🇰🇷 South Korea Phone Number Format
South Korean mobile numbers all start with 010 (11 digits nationally), consolidated from the old 011, 016, 017, 018, 019 carriers in 2004. Seoul landlines use the two-digit area code 02; other cities use three-digit codes. The trunk 0 drops behind +82: 010 1234 5678 becomes +82 10 1234 5678 internationally.
A Korean Mobile in Four Standard Formats
Here is how one South Korea number is written in each of the four standards:
| Format | Example | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| E.164 | +821012345678 | Databases, SMS APIs (Twilio, WhatsApp), CRMs |
| International | +82 10 1234 5678 | Display to a global audience, business cards |
| National | 010 1234 5678 | Domestic display inside South Korea |
| RFC3966 | tel:+82-10-1234-5678 | Clickable tel: links on websites |
KCC, the 2004 010 Consolidation and Variable Landline Lengths
South Korea's numbering is managed by the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) and the Ministry of Science and ICT. The standout feature of Korean mobile numbering is its uniformity: all mobile numbers have used the single prefix 010 since a government-mandated consolidation in 2004, which retired the carrier-specific 011 (SK Telecom), 016 (KT), 017 (SK), 018 (KT/LG), and 019 (LG) prefixes over time. Today all three major carriers — SK Telecom, KT, and LG U+ — issue 010 numbers exclusively, making Korean mobile validation trivially simple.
Landline area codes follow a two-tier system. Seoul's unique two-digit code 02 is the shortest in the country, giving 8-digit subscriber numbers for 10 significant digits total. All other cities and provinces use three-digit codes (031 Gyeonggi, 032 Incheon, 051 Busan, 052 Ulsan, 053 Daegu, 042 Daejeon, 062 Gwangju, 064 Jeju), paired with 7-digit subscriber numbers for the same 10 significant digits. This uniform total length — regardless of area code length — makes Korean numbers easier to validate than plans like Germany's, where both area code and subscriber lengths vary freely.
Korea also has distinct ranges for 070 VoIP lines (internet phone services from KT, SK Broadband, LG) and 0X0 service numbers. These follow the same trunk-0 rule: 070 1234 5678 becomes +82 70 1234 5678 internationally. The 010/070 split cleanly separates mobile from VoIP in both national and E.164 format.
010 Mobiles and Two-Digit Seoul Area Code
Type Prefixes Digits Example Mobile (all carriers) 010 11 (incl. leading 0) 010 1234 5678 VoIP (internet phone) 070 11 070 1234 5678 Seoul landline 02 10 02 1234 5678 Other cities (3-digit code) 031, 032, 051, 053… 10 051 1234 5678 Freephone 080 11 080 123 4567
Calling South Korea: Drop the Zero After +82
Calling from Dial Within South Korea 010 1234 5678 — Keep the leading 0 domestically. From the US 011 82 10 1234 5678 — Drop the leading 0. From any mobile +82 10 1234 5678
- Enter + or your country's international exit code.
- Add the South Korea country code 82.
- Drop the leading 0 from the Korean number.
- Dial the remaining digits — e.g. 10 1234 5678 for a mobile.
Korean Numbering Essentials
- All South Korean mobiles use the 010 prefix since 2004 — older 011, 016, 017, 018, 019 carrier codes are no longer issued.
- The trunk 0 is always dropped after +82: 010 1234 5678 → +82 10 1234 5678.
- Seoul's area code 02 is two digits — the shortest in Korea; all other cities use three-digit codes.
- 070 numbers are VoIP lines, not mobiles, and follow the same trunk-0 rule: 070 XXXX XXXX → +82 70 XXXX XXXX.
South Korean Area Codes by City
Area code Region 02Seoul 031Gyeonggi Province 032Incheon 051Busan 053Daegu 042Daejeon 062Gwangju 064Jeju Island
Format a Korean Number Instantly
Enter any Korean 010 mobile or Seoul 02 landline and get the correct +82 E.164 for SMS APIs, KakaoTalk, and CRMs.
Enter phone number with country code or select country below.
Up to 100 numbers. Include country code or select a default country below.
| Original | E.164 | International | National | Valid |
|---|
South Korea Phone Format FAQ
How do I write a Korean mobile number in international format?
Drop the leading 0 and add +82: 010 1234 5678 becomes +82 10 1234 5678, or +821012345678 in strict E.164 for SMS APIs and databases.
What do South Korean mobile numbers start with?
All South Korean mobiles start with 010. Since 2004 the old carrier-specific prefixes (011 SK Telecom, 016/018 KT, 017/019 LG) have been retired. Every new mobile number uses 010 regardless of carrier.
What is Seoul's area code?
Seoul's area code is 02 — two digits, the shortest in South Korea. A full Seoul number is 10 significant digits: 02 followed by an 8-digit subscriber number. Internationally: +82 2 XXXX XXXX (the trunk 0 is dropped).
How many digits does a South Korean phone number have?
Mobiles are 11 digits nationally (010 + 8 digits, including the trunk 0) — 10 digits after +82. Seoul landlines are 10 significant digits (02 + 8 digits). Other city landlines are also 10 significant digits (3-digit code + 7 digits).
How do I call South Korea from the United States?
Dial 011 82, then the Korean number without its leading 0: for a mobile, 011 82 10 1234 5678; for a Seoul office, 011 82 2 1234 5678 (drop the 0 from 02). From a mobile, +82 works directly.