How to Call South Korea from the United States

Country code +82 — Dial 011-82 from a US landline or +82 from a mobile phone.

+82
South Korea Country Code

Step-by-Step Dialing Instructions

1

Dial 011

This is the US international access code. It tells your carrier you are making an international call.

2

Dial +82

This is South Korea's country code. Every call to South Korea requires this code.

3

Dial the Area Code

Dial the city or area code for the region in South Korea you are calling (if applicable).

4

Dial the Local Number

Dial the remaining local phone number of the person or business you are trying to reach.

Visual Dialing Example

Here is how a complete call to South Korea looks from a US landline:

011-82-XX-XXXX XXXX
011
Exit Code
82
Country Code
XX
Area Code
XXXX XXXX
Local Number

Calling from a Mobile Phone

When calling South Korea from a US cell phone, you can replace 011 with the + symbol. This is simpler and works worldwide.

+82-XX-XXXX XXXX
Tip: On most smartphones, press and hold the 0 key to type the + symbol.

Calling Tips for South Korea

Best Time to Call

Late evening US time (8 PM - 11 PM EST) is best to catch people during their business hours.

South Korea is UTC+9, which is +14 hours from US Eastern Time (EST).

Cost Saving Tips

  • Use VoIP services like Skype, Google Voice, or Vonage for rates as low as $0.01/min.
  • WiFi calling apps (WhatsApp, Viber, FaceTime) are free when both parties have the app.
  • Check your carrier's international plan — many offer add-on packages.
  • Avoid calling from hotel phones; they charge premium rates.

Time Difference

United States (EST)
--:--
UTC-5
+14h
South Korea
--:--
UTC+9

Frequently Asked Questions

The country code for South Korea is +82. You need to dial this code after the international access code (011 from a US landline or + from a mobile phone).

From a US cell phone, dial + then 82 (the country code for South Korea), then the area code and local phone number. You can hold the 0 key to type the + symbol.

South Korea is +14 hours from US Eastern Time (EST). Late evening US time (8 PM - 11 PM EST) is best to catch people during their business hours.

Costs vary by carrier. Traditional carriers charge $1-$5/min. VoIP services like Skype or Google Voice offer rates from $0.01-$0.10/min. WiFi calling apps like WhatsApp and Viber are free when both parties have the app.

From a US landline, yes - dial 011 + 82 + local number. From a US mobile phone, you can dial + instead of 011, which is easier.
South Korea Quick Info
Country Code+82
ISO CodeKR
CapitalSeoul
Time ZoneUTC+9
Exit Code (US)011
Full Country Profile
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