Charging the iPhone 4 when planning a trip to South Korea

Using the USB 30 pin Apple cable and a 2 pin Type C power adapter to recharge your iPhone 4 with a South Korean power outlet and charging the iPhone 4 using a two pin Type F power adapter.

South Korean power outlet

Different combinations of region codes and voltages can all be confusing when planning on staying in another country if you've never visited before. These instructions have been specifically written to stop people worrying if they'll be able to charge their iPhone 4 when staying in South Korea.When you are visiting South Korea these instructions show how to supply power to the iPhone 4 by using their standard F or C type South Korean 220 volt 60Hz plug outlets, you will discover a majority of South Koreans typically use Type F plug outlets. Power sockets are different depending on which area you are visiting therefore please read the travel power supplies page for a complete list of regions and countries. When travelling to South Korea from a different region ensure your iPhone 4 can be charged using a 240v supply. If it came from a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110v check that the device is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional converter to avoid the device from over-heating when powering up. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 4.

Charging the iPhone 4 in South Korea

Can you use the iPhone 4 in South Korea?

You can use the iPhone 4 in South Korea by using a power adaptor.

What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPhone 4 in South Korea?

If you are travelling to multiple countries and bringing along more than your iPhone 4 the best international travel adapter for South Korea is a multiple USB port charger which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. South Koreans use two different types of power outlets (types F and C) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for type C.

Because these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle 100 volts - 240 volts it makes them ideal for over 100 countries around the world just by switching the supplied plugs over. If your type of iPhone 4 supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much quicker recharging times by using one of these USB power adapters along with compatibility with more power demanding devices like tablets. This means you can charge multiple devices simultaneously without needing to bring seperate travel chargers on your trip or using up additional power sockets. Because you are only packing a single lightweight travel charger will also keep the size and weight down, making it perfect to store in hand baggage and on hand for recharging your iPhone 4 at an airport or on the flight. Due to their space saving flexibility these types of power adapters can be used back at home so when you’re not travelling they can sit overnight charging multiple tablets, phones and e-readers without using up an additional wall outlet.

For those travelling to South Korea we suggest searching for an adaptable travel charger of this nature at your preferred electronics retailer - the travel charger illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries.

Alternative travel adapter for South Korea

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to recharge devices using USB, however for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power converters offer surge protection which can be crucial when visiting regions with unreliable or unstable power grids. These power converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both South Korea and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular portable power adapter for travellers originating from North America going to South Korea using 3 pin type B plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs. This is a much more cost effective alternative to the BESTEK with only one less AC outlet at almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers 5 USB charging ports. This versatile power strip is compatible with both American plugs and popular plug types A, D,E/F, G, H, I, L and N making it ideal for most travellers from around the world visiting South Korea. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPhone 4 in South Korea?

Powering the iPhone 4 with a South Korean power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Using a 30-pin Apple cable and a 2 pin Type C USB charger to charge your iPhone 4 with a South Korean power outlet.

  1. To charge the iPhone 4 from the South Korean power outlet you will need to use a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple usually include this USB cable with the iPhone 4).
  2. Start by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and plugging it in the wall supply. This ungrounded power supply (known as a Type C power outlet [3]) can be recognised by 2 circular holes next to each other where the two plug outlet pins slide into. Type C electrical outlets in South Korea are less common as Type F outlets.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB cable into the bottom of the USB power adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone 4.
  4. Turn on the South Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the phone will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone 4 is powering up which typically takes roughly 60 to 240 minutes to fully recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 4 with a South Korean power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Charging the iPhone 4 from a South Korean power outlet by using a two pinned Schuko Type F USB adapter

A page showing how to charge your iPhone 4 with a South Korean power outlet using a 30-pin Apple cable with a Type F USB charger.

  1. If you want to power the iPhone 4 using the South Korean power outlet you will need to use a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] - this USB cable is normally already included with the device.
  2. Start by taking the Type F USB power plug adapter and plugging it into the wall supply. You can identify the power outlet by the two large adjacent holes where the plug outlet pins sit along with a pair of thin grounding clips at the top and bottom. Type F plug outlets are the most commonly used outlets in South Korea.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple cord into the bottom of the USB charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone 4.
  4. Switch on the South Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of your iPhone 4 screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the mobile is charging taking around 1-4 hours to recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 4 from a South Korean power outlet by using a two pinned Schuko Type F USB adapter

See also

  1. Visitkorea - Korea Tourism Organization site
  2. Apple - official iPhone user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  4. Type C USB power plug adapter - Conforming to Europlug specifications, the Type C USB power plug adapter incorporates two 4 mm rounded pins spaced 19 mm apart. It is engineered to adapt electrical outlets commonly found in Europe, converting them to USB-compatible charging ports..
  5. USB to Apple 30 pin cable - This connects compatible iPhones, iPods and iPads to a USB port for charging, syncing and playing music.
  6. iec.ch - Type F power outlet
  7. Type F USB power plug adapter - Compliant with Europlugs and CEE 7/17 specifications, the Type F or Schuko adapter is engineered to adapt German electrical power outlets into USB-compatible ports..
  8. 4 Port USB Wall Charger - A 4-port USB wall charger is an electrical device that provides simultaneous charging for up to four USB-compatible devices. It often includes interchangeable international plug adapters for global use..