The South Korea time difference is +9 h from London and +14 h from New York in winter, and +8 h and +13 h in summer (UK and US daylight saving seasons; South Korea does not change its clocks).
In practice, when it is noon in London it is 21:00 in Seoul during UK winter time (GMT) and 20:00 during British Summer Time. When it is noon in New York, it is 02:00 (next day) in Seoul during Eastern Standard Time and 01:00 (next day) during Eastern Daylight Time. Once you have Seoul time in mind, you still need to choose the season: see when to go to Seoul before you book.
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Live local time
Calculated by your browser from the IANA time zone database.
Time in South Korea: key facts
- Time zone: UTC+9, IANA identifier
Asia/Seoul - Difference with London: +9 h in UK winter (GMT), +8 h during British Summer Time
- Difference with New York: +14 h during Eastern Standard Time, +13 h during Eastern Daylight Time
- Daylight saving in South Korea: no, local time stays the same all year
- Next clock changes: UK on Sunday 25 October 2026 (BST to GMT) and Sunday 28 March 2027; US on Sunday 1 November 2026 (EDT to EST) and Sunday 14 March 2027
Time difference between London, New York and South Korea
| Time in London | In Seoul (UK winter, GMT) | In Seoul (UK summer, BST) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | 17:00 | 16:00 |
| 12:00 | 21:00 | 20:00 |
| 18:00 | 03:00 (next day) | 02:00 (next day) |
| 22:00 | 07:00 (next day) | 06:00 (next day) |
| Time in New York | In Seoul (US winter, EST) | In Seoul (US summer, EDT) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 (8 am) | 22:00 | 21:00 |
| 12:00 (noon) | 02:00 (next day) | 01:00 (next day) |
| 18:00 (6 pm) | 08:00 (next day) | 07:00 (next day) |
| 22:00 (10 pm) | 12:00 (next day) | 11:00 (next day) |
| Period | Seoul vs London | Seoul vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 25 October – 31 October 2026 | +9 h | +13 h |
| 1 November 2026 – 13 March 2027 | +9 h | +14 h |
| 14 March – 27 March 2027 | +9 h | +13 h |
| 28 March – 30 October 2027 | +8 h | +13 h |
| 31 October – 6 November 2027 | +9 h | +13 h |
| 7 November – 31 December 2027 | +9 h | +14 h |
The one-hour difference between winter and summer comes from daylight saving time in the UK and the US; local time in Seoul does not change.
Clock changes 2026–2027
South Korea does not observe daylight saving time: local time stays at UTC+9 all year round. Only clock changes in your home country alter the gap.
Clocks change on the following dates (local time):
- UK, Sunday 25 October 2026: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 1 November 2026: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5) in New York
- US, Sunday 14 March 2027: EST (UTC−5) to EDT (UTC−4)
- UK, Sunday 28 March 2027: GMT (UTC+0) to BST (UTC+1)
- UK, Sunday 31 October 2027: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 7 November 2027: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5)
When to call South Korea from the UK or the US
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 Seoul time, call between 00:00 and 11:00 London time in UK winter, and between 01:00 and 12:00 during British Summer Time. From New York, call between 19:00 and 06:00 (running past midnight) during EST, and between 20:00 and 07:00 (running past midnight) during EDT.
With such a large gap, working days barely overlap: aim for the very start or end of the day, and always state the time zone in your meeting invitations.
Time difference and jet lag: practical tips
Flying to South Korea from Europe means travelling east: your day is shortened and you will need to go to bed earlier than usual. From North America, the flight crosses the International Date Line and you land on a later calendar day. A few simple rules help you adjust to local time:
- Set your watch and phone to local time as soon as you board.
- Align meals and bedtime with local time from the first day.
- Plan a light first day, with no important meetings or long drives.
- Get out in daylight when you arrive and avoid long naps.
- If you take medication at fixed times, ask your doctor how to adapt the schedule to the time difference.
South Korea time zone: IANA identifier and history
| Zone | IANA identifier | Standard time on 15 January 2027 | On 15 July 2027 | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | Asia/Seoul | UTC+9 | UTC+9 | KST |
- Seoul (
Asia/Seoul): last clock change recorded on Sunday 9 October 1988, from UTC+10 to UTC+9. Daylight saving time was applied in some years since 1970 (last: 1988); it no longer is.
