Korean Job Discussion Forums

[binderman278]

Hello! I am coming to South Korea in August from the United States, so I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on what to do about Power outlet converters/adapters. Should I purchase converters/adapters here in the States or wait until I am in Seoul? I am gonna being plugging in things such as my laptop and Xbox 360...

[SeoulNate]

Do not buy them in the states. Often times the packages are mis marked and will not work here.

They are far cheaper here as well. 30-40 bucks for a real power converter that wont overload any of your stuff.

This is from experience. When i first came here three years ago i bought two from the states, one from Radio Shack and one from Best Buy. They were both marked for Korea. Both didnt work. The best Buy one didnt even fit into the wall and the one from Radio Shack blew up and took my alarm with it!

[pangaea]

I haven't had much luck with power converters either. The set I brought with me from the US was marked for Korea but the prongs were too small so it wiggled back and forth in the outlet. It worked but I had to stop using it because it occasionally threw out sparks and I am not a fan of electrocution or house fires.

You shouldn't need a voltage converter for your laptop. Your laptop should operate on Korean voltage and you will just need a compatible plug. I am not really a technology wiz so you might try checking in the technology forum - but if you check on your computer or on the plug it should give you the voltage. Mine operates on 100-240 volts. I found a cord that works in a small computer store near my apartment for 3000 won. If you can't find a plug, a 3 prong adapter will do. You may be able to find those at a hardware or electronics store.

[Underwaterbob]

If you search the tech forum, you'll find a good dozen or so threads on this.

[binderman278]

Okay thank you for the replies.