How to charge your iPhone 5C from a power outlet in South Korea

A page on how to recharge the iPhone 5C with a South Korean power outlet by using an Apple Lightning cable with a Type C USB adapter and powering the iPhone 5C using a 2 pinned Schuko Type F power plug.

South Korean power outlet

Varying different combinations of standards and sockets can all be daunting when planning to travel to a different country especially for the first time traveller. This guide was specifically written to help prepare visitors wanting to power the iPhone 5C abroad.The following simple guide will show you how to power the iPhone 5C when travelling to South Korea by using the F or C type 220 volt 60Hz plug outlets, most South Koreans use Type F wall outlets. If travelling to South Korea from another country please double check your iPhone 5C can be used with a 240v supply. If the iPhone 5C originated in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110 volts) check that your device is dual-voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional power converter to avoid the device from overloading when charging it. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5C.

Charging the iPhone 5C in South Korea

Can you use the iPhone 5C in South Korea?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 5C in South Korea by using the correct power convertor.

What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 5C in South Korea?

When travelling to multiple countries the best travel power adapter for South Korea to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. South Koreans use two different standards of plug sockets (F and C) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type C.

Because these chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle from 100 volts to 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa just by changing the included plugs. If your iPhone 5C supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from quicker recharging times by using one of these types of USB power chargers plus additional compatibility with more power hungry devices. Having a 4 port adapter means you can recharge more than one device at the same time without needing to buy seperate power chargers for your trip to South Korea. Only needing to pack a single lightweight travel charger will help keep the size down, making it ideal to fold up in hand luggage. Due to their versatility these types of power chargers can be used at home so when you’re not on holiday they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple tablets and smartphones and using only a single plug socket.

For those travelling frequently we recommend searching for this type of flexible power charger at an electronics retailer. The multipurpose travel adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world with good reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for South Korea

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world who only have USB devices such as the iPhone 5C, however for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power converters offer surge protection which can be necessary when visiting counties with unreliable power grids to prevent damage to any connected devices. These power adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable power converter for travellers originating from North America going to South Korea.
  • 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 North America using type B plugs. This gives the same functionality as the BESTEK with just 1 less AC outlet for almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 2 AC outlets but offers a generous 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 suitable for most travellers from around the world visiting South Korea. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 5C in South Korea?

Charging the iPhone 5C from a South Korean power outlet by using a two pinned Europlug Type C USB adapter

A page on how to recharge the iPhone 5C with a South Korean power outlet by using an Apple Lightning cable with a Type C USB adapter.

  1. If you want to supply power to the iPhone 5C using the South Korean power outlet you'll need to use a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple will normally include the cable when you first purchase your iPhone 5C).
  2. Firstly you'll need to plug in the Type C USB power plug adapter into the wall outlet. You can recognise the plug outlet by 2 adjacent holes for live and neutral. These sockets aren't as commonplace in South Korea as Type F outlets.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB Apple Lightning power cord into the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5C. The iPhone 5C Lightning connector can be found at bottom of your iPhone 5C under the home button.
  4. Turn on the South Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of the iPhone 5C will display a charging icon to indicate that the mobile is powering up, typically taking around 60-240 minutes to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 5C from a South Korean power outlet by using a two pinned Europlug Type C USB adapter

Charging the iPhone 5C from a South Korean power outlet by using a two pinned Schuko Type F USB adapter

Using an Apple Lightning cable and a Schuko Type F USB adapter to charge your iPhone 5C from a South Korean power outlet.

  1. In order to charge the iPhone 5C using a South Korean power outlet you will need a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], Apple will normally include the cable when you first purchase your iPhone 5C.
  2. Begin the process by taking the Type F USB power plug adapter and plugging it in the power supply. You can recognise the wall supply by two large circular adjacent holes next to each other along with a pair of two thin metal grounding clips on the top and bottom. The most common sockets found in South Korea are Type F power outlets.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the USB power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5C. The iPhone 5C Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 5C under the home button.
  4. Turn on the South Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the mobile screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the mobile is recharging and takes between 1 - 4 hours to completely recharge. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 5C 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 Lightning cable - The Apple Lightning cable is a charging and syncing cable for more recent Apple devices and connects compatible iPhones and iPads to a USB port.
  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..