Korea Standard Time (KST)
KST is UTC+9. Current Korea Standard Time and when KST applies.
Korea Standard Time now
--:--:--
Sunday, September 20, 2026
KSTUTC+9
KST does not change for daylight saving time
About KST
- Full Name
- Korea Standard Time
- Abbreviation
- KST
- UTC Offset
- UTC+9
- Korea Standard Time is on
- Standard Time (KST)
- Daylight Saving Time
- Not observed — KST is UTC+9 all year
Korea Standard Time (KST) is UTC+9 all year, used in South Korea and North Korea. Neither observes daylight saving time. KST is the same offset as Japan Standard Time.
Where KST is used
KST all year (no DST)
- South Korea (Seoul, Busan, Incheon) and North Korea (Pyongyang)
Major Cities in Korea Standard Time
Each city shows its own current abbreviation, so places on daylight saving time are labelled accordingly.
KST vs Other Time Zones
| Comparison | By definition | Right now (local clocks) |
|---|---|---|
| KST to JST | Same time | Same time |
| KST to HKT | -1 hour | -1 hour |
| KST to AEST | +1 hour | +1 hour |
| KST to UTC | -9 hours | -9 hours |
“By definition” compares the fixed offsets of the abbreviations. “Right now” compares the actual local time in each region today, including daylight saving time.
KST FAQs
What is KST?
Korea Standard Time (KST) is UTC+9 all year, used in South Korea and North Korea. Neither observes daylight saving time. KST is the same offset as Japan Standard Time.
What is the UTC offset of KST?
KST is always UTC+9 and never changes for daylight saving time.
Does KST change for daylight saving time?
No. KST stays at UTC+9 all year. Its difference from places that do observe daylight saving time, such as US Eastern Time, changes when those places switch.
Where is KST used all year?
These places use UTC+9 all year without daylight saving time: South Korea (Seoul, Busan, Incheon) and North Korea (Pyongyang).