KST to EST Converter
Convert time between Korea Standard Time (KST) and Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Korea Standard Time (KST)
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Time Difference
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 0 hours ahead of Korea Standard Time (KST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| KST | EST |
|---|---|
| 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 | 11:00 |
| 03:00 | 13:00 |
| 05:00 | 15:00 |
| 07:00 | 17:00 |
| 09:00 | 19:00 |
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 EST Time Conversion
Converting time between Korea Standard Time (KST) and Eastern Standard Time (EST) is essential for South Korea to US East Coast coordination. KST is UTC+9 while EST is UTC-5, making KST 14 hours ahead of EST. Korea does not observe daylight saving time, so KST remains constant year-round. However, the US East Coast observes daylight saving time, so the actual difference varies between 14 hours (when EST is active) and 13 hours (when EDT is active).
This conversion is crucial for business operations between South Korea and the US East Coast. Whether you're scheduling international meetings, coordinating project deadlines, managing customer service across regions, or coordinating with business partners in Seoul and New York, our accurate IANA-based converter ensures precise timezone calculations accounting for seasonal daylight saving changes.
Common Use Cases for KST to EST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling South Korea to US East Coast business meetings
- Coordinating Seoul and New York financial and tech operations
- Managing global business operations between South Korea and East Coast USA
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel from South Korea to US East Coast
- Coordinating with East Coast family and friends from Korea
- Scheduling virtual events for Korea-East Coast USA 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
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-5
- IANA Timezone: America/New_York
- Daylight Saving: First Sunday in November to Second Sunday in March
- Major Cities: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Atlanta
- Coverage: Eastern United States
Quick Reference: KST to EST
Remember: KST is always 14 hours ahead of EST, but becomes 13 hours when EDT is active (daylight saving time)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between KST and EST?
Korea Standard Time (KST) is UTC+9, while Eastern Standard Time (EST) is UTC-5. KST is 14 hours ahead of EST. This means when it's 8:00 AM in KST, it's 6:00 PM the previous day in EST.
Does Korea observe daylight saving time?
No, Korea does not observe daylight saving time. Korea Standard Time (KST) remains UTC+9 year-round. However, the US East Coast observes daylight saving time, transitioning from EST (UTC-5) to EDT (UTC-4). This means the time difference varies between 14 hours (when EST is active) and 13 hours (when EDT is active).
What is the time difference during Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)?
When the US East Coast observes Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4) from mid-March to early November, the difference becomes 13 hours. During this period, when it's 8:00 AM KST, it would be 7:00 PM EDT the previous day. This is why it's important to verify whether EST or EDT is currently active.
What major cities are in KST and EST timezones?
KST covers major Korean cities including Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, and Daejeon, as well as all cities throughout South Korea. EST covers major East Coast US cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Atlanta.
How do I convert KST to EST manually?
To convert from KST to EST, subtract 14 hours from the KST time. For example, if it's 9:00 AM KST, it would be 7:00 PM EST the previous day. Remember that the difference becomes 13 hours when the US East Coast observes EDT (daylight saving time).
What should I know about scheduling across KST and EST?
Korea is 13-14 hours ahead of the US East Coast, with very limited overlap. Morning KST times (8-10 AM) correspond to evening EST times (6-8 PM previous day), while afternoon KST (2-4 PM) corresponds to morning EST (12-2 AM). Scheduling requires careful coordination to find mutually acceptable times for both regions.
Pro Tips
- • KST is always 14 hours ahead of EST - but becomes 13 hours when EDT is active (March-November).
- • Korea does not observe daylight saving time, so KST is consistent year-round while EST/EDT changes twice annually.
- • Morning KST (8-10 AM) equals evening EST (6-8 PM previous day), offering limited but possible overlap for real-time communication.
- • For best scheduling results, afternoon KST (2-4 PM = 12-2 AM EST) typically requires early morning or late night coordination on the East Coast.
- • Use 24-hour time format when communicating across KST-EST to eliminate AM/PM confusion across the day boundary.
- • Between March and November, remember the 13-hour difference when EST transitions to EDT due to daylight saving time.