Seoul
South Korea · Asia/Seoul · UTC+9
Seoul is the headquarters city for most Korean conglomerates and a major global tech hub.
Business hours & meeting culture
- Working hours
- 09:00–18:00 (one-hour lunch around 12:00)
- Workweek
- Monday to Friday
- Culture
- Korean offices are punctual and hierarchy-aware. Meetings tend to start on time and end on time. Senior people often speak last in formal settings, and decisions may be confirmed in follow-up messages.
- Meeting tips
- Avoid scheduling around major holidays like Lunar New Year (Seollal) and Chuseok, when many offices close for several days. Friday late-afternoon meetings are common but usually short.
Travel & logistics context
Quick reference for business travelers — climate, currency, and language.Currency and language are country-level. Climate may vary across the country.
Climate
Cold dry winters (down to −10°C), hot humid summers, brief monsoon in late June through July.
Currency
Card and mobile payment accepted almost everywhere.
Language
International firms use English; outside global business, English usage drops fast.
Plug & voltage
Unusual 220V/60Hz combo — most adapters work, but check appliance ratings.
See plug types ↗🤝Business etiquette
- Greeting
- Slight bow with eye contact; handshake increasingly common, often combined with a slight bow.
- Cards
- Exchange with two hands, study briefly, place on the table during the meeting.
- Gifts
- Modest, well-wrapped gifts welcomed at first meetings; avoid overly expensive items.
- Tipping
- Not customary; service charge sometimes included at hotels.
- Dress
- Conservative business attire; dark suits standard for senior meetings.
- Dining
- Wait for the most senior person to start; pour drinks for others, not yourself.
Time difference vs. major business cities
Computed for 2026. Daylight saving will shift these by an hour during transitions.
| City | Time zone | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 🇯🇵Tokyo | Asia/Tokyo | Same time |
| 🇮🇳Mumbai | Asia/Kolkata | -3h 30m |
| 🇦🇪Dubai | Asia/Dubai | -5h |
| 🇬🇧London | Europe/London | -8h |
| 🇺🇸New York | America/New_York | -13h |
| 🇦🇺Sydney | Australia/Sydney | +1h |
| 🇺🇸San Francisco | America/Los_Angeles | -16h |
| 🇨🇳Shanghai | Asia/Shanghai | -1h |
Public holidays in South Korea, 2026
Commonly observed national holidays. Regional holidays and bridge days are not included. See also the global holiday calendar.
- 2026-01-01
- 2026-02-16
- 2026-02-17
- 2026-02-18
- 2026-03-01
- 2026-05-05
- 2026-05-24
- 2026-06-06
- 2026-08-15
- 2026-09-24
- 2026-09-25
- 2026-09-26
- 2026-10-03
- 2026-10-09
- 2026-12-25
Plan a meeting with Seoul
Use the meeting planner to compare times across multiple cities, with weekend and holiday awareness.
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