Offset
The time difference between Korea Standard Time and Central Time is 14 hours.
Korea Standard Time (KST) is ahead of Central Time (CDT).
KST: UTC+9
CDT: UTC-5
Central Time is currently observing daylight saving time; Korea Standard Time is not.
When to schedule
Standard business hours (9 AM–5 PM, Mon–Fri) in Korea Standard Time and Central Time don't overlap on the same weekday. Central Time is 14 hours behind Korea Standard Time.
Realistic options: hand off asynchronously, or stretch one side by an hour to catch the other team at the start or end of their day.
This window may shift by an hour during daylight saving time.
Public holidays in 2026
National public holidays can affect availability — a counterpart is likely off work on their own holidays, so it's worth planning meetings and deadlines around them.
South Korea
- New Year's DayThu, Jan 1
- Lunar New YearMon, Feb 16
- Lunar New YearTue, Feb 17
- Lunar New YearWed, Feb 18
- Independence Movement DayMon, Mar 2
- Labour DayFri, May 1
- Children's DayTue, May 5
- Buddha's BirthdayMon, May 25
- Local Election DayWed, Jun 3
- Memorial DaySat, Jun 6
- Constitution DayFri, Jul 17
- Liberation DayMon, Aug 17
- ChuseokThu, Sep 24
- ChuseokFri, Sep 25
- ChuseokSat, Sep 26
- National Foundation DayMon, Oct 5
- Hangul DayFri, Oct 9
- Christmas DayFri, Dec 25
United States
- New Year's DayThu, Jan 1
- Martin Luther King, Jr. DayMon, Jan 19
- Presidents DayMon, Feb 16
- Memorial DayMon, May 25
- Juneteenth National Independence DayFri, Jun 19
- Independence DayFri, Jul 3
- Labour DayMon, Sep 7
- Columbus DayMon, Oct 12
- Veterans DayWed, Nov 11
- Thanksgiving DayThu, Nov 26
- Christmas DayFri, Dec 25
About these zones
Korea Standard Time is also known as KST. To call South Korea, dial +82.
Central Time is also known as CST, or CDT. To call United States, dial +1.
Central Time is approximately 6,550 miles northeast of Korea Standard Time.
Quick reference
Full 24-hour conversion table — tap any time to open it in the converter.
| KST | CST | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | 10:00 am | -1 day |
| 1:00 am | 11:00 am | -1 day |
| 2:00 am | 12:00 pm | -1 day |
| 3:00 am | 1:00 pm | -1 day |
| 4:00 am | 2:00 pm | -1 day |
| 5:00 am | 3:00 pm | -1 day |
| 6:00 am | 4:00 pm | -1 day |
| 7:00 am | 5:00 pm | -1 day |
| 8:00 am | 6:00 pm | -1 day |
| 9:00 am | 7:00 pm | -1 day |
| 10:00 am | 8:00 pm | -1 day |
| 11:00 am | 9:00 pm | -1 day |
| 12:00 pm | 10:00 pm | -1 day |
| 1:00 pm | 11:00 pm | -1 day |
| 2:00 pm | 12:00 am | Same day |
| 3:00 pm | 1:00 am | Same day |
| 4:00 pm | 2:00 am | Same day |
| 5:00 pm | 3:00 am | Same day |
| 6:00 pm | 4:00 am | Same day |
| 7:00 pm | 5:00 am | Same day |
| 8:00 pm | 6:00 am | Same day |
| 9:00 pm | 7:00 am | Same day |
| 10:00 pm | 8:00 am | Same day |
| 11:00 pm | 9:00 am | Same day |
Daylight saving time
Central Time observes daylight saving time; Korea Standard Time does not. The offset between the two zones changes when Central Time transitions: on Sunday, November 1, 2026, clocks fall back from CDT to CST.
See the daylight saving time page for transition dates across every time zone.
Daylight today
- Sunrise
- 5:12 AM
- Sunset
- 7:51 PM
- Day length
- 14h 38m
- Sunrise
- 5:18 AM
- Sunset
- 8:22 PM
- Day length
- 15h 4m
Daylight overlap: 5h 10m — 5:12 AM–10:22 AM in Korea Standard Time (3:12 PM–8:22 PM in Central Time). Both locations are in daylight during this window.
Cities in these zones
Cities in Central Time
Browse all cities to see the current local time anywhere.
Airports in these zones
Airports in Korea Standard Time
- GMP
- ICN
- PUS
- TAE
- CJJ
- KWJ
- MWX
Airports in Central Time
- GYY
- MDW
- ORD
- HOU
- IAH
- SAT
- DAL
- DFW
- AUS
- BNA
Related conversions
Common conversions
- What is 9:00 am KST in CST?
- 9:00 am KST is 7:00 pm CST, the previous day.
- What is 12:00 pm KST in CST?
- 12:00 pm KST is 10:00 pm CST, the previous day.
- What is 12:30 pm KST in CST?
- 12:30 pm KST is 10:30 pm CST, the previous day.
- What is 2:00 pm KST in CST?
- 2:00 pm KST is 12:00 am CST.
- What is 5:00 pm KST in CST?
- 5:00 pm KST is 3:00 am CST.
- What is 11:30 pm KST in CST?
- 11:30 pm KST is 9:30 am CST.