Quick Answer
To call the United States from South Korea, dial your exit code (001, 002, or 008) + 1 + the 10-digit US phone number. On a mobile phone, you can simply dial +1 followed by the US number. Sayfone offers calls to the US at just 8¢/min from your browser — no app install required.
$0.08
Per minute
+1
Country code
HD
Call quality
Landline rate
$0.08/min
Mobile rate
$0.08/min
Same per-minute Sayfone rate for landline and mobile.
Average call quality
From any phone in South Korea, dial your carrier's exit code (001, 002, or 008) or use + on a mobile phone, followed by 1 (the US country code), then the 10-digit US number (area code + local number). With Sayfone, calls to the United States cost just 8¢/min.
Steps at a glance
Sources
Authority for country code +1 assignment to NANP countries including the US
Authoritative source for US area code assignments and numbering plan
US regulatory authority for telephone numbering and international calling
DIALING GUIDE
Follow these steps to place a call to any US landline or mobile number from South Korea. The dialing format is the same for both mobile and landline numbers in the US.
From a landline or mobile phone in South Korea, start with your carrier's international access code. Common exit codes are 001 (SK Telecom/KT), 002 (KT), or 008 (LG U+). On a mobile phone, you can replace the exit code with the + symbol (press and hold 0 on most phones).
001 or 002 or 008 or +
After the exit code, dial 1 — the country code shared by the United States, Canada, and other North American Numbering Plan members. This routes your call to the US telephone network.
001-1 or +1
Every US phone number starts with a 3-digit area code that identifies the geographic region or city. For example, 213 and 323 cover Los Angeles, 212 covers Manhattan (New York City), 312 covers downtown Chicago, and 202 covers Washington, D.C.
001-1-213
Complete the call by dialing the remaining 7 digits of the US phone number (the exchange code and subscriber number). The full US number is always 10 digits: 3-digit area code + 7-digit local number.
001-1-213-555-1234 (full sequence)
Skip the exit codes entirely. Open Sayfone in your browser, enter the US number with +1, and call at just 8¢/min. No app download or carrier plan needed — just a Wi-Fi or data connection.
+1 213 555 1234 (entered in Sayfone)
Dialing format reference
+1
Use these patterns when entering a full international number to +1.
Mobile
+1 (NPA) NXX-XXXX
Landline
+1 (NPA) NXX-XXXX
Major city area codes
Sources
Reference for NANP numbering format NPA-NXX-XXXX and country code +1
Reference for South Korean exit codes (001, 002, 008) by carrier
GOOD TO KNOW
A few important rules to keep in mind when dialing US numbers from South Korea. Understanding these will help you avoid failed connections and unexpected charges.
Unlike many countries, the United States uses identical 10-digit formatting for both mobile phones and landlines: (area code) + (7-digit number). There is no separate mobile prefix to remember. You dial both the same way.
Some countries require you to drop a leading '0' trunk prefix when dialing internationally. The US has no such prefix — just dial the full 10-digit number after the country code +1.
South Korea's international access code varies by carrier: 001 and 002 (KT / SK Telecom), 003 or 008 (LG U+), and 00700 for some services. On mobile phones, you can bypass all of these by using the + prefix, which automatically selects your carrier's exit code.
Every call to a US number requires the 3-digit area code, even if the person you're calling is in a small town. There is no way to dial a US number without an area code from abroad. If you're unsure of the area code, ask the person you're calling to confirm.
US toll-free numbers (800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, 833) may not be reachable from international phone lines, or they may be charged as a standard international call despite being free within the US. If you need to reach a US business, look for their direct-dial number instead.
TIMING & TIPS
South Korea (KST, UTC+9) is 13–14 hours ahead of the US depending on the time zone and daylight saving. Planning your call window carefully avoids waking someone at 3 AM.
South Korea does not observe daylight saving time. The US does (March–November), which shifts the gap by one hour seasonally. The times below use US Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC−4), which places KST 13 hours ahead.
Best for Personal Calls
7:00–10:00 AM KST
Reaches the US East Coast at 6:00–9:00 PM (previous day) — evening hours when most people are home.
Best for Business Calls (East Coast)
10:00 PM–2:00 AM KST
Corresponds to 9:00 AM–1:00 PM EDT — core US East Coast business hours.
Best for Business Calls (West Coast)
1:00 AM–5:00 AM KST
Corresponds to 9:00 AM–1:00 PM PDT — core US West Coast business hours. Late night in Korea.
Sources
Verify current time offset between Seoul and US East Coast
TROUBLESHOOTING
If your call isn't going through, here are the most common problems and how to fix them.
You may have dialed the wrong exit code or omitted the US country code (+1). Double-check your sequence: exit code + 1 + area code + local number. On mobile, use +1 instead of a numeric exit code.
This usually means the area code or local number is incorrect. Verify the full 10-digit US number with your contact. US area codes change and new overlay codes are added regularly.
Numbers starting with 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, or 833 are toll-free within the US but often don't work from international lines. Ask the business for their direct-dial number, or try calling via a US-based VoIP service.
Traditional international calls are routed through multiple carriers, which can degrade quality. For clearer calls, try a browser-based service like Sayfone, which uses internet routing for more consistent audio quality.
Korean carriers charge varying rates for international calls depending on the exit code you use. Some exit codes route through premium services. Check your carrier's rate sheet, or use Sayfone at a flat 8¢/min to avoid surprises.
Savings
Adjust the tools below to compare Sayfone with typical retail pricing for calls to United States. Start with one call, then layer on monthly volume to see the bigger picture.
How to use these tools
Set duration and country. See Sayfone vs. an illustrative retail rate for the same call.
I'm calling…
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Save additional 40% (enterprise)
Your call
Your call will cost
$0.96
$0.080 per minute
That's 60% less than competitors
Set monthly minutes and call type. Bars compare Sayfone to common retail benchmarks for the same volume.
Drag slider to adjust
220
min / month
~$3.92/min
~$2.96/min
~$1.76/min
~$0.40/min
$0.080/min
Annual saving vs. AT&T
Based on 220 min/month
Before you go
Open the full South Korea to United States guide, check rates, or browse other how-to guides from South Korea.
South Korea to United States calling guide
Per-minute rates, savings calculator, and what to expect on this route.
What it costs to call United States
See Sayfone’s per-minute rate for United States and how it compares before you dial.
Route guides from South Korea
Other how-to guides from South Korea
FAQ
Quick answers to the most common questions about dialing US numbers from South Korea, including codes, costs, and timing.
Have more questions? Our support team can help.
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