KST to PST Converter
Convert time between Korea Standard Time (KST) and Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Korea Standard Time (KST)
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Time Difference
Pacific Standard Time (PST) is 0 hours ahead of Korea Standard Time (KST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| KST | PST |
|---|---|
| 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
Related Time Zone Conversions
About KST to PST Time Conversion
Converting time between Korea Standard Time (KST) and Pacific Standard Time (PST) is essential for South Korea to US West Coast coordination. KST is UTC+9 while PST is UTC-8, making KST 17 hours ahead of PST. Korea does not observe daylight saving time, so KST remains constant year-round. However, the US West Coast observes daylight saving time, so the actual difference varies between 17 hours (when PST is active) and 16 hours (when PDT is active).
This conversion is crucial for business operations between South Korea and Silicon Valley or other West Coast tech hubs. Whether you're scheduling international meetings, coordinating product launches, managing global development teams, or coordinating with business partners in Seoul and San Francisco, our accurate IANA-based converter ensures precise timezone calculations accounting for seasonal daylight saving changes.
Common Use Cases for KST to PST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling South Korea to US West Coast business meetings
- Coordinating Seoul and Silicon Valley tech and startup operations
- Managing global business operations between South Korea and West Coast USA
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel from South Korea to US West Coast
- Coordinating with West Coast family and friends from Korea
- Scheduling virtual events for Korea-West 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
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-8
- IANA Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Daylight Saving: First Sunday in November to Second Sunday in March
- Major Cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, San Diego
- Coverage: Pacific Coast of United States and Canada
Quick Reference: KST to PST
Remember: KST is always 17 hours ahead of PST, but becomes 16 hours when PDT is active (daylight saving time)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between KST and PST?
Korea Standard Time (KST) is UTC+9, while Pacific Standard Time (PST) is UTC-8. KST is 17 hours ahead of PST. This means when it's 8:00 AM in KST, it's 3:00 PM the previous day in PST.
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 West Coast observes daylight saving time, transitioning from PST (UTC-8) to PDT (UTC-7). This means the time difference varies between 17 hours (when PST is active) and 16 hours (when PDT is active).
What is the time difference during Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)?
When the US West Coast observes Pacific Daylight Time (PDT, UTC-7) from mid-March to early November, the difference becomes 16 hours. During this period, when it's 8:00 AM KST, it would be 4:00 PM PDT the previous day. This is why it's important to verify whether PST or PDT is currently active.
What major cities are in KST and PST timezones?
KST covers major Korean cities including Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, and Daejeon, as well as all cities throughout South Korea. PST covers major West Coast US cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, and San Diego.
How do I convert KST to PST manually?
To convert from KST to PST, subtract 17 hours from the KST time. For example, if it's 9:00 AM KST, it would be 4:00 PM PST the previous day. Remember that the difference becomes 16 hours when the US West Coast observes PDT (daylight saving time).
What should I know about scheduling across KST and PST?
Korea is 16-17 hours ahead of the US West Coast, with very limited overlap. Morning KST times (8-10 AM) correspond to afternoon PST times (3-5 PM previous day), while afternoon KST (2-4 PM) corresponds to midnight PST. Scheduling requires careful coordination to find mutually acceptable times for both regions, often requiring either very early mornings or late evenings.
Pro Tips
- • KST is always 17 hours ahead of PST - but becomes 16 hours when PDT is active (March-November).
- • Korea does not observe daylight saving time, so KST is consistent year-round while PST/PDT changes twice annually.
- • Morning KST (8-10 AM) equals afternoon PST (3-5 PM previous day), offering reasonable business hours overlap for communication.
- • Afternoon KST (2-4 PM) corresponds to midnight PST, making real-time meetings challenging without early morning or late evening coordination.
- • Use 24-hour time format when communicating across KST-PST to eliminate AM/PM confusion across the day boundary.
- • Between March and November, remember the 16-hour difference when PST transitions to PDT due to daylight saving time.