The short answer

8pm in South Korea is 7am in Eastern Standard Time.

South Korea is 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. That's early morning in Eastern Standard Time, before the typical working day begins.

South Korea
8pm
Eastern Standard Time
7am
Right now
6:17amKST · UTC+09:00 · Sun, Jun 28
5:17pmEDT · UTC-04:00 · Sat, Jun 27
Read across to convert
South Korea
KST · UTC+09:00
6:17am ☀
Eastern Standard Time
EDT · UTC-04:00
5:17pm ☀
Pinned8pmSouth Korea=7amEastern Standard Time
12amSun
11amSat ·−1d
WORK
1am
12pmSat ·−1d
WORK
2am
1pmSat ·−1d
WORK
3am
2pmSat ·−1d
WORK
4am
3pmSat ·−1d
WORK
5am
4pmSat ·−1d
WORK
NOW
6am
5pmSat ·−1d
7am
6pmSat ·−1d
8am
7pmSat ·−1d
9am
WORK
8pmSat ·−1d
10am
WORK
9pmSat ·−1d
11am
WORK
10pmSat ·−1d
12pm
WORK
11pmSat ·−1d
1pm
WORK
12amSun
2pm
WORK
1am
3pm
WORK
2am
4pm
WORK
3am
5pm
4am
6pm
5am
7pm
6am
PINNED
8pm
7am
9pm
8am
10pm
9am
WORK
11pm
10am
WORK
daylightnightworking hoursoverlap
Best time to meet
Closest workable window
Just outside the working window — early on one side, late on the other.
South Korea
7am–8am
=
Eastern Standard Time
6pm–7pm
previous day
Popular conversions

Quick reference.

9amSouth Korea=8pmEastern Standard Time · prev day
12pmSouth Korea=11pmEastern Standard Time · prev day
3pmSouth Korea=2amEastern Standard Time
5pmSouth Korea=4amEastern Standard Time
9pmSouth Korea=8amEastern Standard Time
In context

What each side covers.

South Korea
KST · UTC+09:00
6:17am
Cities on this clock
Eastern Standard Time
EDT · UTC-04:00
5:17pm
Did you mean…? “EDT” is shared by several places. This page shows Eastern Standard Time (US & Canada) — or switch to Australian Eastern Standard Time.

Frequently asked

Quick answers about converting between South Korea and Eastern Standard Time. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].

What is the time difference between South Korea and Eastern Standard Time?
South Korea is 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time right now. We always show the live, daylight-saving-correct difference, so this figure already accounts for whichever side is observing summer time today.
When it's 8pm in South Korea, what time is it in Eastern Standard Time?
8pm in South Korea is 7am in Eastern Standard Time. That's early morning in Eastern Standard Time, before the typical working day begins. Use the hour-by-hour table above to read any other time across.
What's the best time for a call between South Korea and Eastern Standard Time?
There's no comfortable 9-to-5 overlap between South Korea and Eastern Standard Time — they sit on opposite sides of the planet's working day. Plan for an early or late call on one side, or hand work off asynchronously.
Does this account for daylight saving time?
Yes. We track every clock change in both places, so the abbreviations you see — KST and EDT — are the ones actually in effect right now, not a fixed all-year value. When either side changes its clocks, this page updates automatically.
Why is the date sometimes different on each side?
When two places are far enough apart, the same moment can fall on different calendar days. That is why some conversions are marked "previous day" or "next day" — it is the same instant in time, read off two clocks that crossed midnight at different points.