What UTC offset does Seoul use?

Seoul uses Korea Standard Time (KST), which is UTC+9 year-round. South Korea does not observe daylight saving time, making KST a fixed offset. Seoul shares this timezone with Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, making scheduling between South Korea and Japan extremely straightforward — they are always on the same time.

What are typical business hours in Seoul?

Standard business hours in Seoul run 9 AM to 6 PM KST, Monday through Friday. South Korea’s work culture has historically emphasized very long hours, but government-mandated reforms since 2018 capped the work week at 52 hours for larger companies. In practice, overtime remains common in many industries. Lunch is typically from noon to 1 PM.

What is the best time to schedule a call between Seoul and New York?

Seoul (KST, UTC+9) is 14 hours ahead of New York (EST) in winter and 13 hours ahead in summer (EDT). Practical options are: morning EST (7–9 AM EST = 9–11 PM KST, asking Seoul to stay late) or evening EST (8–9 PM EST = 10–11 AM KST next day, catching Seoul fresh in the morning). Most teams prefer the evening EST / morning KST arrangement.

Working Hours in Seoul: A Timezone Guide

April 28, 2026

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Frequently Asked Questions

What UTC offset does Seoul use?: Seoul uses Korea Standard Time (KST), which is UTC+9 year-round. South Korea does not observe daylight saving time, making KST a fixed offset. Seoul shares this timezone with Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, making scheduling between South Korea and Japan extremely straightforward — they are always on the same time.
What are typical business hours in Seoul?: Standard business hours in Seoul run 9 AM to 6 PM KST, Monday through Friday. South Korea’s work culture has historically emphasized very long hours, but government-mandated reforms since 2018 capped the work week at 52 hours for larger companies. In practice, overtime remains common in many industries. Lunch is typically from noon to 1 PM.
What is the best time to schedule a call between Seoul and New York?: Seoul (KST, UTC+9) is 14 hours ahead of New York (EST) in winter and 13 hours ahead in summer (EDT). Practical options are: morning EST (7–9 AM EST = 9–11 PM KST, asking Seoul to stay late) or evening EST (8–9 PM EST = 10–11 AM KST next day, catching Seoul fresh in the morning). Most teams prefer the evening EST / morning KST arrangement.