Check the plug and voltage
Korea generally uses 220 volts at 60 hertz. Common Type F sockets accept appropriate two-round-pin plugs, including suitable Type C plugs. Check the actual plug rather than assuming every plug from a European country is identical.
Read the device or charger's input label. If it says 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz, it supports Korea's supply, subject to using the correct connector and a suitably rated adapter.
A plug adapter changes the physical connection; it does not convert voltage or provide an earth connection that it was not designed to carry. Use an adapter appropriate to the appliance and socket.
Treat appliances individually
Do not connect a 110- or 120-volt-only appliance directly to a Korean 220-volt socket. Hair dryers, styling tools, kettles and other high-power appliances need particular attention, but every device should be checked.
Some travel appliances are dual-voltage and may have a selector that must be set correctly. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Ask your accommodation about supplied equipment rather than assuming every room includes a hair dryer or suitable adapter.
Check the airline's power-bank rules
Korea's April 2026 announcement limits power banks to two per passenger, with a stated ceiling of 160 Wh each, and prohibits both charging a power bank and using it to charge another device on board.
Check every operating airline's current policy before travel. Capacity thresholds, approval requirements and stricter limits may apply; being below 160 Wh does not by itself establish permission to carry a particular battery.
Power banks belong in cabin baggage, not checked baggage. Protect each against short circuits and follow the crew's storage instructions, including restrictions on overhead-bin storage. Remove them if a cabin bag is taken for checking.
Read the capacity label
Use the battery's labelled watt-hours (Wh) where available. If the manufacturer gives the relevant voltage and capacity, the calculation is Wh = mAh × V ÷ 1,000.
For example, 20,000 mAh at 3.7 V equals 74 Wh. Do not assume every battery uses the same voltage, or that a USB output voltage is the correct value for the cell-capacity calculation.
Keep the label readable and check with the airline if capacity cannot be established. Do not travel with a damaged or recalled battery.
Charge safely during the trip
Check whether the aircraft provides a suitable seat outlet before relying on in-flight charging. Follow crew instructions, and tell them immediately if a battery overheats, swells or becomes trapped in a seat mechanism. Do not move the seat to retrieve a trapped battery yourself.
On the ground, use suitable chargers and outlets and ask before using a business's socket. Bring essential charging equipment rather than assuming the exact replacement will be available at every convenience store.
