Time in Seoul

Seoul, the capital and largest city of South Korea with over 10 million residents in the city proper and 26 million in the greater metropolitan area, runs on Korea Standard Time (KST), a fixed offset of UTC+9. South Korea does not observe daylight saving time, so Seoul's clocks never shift forward or back — KST is a permanent, year-round standard.

Seoul is located at approximately 127°E longitude. The city experiences wide daylight variation across the year, which influences its famous night-owl culture and late dining habits:

Seoul's long summer evenings contribute to a vibrant late-night street food and entertainment culture in districts like Hongdae, Itaewon, and Gangnam. For Seoul's national time context, see our time in Korea page.

Seoul (KST, UTC+9) sits far ahead of all US time zones. The gap shifts slightly with US daylight saving time changes in March and November — Seoul's clocks never move.

During US Standard Time (approximately November to March):

During US Daylight Saving Time (approximately March to November):

Quick conversions to remember:

• When New York wakes at 7 AM EST, Seoul is at 9 PM KST — Korean evening
• When New York reaches 10 AM EST, Seoul flips to midnight KST — next calendar day
• When Los Angeles is at 5 PM PST, Seoul is at 10 AM KST the next day — Korean morning

For live time in New York, visit our New York time page.

This table covers a full 24-hour New York cycle and shows the corresponding Seoul local time, useful for scheduling everything from business calls to gaming sessions to watching K-drama premieres live.

During US EDT (UTC−4, March–November), the gap is 13 hours — subtract 1 hour from Seoul column.

For visual cross-reference with Tokyo — which shares the exact same UTC+9 — compare our time in Tokyo table.

Seoul's Yeouido district is the financial and political heart of South Korea — often called "Korea's Manhattan." It hosts the Korea Exchange (KRX), the National Assembly, and the headquarters of major Korean conglomerates (chaebols) including Samsung, LG, and SK Group.

Typical Yeouido Business Hours:

Korean corporate culture is fast-paced and hierarchical. Meetings in Korean companies tend to start precisely on time. Senior executives rarely leave before junior employees — a holdover of Confucian workplace culture — meaning offices in Yeouido routinely stay lit until 9–10 PM KST, especially during quarterly earnings season.

Key financial dates that affect Seoul call scheduling:

• Korean Chuseok (mid-September, 3-day holiday): Most businesses closed
• Korean New Year / Seollal (late January – early February, 3 days): Major closures
• Children's Day (May 5) and Liberation Day (Aug 15): National holidays

For scheduling calls with Yeouido offices, the best US-Korea window remains early morning Eastern time (6–8 AM EST = 8–10 PM KST) or late afternoon Pacific time (4–6 PM PST = 9–11 AM KST next morning).

For travelers and anyone coordinating logistics with Seoul contacts, here are the essential time-based facts about Korea's capital.

Incheon International Airport (ICN): Incheon is consistently rated among the world's best airports and serves as a major transit hub for Asia-Pacific travel.

Incheon Airport operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Airport Railroad Express (AREX) connects Incheon to downtown Seoul in about 43 minutes (direct train) or 66 minutes (all-stop). AREX trains run from approximately 5:20 AM to 12:00 AM KST.

Seoul Metro: Seoul's subway system is one of the world's largest and most reliable.

• First trains: ~5:30 AM KST on most lines
• Last trains: ~12:00 AM to 1:00 AM KST
• Peak hours: 7:30–9:30 AM and 6:00–8:30 PM KST
• The system covers 23 lines and over 300 stations across Seoul and greater metro area

Myeongdong Shopping District: Seoul's most famous shopping area runs on a late schedule:

• Most shops open: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM KST
• Peak activity: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM KST (street food stalls busiest 6–10 PM)
• Many shops stay open until 10:00 PM or later

Seoul vs. Tokyo — Same Timezone, Different Vibe: A common point of confusion: Seoul and Tokyo are in the exact same time zone (both UTC+9, no DST). A video call between the two cities never requires any time conversion — it's the same local hour in both capitals simultaneously. Despite being geographically close and sharing UTC+9, the two cities have distinct business cultures, holiday calendars, and daily rhythms. For the Tokyo perspective on the shared time zone, see our time in Tokyo page. For our global clock tool, visit World Clock.