Quick answer: +82 is South Korea. Mobiles start with 010 and have 10 digits after +82. Landlines have 8 to 10 digits after +82. Drop the leading 0 that Koreans write at the start of every number. Example:
+82 10 1234 5678.
How to dial South Korea
| Calling from | Dial |
|---|---|
| Any mobile phone | +82 + number without the 0 |
| US or Canada landline | 011 82 + number without the 0 |
| UK or most of Europe landline | 00 82 + number without the 0 |
| Japan landline | 010 82 + number without the 0 |
| Australia landline | 0011 82 + number without the 0 |
Koreans write mobiles as 010-1234-5678 and Seoul landlines as 02-312-3456. The first 0 is only for calls inside Korea. From abroad, leave it out: 010-1234-5678 becomes +82 10 1234 5678, and 02-312-3456 becomes +82 2 312 3456.
Mobile and landline numbers
Mobiles start with 010 and are 11 digits with the 0, so 10 digits after +82. They have no area code.
Landlines are an area code plus a 7- or 8-digit local number. Seoul is 02. Everywhere else has a 3-digit code that covers a city or a whole province.
| City | Area code in South Korea | From abroad |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul | 02 | +82 2 xxxx xxxx |
| Busan | 051 | +82 51 xxx xxxx |
| Incheon | 032 | +82 32 xxx xxxx |
| Daegu | 053 | +82 53 xxx xxxx |
| Daejeon | 042 | +82 42 xxx xxxx |
| Gwangju | 062 | +82 62 xxx xxxx |
| Ulsan | 052 | +82 52 xxx xxxx |
| Gyeonggi Province (Suwon and others) | 031 | +82 31 xxx xxxx |
| Sejong | 044 | +82 44 xxx xxxx |
| Jeju | 064 | +82 64 xxx xxxx |
The table shows one length, but any area can have 7- or 8-digit local numbers: +82 31 1234 5678 and +82 31 123 4567 are both valid. Numbers starting 070 are internet phone lines, not mobiles.
Codes that get mixed up with +82
+81 is Japan and +86 is China. +850 is North Korea, a different country code from the South.
Time difference
South Korea is on KST (UTC+9) all year, with no daylight saving time. The gap changes only when your own clocks change.
| Where you are | Your clocks on summer time | Your clocks on standard time |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast | Korea is 13h ahead | Korea is 14h ahead |
| US West Coast | Korea is 16h ahead | Korea is 17h ahead |
| UK | Korea is 8h ahead | Korea is 9h ahead |
| Japan | Same time all year | |
| Sydney | Korea is 2h behind | Korea is 1h behind |
A 7 PM call from Los Angeles reaches Seoul at 11 AM the next day in the US summer and at noon in the US winter.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
FAQ
Can I call a Korean 1588 or 1577 number from abroad?
Often not. Many of these 8-digit customer service numbers (1588, 1577, 1566 and similar) can't be dialed from outside Korea. Look for the company's regular number, which starts with an area code such as 02.
Why won't my call to +82 go through?
Check three things: you left out the leading 0, a mobile has 10 digits after +82 (10 then 8 more), and you dialed 82, not 81.