Korean Job Discussion Forums

[corroonb]

Hi,
I'm going to Korea next month and I want to bring some electronics with me. I have a laptop, a portable media player and an expensive electric razor I want to take. All of these accept a wide input from 100~240 v.

Do I need a voltage adapter for these or are plug adapters okay?

Are Korea plug adapters widely available or will I have to wait until I come to Korea?

Also will I be able to buy an adapter for my Nintendo DS in Korea?

Any input (not in volts) is greatly appreciated as usual.

[esetters21]

yeah...you will need to buy a voltage adapter here for your north american electronics. korean outlets use only 2 prongs instead of the 3 that we are accustomed to. you can buy these at emart or at yongsan for anywhere from 35-55,000 won. good luck in korea!

[corroonb]

Will an adapter for continental Europe (two prongs) work in Korea or will I have to buy a Korea specific adapter.

I'm from Ireland and we have British Standard plugs, is it possible to buy adapters for these in Korea?

[Wangja]

[corroonb]

Thanks Wangja, I thought that might be the case.

[esetters21]

sorry about the misinformation...i must have misunderstood the question. regardless, good luck and have fun here.

[hedonizm]

so....are the plugs there the same as in japan....anyone??

i have read that they are round? this was the case in bangkok....2 round prongs.

here in japan it's 2 flat ones......like in the u.s?

can anyone clarify this for me....simply and clearly please.
i'm just a woman concerned about her hair dryer!!

also.....i wonder if i can buy an adapter here in tokyo?

ahhhh...the joys of living abroad........

[blackjack]

Type C (European 2-pin)
Korea uses the CEE 7/17 (German/French 16 A/250 V unearthed)

Type A (North American/Japanese 2-pin)
Japan uses the JIS C 8303, Class II (Japanese 15 A/100 V ungrounded) (same as america)

Ireland uses type G
BS 1363 (British 13 A/230-240 V 50 Hz earthed and fused)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_AC_power_plugs_and_sockets

[sojourner1]

Get em' at home, because they're easy to buy at home while a challenge to find in Korea though they do possibly exist.

On my 1st tour of Korea, I ended up cutting the plug off a laptop power supply and retrofitting it with the Schuko German style plug common in Korea, because I couldn't find a plug adapter. It was easy to fit a plug adapter on it once I returned to the states as plug adapters are widely available.

Before my 2nd tour of Korea, I bought several plug adapters on eBay for $1.49 each. Yes, I said $1.49 each. It was also easy to get a cheap portable IPOD charger.

I wish I had bought a PC to TV cable as I I get the, "OP Say Yo," with crossed arms every time I ask electronic sales people. Things are tough to get in Korea to be honest more than you would expect.

These sorts of things are tough to get in Korea, I once again emphasize. Any of your favorite things, bring what you can. Stock up at home on electronic items as that's the market for it.

[hedonizm]

well....thanks for the low-down on the plug situation.
i thought i read here that these adapters were easy to find? in seoul....at technomart???
wonder if i can buy them here in tokyo....probably
found a pic on another thread and i was right.....the round ones are the same as in thailand.

[ttompatz]

[blade]

[ATL]

I have a korean camera batter charger with a cord that goes to the wall that detaches from the charger, as expected.

I also have my US laptop with an american plug that detaches from the power brick.

Can I take the cord off the camera charger (it says 2.5A 250V~) and replace the laptop cord (it says 7A 125V) and plug my laptop into the wall?

The power brick for the comp says 100-240V~, 1.7-0.75A 50-60Hz

[schwa]

Plug adaptors are readily available in any hardware store. I bought one yesterday for 2000 won.

I guessed at asking for a "concent adapt-uh" & the guy understood immediately.

[nobbyken]