No daylight saving time in South Korea in 2027
The tz database lists no clock change in 2027 for Asia/Seoul: standard time remains UTC+9 all year. Only the UK clock changes (Sunday 28 March and Sunday 31 October 2027) and the US clock changes (Sunday 14 March and Sunday 7 November 2027) alter the gap.
| 2027 period | Seoul vs London | Seoul vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January – 13 March | +9 h | +14 h |
| 14 March – 27 March | +9 h | +13 h |
| 28 March – 30 October | +8 h | +13 h |
| 31 October – 6 November | +9 h | +13 h |
| 7 November – 31 December | +9 h | +14 h |
Sunrise and sunset in Seoul in 2027
Local sunrise and sunset times on the 15th of each month in Seoul (37.57° N. 127.00° E). They help you time your exposure to daylight, the main lever for resetting your body clock on arrival.
| 15th of the month | Sunrise | Solar noon | Sunset | Day length | Sunrise / sunset in London time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:46 | 12:41 | 17:37 | 9 h 51 | 22:46 / 08:37 |
| February | 07:22 | 12:46 | 18:10 | 10 h 48 | 22:22 / 09:10 |
| March | 06:44 | 12:41 | 18:38 | 11 h 54 | 21:44 / 09:38 |
| April | 05:58 | 12:32 | 19:07 | 13 h 09 | 21:58 / 11:07 |
| May | 05:23 | 12:28 | 19:34 | 14 h 11 | 21:23 / 11:34 |
| June | 05:10 | 12:32 | 19:55 | 14 h 44 | 21:10 / 11:55 |
| July | 05:22 | 12:38 | 19:54 | 14 h 31 | 21:22 / 11:54 |
| August | 05:47 | 12:37 | 19:26 | 13 h 38 | 21:47 / 11:26 |
| September | 06:14 | 12:27 | 18:41 | 12 h 28 | 22:14 / 10:41 |
| October | 06:40 | 12:18 | 17:56 | 11 h 16 | 22:40 / 09:56 |
| November | 07:11 | 12:16 | 17:22 | 10 h 11 | 22:11 / 08:22 |
| December | 07:39 | 12:27 | 17:14 | 9 h 35 | 22:39 / 08:14 |
The longest day in the table is 15 June (14 h 44 between 05:10 and 19:55), the shortest 15 December (9 h 35).
Jet lag: how flight direction affects you in South Korea
- Outbound from the UK (flying east): you « lose » 9 hours in UK winter and 8 hours in summer; your arrival day is shortened and you need to go to bed earlier than your body clock expects.
- Return to the UK (flying west): the opposite applies. Flying west is generally considered easier to cope with: you just need to stay up a little later.
- Your usual night at home (23:00 – 07:00) corresponds to 08:00 – 16:00 in Seoul from London in UK winter (07:00 – 15:00 during BST), and to 13:00 – 21:00 in Seoul from New York during EST (12:00 – 20:00 during EDT): this is when your body will want to sleep for the first few days.
- Daylight on arrival: in Seoul, the sun rises around 07:46 and sets around 17:37 in mid-January, and around 05:22 and 19:54 in mid-July (table above). After flying east, seek morning light and avoid it late in the day; this is the standard advice for shifting your body clock.
Plan your trip to South Korea
- Our complete South Korea travel guide: highlights, itineraries and budget
- Best time to visit South Korea: month-by-month weather and the best season
- Time differences around the world: every country in our guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between South Korea and the UK or the US?
Seoul is 9 hours ahead of London in UK winter and 8 hours ahead of London during British Summer Time. It is 14 hours ahead of New York during Eastern Standard Time and 13 hours ahead of New York during Eastern Daylight Time.
What time is it in South Korea when it is noon in London or New York?
Noon in London is 21:00 in Seoul in UK winter and 20:00 in summer. Noon in New York is 02:00 (next day) in Seoul during EST and 01:00 (next day) during EDT.
Does South Korea have daylight saving time?
No, local time stays at UTC+9 all year. Only clock changes in the UK or the US alter the gap.
When should I call South Korea from the UK or the US?
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 local time, call between 00:00 and 11:00 London time in UK winter (01:00 and 12:00 during BST), or between 19:00 and 06:00 New York time during EST (20:00 and 07:00 during EDT).
What is the IANA time zone for South Korea?
Seoul: Asia/Seoul.
What time does the sun rise in Seoul?
Around 07:46 on 15 January 2027 and around 05:22 on 15 July 2027 (local time); sunset around 17:37 and 19:54. Destination de Voyage calculation (NOAA algorithm).
Our sources
- Sunrise and sunset: algorithm from the NOAA Solar Calculator (Global Monitoring Laboratory), applied to the capital’s coordinates (Natural Earth, Wikidata or Wikipedia): Destination de Voyage calculation.
- IANA Time Zone Database (tz database), version 2026b, consulted on 13 October 2026: time zones, rules and clock-change dates. Future dates may be changed by local authorities.
- UK clock changes (forward at 1am on the last Sunday in March, back at 2am on the last Sunday in October; 25 October 2026, 28 March and 31 October 2027): GOV.UK, When do the clocks change, checked 11 November 2026.
- US daylight saving time (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November): NIST, Daylight Saving Time, checked 11 November 2026.
- Live time: calculated by your browser (Intl API), which relies on the same IANA database.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.
