KST to AKST Converter
Convert time between Korea Standard Time (KST) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Korea Standard Time (KST)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Time Difference
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is 0 hours ahead of Korea Standard Time (KST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| KST | AKST |
|---|---|
| 11:00 | 18:00 |
| 13:00 | 20:00 |
| 15:00 | 22:00 |
| 17:00 | 00:00 |
| 19:00 | 02:00 |
| 21:00 | 04:00 |
| 23:00 | 06:00 |
| 01:00 | 08:00 |
| 03:00 | 10:00 |
| 05:00 | 12:00 |
| 07:00 | 14:00 |
| 09:00 | 16:00 |
Top 10 Most Common Time Zones
| Abbreviation | Full Name | UTC Offset | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTC | Coordinated Universal Time | UTC ±0 | Global reference standard (servers, logs, APIs) |
| EST / EDT | Eastern (US) Time | UTC −5 / −4 | New York, Toronto — North American business hub |
| CST / CDT | Central (US) Time | UTC −6 / −5 | Chicago, Dallas — US central business region |
| PST / PDT | Pacific (US) Time | UTC −8 / −7 | San Francisco, Los Angeles — tech industry standard |
| GMT / BST | Greenwich Mean / British Summer Time | UTC 0 / +1 | UK, used globally as a reference with UTC |
| CET / CEST | Central European (Summer) Time | UTC +1 / +2 | Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam — EU business core |
| IST | India Standard Time | UTC +5:30 | India — major IT & outsourcing region |
| CST | China Standard Time | UTC +8 | Beijing, Shanghai — East Asia business hub |
| JST | Japan Standard Time | UTC +9 | Tokyo — finance & tech hub |
| AEST / AEDT | Australian Eastern (Daylight) Time | UTC +10 / +11 | Sydney, Melbourne — APAC regional business |
Why Time Zone Abbreviations Are Ambiguous
Unlike standardized identifiers (like America/New_York or Europe/London from the IANA tz database), abbreviations such as "CST" or "IST" are not globally unique. They can refer to different time zones depending on context — country, region, or even time of year (due to daylight saving time).
Common Ambiguous Time Zone Abbreviations
| Abbrev. | Common Meaning(s) | UTC Offset | Region(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CST | Central Standard Time / China Standard Time / Cuba Standard Time | UTC−6 / UTC+8 / UTC−5 | North America, China, Cuba |
| IST | Indian Standard Time / Irish Standard Time / Israel Standard Time | UTC+5:30 / UTC+1 / UTC+2 | India, Ireland, Israel |
| AST | Atlantic Standard Time / Arabia Standard Time | UTC−4 / UTC+3 | Caribbean, Canada, Middle East |
| PST | Pacific Standard Time / Philippine Standard Time | UTC−8 / UTC+8 | North America, Philippines |
| EST | Eastern Standard Time (North America / Australia) | UTC−5 / UTC+10 | North America, Australia |
✅ Best Practice
To avoid ambiguity, always:
- Use IANA tz identifiers — e.g.,
America/New_Yorkinstead of "EST" - Specify UTC offset explicitly — e.g.,
UTC−5when abbreviations must be used - Include the full timezone name — e.g., "Eastern Standard Time (EST)" with UTC offset
About KST to AKST Time Conversion
Converting time from Korea Standard Time (KST) to Alaska Standard Time (AKST) bridges nearly opposite sides of the Pacific. KST is UTC+9 and AKST is UTC-9, making KST 18 hours ahead of AKST. With this gap, the Korean date is typically a calendar day ahead of the Alaskan date.
Alaska observes daylight saving time, switching to AKDT (UTC-8) from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. During AKDT, the offset from KST drops to 17 hours. South Korea never observes DST, so the seasonal change is entirely on the Alaskan side. This converter uses the IANA timezone database to apply the correct offset automatically.
Common Use Cases for KST to AKST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling cross-Pacific calls between Korean teams and Anchorage or Fairbanks offices
- Coordinating fishing, shipping, or energy operations across the North Pacific
- Planning project handoffs that follow the sun between Asia and Alaska
Personal & Travel
- Keeping in touch with family or friends living in Alaska
- Planning travel from South Korea to Anchorage or other Alaskan cities
- Scheduling virtual events that span the date line
Time Zone Information
Korea Standard Time (KST)
- UTC Offset: UTC+9 (no DST observed)
- IANA Timezone: Asia/Seoul
- Daylight Saving: South Korea does not observe daylight saving time
- Major Cities: Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Jeju
- Coverage: All of South Korea
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-9 (UTC-8 AKDT during DST)
- IANA Timezone: America/Anchorage
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan
- Coverage: Most of Alaska (the western Aleutians use HST)
Quick Reference: KST to AKST
Remember: AKST is 18 hours behind KST; during AKDT the gap drops to 17 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between KST and AKST?
Korea Standard Time (KST) is UTC+9, while Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9. KST is 18 hours ahead of AKST, so when it is 12:00 PM Monday in Seoul, it is 6:00 PM Sunday in Anchorage.
When does AKST apply versus AKDT?
AKST runs from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March. Outside that window, Alaska uses AKDT (UTC-8), which is 17 hours behind KST. Korea does not observe DST, so the seasonal change is entirely on the Alaskan side.
Is the date always different between Korea and Alaska?
Yes, almost always. With KST 18 hours ahead of AKST, the Korean date is typically a calendar day ahead of the Alaskan date.
What are the best times to schedule KST to AKST business calls?
Live overlap is narrow. A practical option is morning Alaska (8–10 AM AKST), which is 2–4 AM KST the next day — too early for Korea. Better is afternoon Alaska (2–4 PM AKST), which is 8–10 AM KST the next day. Asynchronous handoffs often work better than live calls.
Which regions and cities use AKST?
AKST (UTC-9) covers most of Alaska, including Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan. The western Aleutians use HST (UTC-10).
Which regions use KST?
KST (UTC+9) is used by all of South Korea. Major cities include Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, and Jeju. South Korea does not observe daylight saving time.
Pro Tips
- • AKST is 18 hours behind KST — almost a full day, so the Alaskan date is usually one calendar day before Korea.
- • AKST applies only during Alaskan winter (early November to mid-March); use AKDT and a 17-hour gap the rest of the year.
- • Korea never observes DST, so all seasonal change is on the Alaskan side.
- • For live calls, morning Korea (8–10 AM KST) lines up with afternoon Alaska the previous day (2–4 PM AKST).
- • For recurring meetings, fix the Alaskan local time and let KST shift automatically with AKDT/AKST transitions.
- • When booking flights between Korea and Alaska, expect to gain a calendar day on the way east.