KST to CET Converter
Convert time between Korea Standard Time (KST) and Central European Time (CET)
Korea Standard Time (KST)
Central European Time (CET)
Time Difference
Central European Time (CET) is 0 hours ahead of Korea Standard Time (KST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| KST | CET |
|---|---|
| 11:00 | 03:00 |
| 13:00 | 05:00 |
| 15:00 | 07:00 |
| 17:00 | 09:00 |
| 19:00 | 11:00 |
| 21:00 | 13:00 |
| 23:00 | 15:00 |
| 01:00 | 17:00 |
| 03:00 | 19:00 |
| 05:00 | 21:00 |
| 07:00 | 23:00 |
| 09:00 | 01:00 |
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
Related Time Zone Conversions
About KST to CET Time Conversion
Converting time between Korea Standard Time (KST) and Central European Time (CET) is essential for South Korea to Central Europe coordination. KST is UTC+9 while CET is UTC+1, making KST 8 hours ahead of CET. Korea does not observe daylight saving time, so KST remains constant year-round. However, Central Europe observes daylight saving time, so the actual difference varies between 8 hours (when CET is active) and 7 hours (when CEST is active).
This conversion is crucial for business operations between South Korea and major European financial centers like Paris, Berlin, and Frankfurt. Whether you're scheduling international meetings, coordinating business operations with European partners, managing customer service across time zones, or planning travel, our accurate IANA-based converter ensures precise timezone calculations accounting for seasonal daylight saving changes in Europe.
Common Use Cases for KST to CET Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling South Korea to Central Europe business meetings
- Coordinating Seoul and European financial and tech operations
- Managing global business operations between South Korea and Central Europe
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel from South Korea to Central European cities
- Coordinating with European family and friends from Korea
- Scheduling virtual events for Korea-Central Europe audiences
Time Zone Information
Korea Standard Time (KST)
- UTC Offset: UTC+9
- IANA Timezone: Asia/Seoul
- Daylight Saving: None - KST remains constant year-round
- Major Cities: Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon
- Coverage: All of South Korea
Central European Time (CET)
- UTC Offset: UTC+1
- IANA Timezone: Europe/Paris
- Daylight Saving: Last Sunday in October to Last Sunday in March
- Major Cities: Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid
- Coverage: Central and Western Europe
Quick Reference: KST to CET
Remember: KST is always 8 hours ahead of CET, but becomes 7 hours when CEST is active (daylight saving time)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between KST and CET?
Korea Standard Time (KST) is UTC+9, while Central European Time (CET) is UTC+1. KST is 8 hours ahead of CET. This means when it's 8:00 AM in KST, it's midnight (12:00 AM) in CET.
Does Korea observe daylight saving time?
No, Korea does not observe daylight saving time. Korea Standard Time (KST) remains UTC+9 year-round. However, Central Europe observes daylight saving time, transitioning from CET (UTC+1) to CEST (UTC+2). This means the time difference varies between 8 hours (when CET is active) and 7 hours (when CEST is active).
What is the time difference during Central European Summer Time (CEST)?
When Central Europe observes Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) from late March to late October, the difference becomes 7 hours. During this period, when it's 8:00 AM KST, it would be 1:00 AM CEST. This is why it's important to verify whether CET or CEST is currently active.
What major cities are in KST and CET timezones?
KST covers major Korean cities including Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, and Daejeon, as well as all cities throughout South Korea. CET covers major Central European cities like Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Madrid.
How do I convert KST to CET manually?
To convert from KST to CET, subtract 8 hours from the KST time. For example, if it's 4:00 PM KST, subtract 8 hours to get 8:00 AM CET. Remember that the difference becomes 7 hours when Central Europe observes CEST (daylight saving time).
What should I know about scheduling across KST and CET?
Korea is 7-8 hours ahead of Central Europe, with reasonable business hour overlap. Morning KST times (8-10 AM) correspond to late night/early morning CET times (midnight-2 AM), while afternoon KST (2-4 PM) corresponds to morning CET (6-8 AM). Evening KST (6-8 PM) aligns with late morning CET (10 AM-12 PM), offering good opportunities for real-time collaboration.
Pro Tips
- • KST is always 8 hours ahead of CET - but becomes 7 hours when CEST is active (late March to late October).
- • Korea does not observe daylight saving time, so KST is consistent year-round while CET/CEST changes twice annually.
- • Evening KST (6-8 PM) equals late morning CET (10 AM-12 PM), providing the best time overlap for business meetings.
- • Morning KST (8-10 AM) equals very early morning CET (midnight-2 AM), making synchronous meetings challenging unless European partners start very early.
- • Use 24-hour time format when communicating across KST-CET to eliminate AM/PM confusion across the day boundary.
- • Between late March and late October, remember the 7-hour difference when CET transitions to CEST due to European daylight saving time.