Time Difference Between South Korea and United States
As of 31 August 2026, United States is 13 hours behind South Korea. That number is not constant. Over the course of a year, because of daylight saving changes, New York, United States ranges from 14 hours behind to 13 hours behind relative to Seoul, South Korea. The calculator below is always up to date.
Tap either box to search any country or city.
Seoul, South Korea
07:34
Tue, Sep 1, 2026
UTC+9 · Asia/Seoul
New York, United States
-13h18:34
Mon, Aug 31, 2026
UTC-4 · EDT · America/New_York
United States is 13 hours behind South Korea.
When it is 07:34 in South Korea, it is already the previous day in United States.
Time zone details
| Place | Local date | Time zone | UTC offset | Summer time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | Tuesday, September 1, 2026 | Asia/Seoul | UTC+9 | Not observed |
| United States | Monday, August 31, 2026 | EDTAmerica/New_York | UTC-4 | Active now |
United States: The United States spans six main time zones. This page uses Eastern Time; Pacific Time is 3 hours behind it.
Hour by hour: South Korea to United States
Every hour of today in South Korea and what it is in United States. Highlighted rows fall inside United States working hours (09:00–18:00).
| South Korea | United States |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | 11:00prev day |
| 01:00 | 12:00prev day |
| 02:00 | 13:00prev day |
| 03:00 | 14:00prev day |
| 04:00 | 15:00prev day |
| 05:00 | 16:00prev day |
| 06:00 | 17:00prev day |
| 07:00 | 18:00prev day |
| 08:00 | 19:00prev day |
| 09:00 | 20:00prev day |
| 10:00 | 21:00prev day |
| 11:00 | 22:00prev day |
| South Korea | United States |
|---|---|
| 12:00 | 23:00prev day |
| 13:00 | 00:00 |
| 14:00 | 01:00 |
| 15:00 | 02:00 |
| 16:00 | 03:00 |
| 17:00 | 04:00 |
| 18:00 | 05:00 |
| 19:00 | 06:00 |
| 20:00 | 07:00 |
| 21:00 | 08:00 |
| 22:00 | 09:00 |
| 23:00 | 10:00 |
Best time to call or meet
Overlapping working hours
No overlap
Standard working hours in South Korea and United States never overlap. Someone has to start early or finish late — the calling window below is the practical compromise.
Reasonable calling hours
08:00–10:00 in South Korea (19:00–21:00 in United States)
Both people are awake and available between 08:00 and 21:00 local time during this window.
When this difference changes
United States puts its clocks back on Sunday, November 1, 2026
The local offset moves from UTC-4 to UTC-5. After that date, United States is 14 hours behind South Korea — instead of 13 hours behind, as it is today.
Planning something with more than two places?
Adding a third city usually kills the obvious answer. The Meeting Time Finder takes up to five cities at once and shows only the hours that work for everybody.
South Korea and United States: common questions
What is the time difference between South Korea and United States?
As of 31 August 2026, United States is 13 hours behind South Korea. The gap is not fixed: across the year, United States ranges from 14 hours behind to 13 hours behind relative to South Korea, as clocks change. The calculator on this page always shows the difference for right now.
When it is 9:00 AM in South Korea, what time is it in United States?
It is 08:00 PM in New York, United States. Use the time field in the calculator above to check any other hour.
Is United States ahead of or behind South Korea?
United States is behind South Korea by 13 hours at the moment. In practical terms, the working day in United States starts and ends later in South Korea terms.
Do South Korea and United States observe daylight saving time?
United States changes its clocks twice a year; South Korea does not. The difference therefore shifts by an hour when United States switches: across the year, United States ranges from 14 hours behind to 13 hours behind relative to South Korea.
What is the best time to call United States from South Korea?
Standard working hours in South Korea and United States do not overlap at all, so one side has to take the call outside office hours. Early morning in South Korea or late evening is usually the least disruptive option.
Related comparisons
Local dates shown for Seoul, South Korea (UTC+9) and New York, United States (UTC-4) were generated on Monday, August 31, 2026 UTC and refresh in your browser.