Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dulcineadeltoboso]

I want to bring some small Korean electronics (curling iron, small radio, etc) to the US, but I don't know how much it would cost to buy converters or where I should buy them.

I did a search and found some conflicting info. A GI who plugs Korean appliances into his American outlet on the army base says he just gets a cheap little plastic thing that sticks on the end of the plug. Other posters have said that you need you buy a small, square, heavy machine for 15-30k at a Korean electronics shop. Others say it depends on the size of the appliance. Others say it depends on the how the appliance is made, and that it's labeled on the plug.

I'm very confused.

[keithinkorea]

Depends on the item. If it has a 'wall wart' or an adaptor of any kind it wont be a problem as long as the labelling regarding voltage and hertz is OK.

it should say something like '110-240volts, 40-60 hertz' this is just from memory, I might be wrong. if the item in question does then you just need a plug convertor thingy so yuo can plug it in. Often cheap items cannot be plugged in but things like laptops and dicas can almost always be plugged in with no problems.

If they're cheap items you'll probably have to buy one of those big monster devices that step up-down the voltage.

[dulcineadeltoboso]

Hmm. It says, "16A/250V~" on the plug and "AC220V 60Hz" on the curling iron.

The other appliance says "3A 250V" on the plug and "110~220V kyom yong" on the appliance.

What does that mean?

[Wangja]

Are they really worth taking back?

The small, cheap stuff will be international standard voltage only - 220 V not the US 110 V- and to have a transformer for a hair curlers is unthinkable.

Dump 'em here and buy new there.

[Wangja]

[dulcineadeltoboso]

So anything that says 110~220V is good to go, but I have to buy a US plug attachment thing? Where can I buy one? How can I ask for one in Korean?

[Wangja]

Buy US plugs in US.