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thinkblue
Joined: 15 Apr 2009
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 Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 5:47 pm Post subject: adapters/converters for electricity in Korea |
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| Hi. I'm curious with the kind of adapters and converters needed for electricity in Korea compared to the US. I'm from the U.S. and I want to know if most US items matches the voltage in Korea with items like laptops, shavers etc.. Does anyone also knows a good website that sells these and have information on these as well. Thanks. |
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Ruthdes
Joined: 16 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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Korea has 220V and a different socket (same as the European socket), so you'll need an adaptor for all your electrical devices, and a transformer for the ones that aren't designed for any voltage.
Your laptop, camera charger and a lot of other things shouldn't need a transformer. Just check the transformer label on the appliance and it will tell you (e.g. Input 100-240V means it will work with power sources between 100 and 240V).
Simple electrical devices such as hair dryers and razors will generally need a transformer. You can bring one with you but they're heavy. You can usually buy one second hand off the forum on this site or Craig's List or the like. |
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lichtarbeiter
Joined: 15 Nov 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:35 pm Post subject: Re: adapters/converters for electricity in Korea |
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| thinkblue wrote: |
| Hi. I'm curious with the kind of adapters and converters needed for electricity in Korea compared to the US. I'm from the U.S. and I want to know if most US items matches the voltage in Korea with items like laptops, shavers etc.. Does anyone also knows a good website that sells these and have information on these as well. Thanks. |
I bought a standard universal plug converter before coming to Korea (bought it at Staples). I thought it would work fine because I thought Korea had the same two-prong plug system as Europe. Turns out, for some crazy reason, Korea made the width of their prongs just 1 or 2 mm thicker than Europe.
So, this plug convertor I have, which has a European two-prong plug output, fits into the Korean plug and conducts electricity just fine, but it won't stay in the plug because its prongs are too thin. However, I got clever and bought a 3-to-1 plug adapter with one of the receptacles facing up. Now the plug adapter just comes in from above and sits on top of it, and it stays, and it works fine. I use it to charge my razor and camera battery. However, when I took my Korean cellphone to Europe, the prongs of my charger would not fit into the receptacle (no biggie, just wanted my cell for the alarm function).
As far as the laptop goes, I was able to buy a cable with a Korean plug on one end, and a plug that fits into my laptop's AC/DC adapter on the other end. I got it at Technomart in Gangbyeon for 10,000 won. |
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tjmauermann
Joined: 21 Jan 2009
Location: Bundang
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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| I bought some really expensive ones from REI and they are worthless. Wait til you get here go to Emart and buy X amount for 9,000 won apeice they are smaller and work very well. Just my two cents but I am a bit jaded after spending a small fortune on REI's crap. |
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Silk
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:57 pm Post subject: |
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You can buy small, single plug transformers with Kor -> US plug adapter at homeplus, for around 10-15 bucks. I use it for my playstation2 and for charging things over night, such as clippers or my toothbrush.
Definetely don't bring a transformer with you, I brought a heavy expensive one, and it always turns off and on because it doesn't like the voltage fluctuation in korea or some bs. |
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