Charging the iPad Air from a power outlet in South Korea

A guide showing how to power the iPad Air from a South Korean power outlet using the USB Lightning Apple cable and a Type C Europlug power adapter and how to charge the iPad Air using a 2 pin Schuko Type F power adapter.

South Korean power outlet

Complicated combinations of region codes and plugs can often lead to confusion when planning to travel to a new country especially for the first time traveller. With only a handful of different types of plug sockets used throughout the world this article shows exactly what you'll need to pick up in advance to power your iPad Air . This page contains a simple guide telling you exactly what you'll need to power your iPad Air when you are visiting South Korea by using their standard F or C type South Korean 220 volt 60Hz plug outlets, Type F wall outlets are normally used by a majority of South Koreans. If you are visiting South Korea from another country make sure that the iPad Air can be used with a 240 volt supply. If your iPad Air came from a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110v) ensure that your iPad Air is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional transformer to prevent the device from overloading when powering up. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Air.

Charging the iPad Air in South Korea

Can you use the iPad Air in South Korea?

You can use the iPad Air in South Korea.

What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPad Air in South Korea?

If travelling with more than just your iPad Air then the best travel charger for South Korea to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. South Koreans use two different types of power outlets (F and C) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for type C. As these chargers come with interchangeable pins and handle from 100 to 240 volts will mean you can travel to over 100 countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa simply by changing the included plugs over. If your type of iPad Air supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from faster charging times by using one of these travel chargers, plus additional compatibility with certain power hungry devices.

This means you can charge more than one device at once without needing to bring individual power adapters for your South Korean trip. Only needing a single USB travel charger will keep the size and weight down, making it perfect to store in hand baggage. Because of their versatility these types of chargers can be used back at home not just abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can sit overnight charging multiple tablets, phones and e-readers with just a single power outlet.

We recommend buying a versatile power adapter like this 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 on a daily basis.

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 iPad Air, but for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power adapters offer surge protection which is useful for visitors of regions with unreliable or unstable power grids. These power converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Continental Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • 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 compact option for travellers originating from North America visiting South Korea using type B American 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 cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with just one less AC outlet for almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 2 AC outlets but offers a more flexible 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 a majority of travellers from around the world visiting South Korea. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPad Air in South Korea?

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

A guide showing how to power the iPad Air from a South Korean power outlet using the USB Lightning Apple cable and a Type C Europlug power adapter.

  1. To charge your iPad Air using the South Korean power outlet you will need to use a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple should normally supply this USB cable when you buy your iPad Air).
  2. Begin the process by plugging the Type C USB power plug adapter in the South Korean power outlet. The wall outlet is identified by 2 circular holes next to each other. Type C electrical outlets in South Korea are less common as Type F outlets.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the Apple USB charging cord into the bottom of the USB mains charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector is situated at the base of the iPad Air.
  4. Turn on the South Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of the tablet will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is recharging, typically taking between 1 - 4 hours to recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPad Air with a South Korean power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

How to use a Schuko Type F power charger for charging your iPad Air from a South Korean power outlet

Instructions showing how to charge your iPad Air with a South Korean power outlet using the Apple USB Lightning connector with a double pinned Type F USB charger.

  1. In order to supply power to the iPad Air using a South Korean power outlet you'll need a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple usually include this cable with the iPad Air).
  2. Insert the Type F USB power plug adapter into the South Korean power outlet. The circular wall outlet, sometimes called the Type F power outlet [6] or Schuko plug, can be identified by two circular adjacent holes next to each other for live and neutral pins along with a pair of thin grounding clips above and below. These are the most common outlets found in South Korea.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple power cable into the bottom of the USB power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector is found at the bottom of the iPad Air.
  4. Switch on the South Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of your iPad Air screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is charging taking around one to four hours to fully recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Schuko Type F power charger for charging your iPad Air from a South Korean power outlet

See also

  1. Visitkorea - Korea Tourism Organization site
  2. Apple - official iPad 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..