Time Difference Between United States and South Korea
As of 31 August 2026, South Korea is 13 hours ahead of United States. That number is not constant. Over the course of a year, because of daylight saving changes, Seoul, South Korea ranges from 13 hours ahead to 14 hours ahead relative to New York, United States. The calculator below is always up to date.
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New York, United States
18:34
Mon, Aug 31, 2026
UTC-4 · EDT · America/New_York
Seoul, South Korea
+13h07:34
Tue, Sep 1, 2026
UTC+9 · Asia/Seoul
South Korea is 13 hours ahead of United States.
When it is 18:34 in United States, it is already the next day in South Korea.
Time zone details
| Place | Local date | Time zone | UTC offset | Summer time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Monday, August 31, 2026 | EDTAmerica/New_York | UTC-4 | Active now |
| South Korea | Tuesday, September 1, 2026 | Asia/Seoul | UTC+9 | Not observed |
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: United States to South Korea
Every hour of today in United States and what it is in South Korea. Highlighted rows fall inside South Korea working hours (09:00–18:00).
| United States | South Korea |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | 13:00 |
| 01:00 | 14:00 |
| 02:00 | 15:00 |
| 03:00 | 16:00 |
| 04:00 | 17:00 |
| 05:00 | 18:00 |
| 06:00 | 19:00 |
| 07:00 | 20:00 |
| 08:00 | 21:00 |
| 09:00 | 22:00 |
| 10:00 | 23:00 |
| 11:00 | 00:00next day |
| United States | South Korea |
|---|---|
| 12:00 | 01:00next day |
| 13:00 | 02:00next day |
| 14:00 | 03:00next day |
| 15:00 | 04:00next day |
| 16:00 | 05:00next day |
| 17:00 | 06:00next day |
| 18:00 | 07:00next day |
| 19:00 | 08:00next day |
| 20:00 | 09:00next day |
| 21:00 | 10:00next day |
| 22:00 | 11:00next day |
| 23:00 | 12:00next day |
Best time to call or meet
Overlapping working hours
No overlap
Standard working hours in United States and South Korea never overlap. Someone has to start early or finish late — the calling window below is the practical compromise.
Reasonable calling hours
19:00–21:00 in United States (08:00–10:00 in South Korea)
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, South Korea is 14 hours ahead of United States — instead of 13 hours ahead, 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.
United States and South Korea: common questions
What is the time difference between United States and South Korea?
As of 31 August 2026, South Korea is 13 hours ahead of United States. The gap is not fixed: across the year, South Korea ranges from 13 hours ahead to 14 hours ahead relative to United States, as clocks change. The calculator on this page always shows the difference for right now.
When it is 9:00 AM in United States, what time is it in South Korea?
It is 10:00 PM in Seoul, South Korea. Use the time field in the calculator above to check any other hour.
Is South Korea ahead of or behind United States?
South Korea is ahead of United States by 13 hours at the moment. In practical terms, the working day in South Korea starts and ends earlier in United States terms.
Do United States and South Korea 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, South Korea ranges from 13 hours ahead to 14 hours ahead relative to United States.
What is the best time to call South Korea from United States?
Standard working hours in United States and South Korea do not overlap at all, so one side has to take the call outside office hours. Early morning in United States or late evening is usually the least disruptive option.
Related comparisons
Local dates shown for New York, United States (UTC-4) and Seoul, South Korea (UTC+9) were generated on Monday, August 31, 2026 UTC and refresh in your browser.