How to charge the iPad Mini 2 when planning a trip to South Korea

A guide on how to recharge the iPad Mini 2 from a South Korean power outlet with a Lightning connector and a Type C power adapter and how to charge the iPad Mini 2 using a double pinned Schuko Type F power charger.

South Korean power outlet

If you are packing for a holiday it's helpful to know in advance if you can power all your indispensable electronics like cell phones and laptop computers when you arrive at your hotel. Without knowing which power socket is used in South Korea you could end up either weighing your luggage down with too many spare adaptors or bring the wrong power adaptor, leaving you having to buy or borrow a potentially overpriced adaptor when you're there. Differing voltages and plugs can often be daunting when planning on staying in a foreign country especially if you've never been there before. These guidelines have been written to help prepare travellers wanting to charge the iPad Mini 2 when they are going to South Korea.When visiting South Korea this page has useful instructions showing you how to charge your iPad Mini 2 by using the F or C type South Korean 220 volt 60Hz wall outlets, you'll find a majority of South Koreans will use Type F plug outlets. Most power supplies will change depending on which area you are travelling to so we suggest reading the Asia page for a full list of countries. If you are visiting South Korea from a different country please ensure that your iPad Mini 2 can be used with a 240 volt supply. If the iPad Mini 2 was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 120v ensure the device is dual-voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional power transformer to stop the device from overloading during charging. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Mini 2.

Charging the iPad Mini 2 in South Korea

Can the iPad Mini 2 be used in South Korea?

Yes, you can use the iPad Mini 2 in South Korea by using the correct power convertor.

What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPad Mini 2 in South Korea?

If travelling with more than your iPad Mini 2 then the best travel charger for South Korea to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. South Koreans use two different standards of wall outlets (F and C) and using a power adapter like this ensures that you are covered for type C.

As these chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and can handle from 100 - 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa just by switching the heads over. If your iPad Mini 2 supports Fast Charge (not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from much quicker charging times with one of these types of USB power chargers, along with support for more power hungry devices. Having a 4 port adapter will also allow you to charge multiple devices simultaneously without needing to bring multiple power chargers. Only bringing a single USB travel charger will also keep the weight down, making it ideal to fold up in hand baggage while travelling. Because of their space saving flexibility these types of chargers can be used at home so when you’re not travelling they can be used overnight charging multiple phones and tablets using just a single plug socket.

We suggest searching for a flexible travel adapter similar to this online. The multipurpose travel charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for South Korea

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to recharge devices via USB, but for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which is crucial for visitors of counties with unreliable power grids to prevent damage to any connected devices from voltage spikes. These travel converters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular compact power converter for travellers originating from North America going to South Korea using type B American plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs and offers almost the same functionality as the BESTEK with only one less AC outlet for almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers a flexible 5 USB charging ports. This versatile power strip is compatible with both American plugs and popular plug types A, D,E/F, G, H, I, L and N making it suitable for most travellers from around the world visiting South Korea. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPad Mini 2 in South Korea?

Powering the iPad Mini 2 with a South Korean power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Instructions on how to charge the iPad Mini 2 from a South Korean power outlet using a USB Lightning Apple connector and a Type C USB adapter.

  1. If you want to supply power to your iPad Mini 2 from the South Korean power outlet you will need a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (normally already supplied with the device).
  2. Start by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and inserting it into the South Korean power outlet. This ungrounded wall outlet, sometimes known as a Europlug or Type C power outlet [3], is identified by two adjacent holes next to each other for live and neutral pins. Type C plug sockets in South Korea might not be as commonplace as Type F outlets.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple power cable into the mains USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini 2. The iPad Mini 2 lightning connector is situated at the base of the iPad Mini 2.
  4. Switch on the South Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the iPad screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad Mini 2 is charging, typically taking around 1-4 hours to completely recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPad Mini 2 with a South Korean power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

How to use a Type F power charger for recharging your iPad Mini 2 from a South Korean power outlet

A guide on how to charge the iPad Mini 2 from a South Korean power outlet using a Lightning connector and a Type F power adapter.

  1. To charge the iPad Mini 2 using a South Korean power outlet you'll need to use a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple normally supply this USB cable when you buy the iPad Mini 2).
  2. Firstly you'll need to insert the Type F USB power plug adapter in the power supply. You can identify the plug outlet by two large circular holes 19 mm apart from each other and two thin grounding clips above and below. These are the most commonly used outlets in South Korea.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the Apple USB cable into the USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini 2. The iPad Mini 2 lightning connector is situated at the base of the iPad Mini 2.
  4. Switch on the South Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the iPad Mini 2 screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is recharging which should take around 1 - 4 hours to fully recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type F power charger for recharging your iPad Mini 2 from a South Korean power outlet

See also

  1. Visitkorea - Korea Tourism Organization site
  2. Apple - official iPad user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  4. Type C USB power plug adapter - Conforming to Europlug specifications, the Type C USB power plug adapter incorporates two 4 mm rounded pins spaced 19 mm apart. It is engineered to adapt electrical outlets commonly found in Europe, converting them to USB-compatible charging ports..
  5. USB to Apple Lightning cable - The Apple Lightning cable is a charging and syncing cable for more recent Apple devices and connects compatible iPhones and iPads to a USB port.
  6. iec.ch - Type F power outlet
  7. Type F USB power plug adapter - Compliant with Europlugs and CEE 7/17 specifications, the Type F or Schuko adapter is engineered to adapt German electrical power outlets into USB-compatible ports..
  8. 4 Port USB Wall Charger - A 4-port USB wall charger is an electrical device that provides simultaneous charging for up to four USB-compatible devices. It often includes interchangeable international plug adapters for global use..