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your phone will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone 5 is powering up, typically taking roughly 1-4 hours to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 5 from a South Korean power outlet

Charging the iPhone 5 from a South Korean power outlet by using a two pinned Schuko Type F USB adapter

Instructions on how to charge the iPhone 5 from a South Korean power outlet with a Lightning cable and a double pin Type F Schuko power charger.

  1. To supply power to your iPhone 5 from the South Korean power outlet you will need a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - Apple will usually supply the USB cable when you purchase your iPhone 5.
  2. Plug in the Type F USB power plug adapter in the South Korean power outlet. This circular plug outlet (sometimes known as the Schuko outlet) can be identified by two large round holes 19 mm apart from each other, plus metal grounding clips at the top and bottom. The most common outlets found in South Korea are Type F power outlets.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5 situated at the bottom of your iPhone 5.
  4. Switch on the South Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the iPhone screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone is recharging taking around one-four hours to fully recharge. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 5 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..