How to Call Korea from Anywhere in the World

Download Article

Plus, ways to contact someone in Korea if phone calls aren't an option

Written by Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: January 26, 2026 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Calling South Korea
|
• Calling North Korea
|
• When to Call
|
• Exit Codes for Countries
|
• Video
|
• Q&A

|Show more |Show less

Making international calls is a slightly different process than making local calls, but it doesn't have to be difficult. If you’re trying to reach South Korea, you just need your country’s international prefix number and South Korea's country code (82). If you need to reach North Korea, however, you may have a little bit more trouble. Only certain numbers, such as those belonging to embassies or foreign nationals, can receive international calls. International calling rates can be expensive, so plan ahead when making a call.

Calling South or North Korea

• South Korea's country code is 82, and North Korea's code is 850.
• To call Korea, you'll need to dial your country's outbound code first, such as 011 for the United States and Canada, 0011 for Australia, and 00 for the UK.
• Only North Korean phone numbers beginning with 381 can be dialed from international locations.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Calling South Korea

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Find and enter your international prefix code. This code is also called an exit code. This is based on the country you are currently calling from. This number will be typed in first.

   • If you don't know your country's exit code, check out the section below.
   • If you are on a mobile phone, look at your zero digit on your keypad. If there is a "+" under it, you can press this instead of adding the international prefix code.
2. 
   2
   Enter 82 for South Korea’s country code. This is entered right after the international prefix code. This number ensures that your call is connected to South Korea.
   Advertisement
3. 
   3
   Leave out the first 0 in the number. Most Korean phone numbers will begin with a zero. Leave this 0 out when you are making an international call to South Korea. Instead, go straight from the country code to the phone number.

   • For example, if the number begins 010, you should dial 10.
   • The first few numbers are the area code for the person you're calling, but South Korean phone numbers already include area codes, so you won't need to worry about getting the numbers right. Mobile numbers have special area codes.
4. 
   4
   Finish with the phone number. Once you have entered the international prefix code and the country code, dial the nine or ten-digit phone number. An international call to South Korea might look like 011-82-XX-XXX-XXXX.

   • Area codes are built into the phone numbers in South Korea, so you do not need to add any additional numbers.
Advertisement

Section 2 of 4:

Calling North Korea

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Check that the phone number you were given has the prefix 381. Only numbers that begin with 381 can accept international phone calls in North Korea. Most embassies and international businesses will have this prefix. Most civilian numbers most likely will not, unless they belong to a foreign national.

   • If the number begins with 382, you cannot call it from an international phone.
   • If you have a loved one living in or visiting North Korea, keep in mind that their normal phone number will not work. Foreigners can bring mobile phones into North Korea, but they must buy a local SIM card.
2. 
   2
   Dial your international prefix code. This is also called an exit code. This prefix depends on the country you are calling from. Type this number first before you continue with the rest of the phone number.

   • If you don't know your country's exit code, check out the section below.
   • If you are on a mobile phone, look at your zero digit on your keypad. If there is a "+" under it, you can press this instead of adding the international prefix code.
3. 
   3
   Type in 850 for North Korea’s country code. This will go right after your international prefix code. Some international numbers may include the country code already at the beginning.
4. 
   4
   Add an area code after the country code. There are three known area codes in North Korea: 2 for Pyongyang, 85 for the Rason Economic Special Zone, and 19X for mobile phones.

   • The leading 0 should always be dropped.
5. 
   5
   Continue with the rest of the number. The phone number should be 7 digits long. It will start with the numbers 381. A typical international call to Pyongyang, North Korea, might look like 011-850-2-381-XXXX.

   • There's a very good chance you'll get an operator when you try to call. Overseas calls typically go through the international operator service (+850 2 18111). If you get the operator service, you must know the name of the company you're calling as well as their phone number.
     • You may also be asked where you're calling from.
     • Even if you use the operator service, the call may still not be connected.
     • Calls to North Korea can be very expensive.
   • Contacting a non-business entity in North Korea is tricky. North Korean phones can't dial out of the country, and there is no internet connection to the rest of the world.
   • Avoid making calls that are not 100% necessary. Don't call North Korea just for fun or to "see if you can." Calls in North Korea are monitored, and anyone trying to contact someone outside North Korea risks being sent to a prison camp. Calling North Korea without a good reason may place someone in danger.
Advertisement

Section 3 of 4:

When to Call

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Check what your phone carrier charges you before calling. Calling abroad can be expensive. To avoid any surprises when your phone bill comes in, look up the rates for calling South Korea from your country. Rates may vary between landlines and mobile phones.

   • International calls to North Korea are much more expensive than to South Korea. You may not have as many options if you are looking for discounts.
2. 
   2
   Buy an international calling plan if you call South Korea often. These plans often provide discounts in exchange for a small monthly fee.
3. 
   3
   Use a prepaid calling card. This calling card will have a phone number and a PIN. Call the phone number. Either dial or state your PIN when requested. They will ask you to dial the phone number you want to reach. Type in the full international phone number with the international prefix code and the country code added.

   • Check how many minutes you will get to talk before purchasing the card. You can do this by looking up the card online or reading the fine print on the card. Do not purchase a card if you cannot figure out the fees.
4. 
   4
   Make a phone call over the internet instead. These are called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls. These will allow you to make a phone call over the internet. They are often cheaper than international phone calls, and some may allow you to make a phone call from your smartphone instead of your computer.

   • Google Voice is a popular VoIP option.
   • When using VoIP, dial the same international number as you would on the telephone.
5. 
   5
   Use an alternative contact method. If calling someone in South Korea is too expensive over your phone or VoIP, there are free ways to call someone online:

   • If you both have iPhones, you can use FaceTime to call one another for free.
   • Facebook Messenger also offers video calling.
   • Discord is another way to make free voice and video calls.
   • If calling doesn't work, you can always try email or KakaoTalk (South Korea's most popular messaging app).
6. 
   6
   Pay attention to the time difference between Korea and your country. North and South Korea are both in Korean Standard Time. This is 9 hours ahead of coordinated universal time (UTC+9:00). To make sure you’re not waking anyone up, double-check what time it is in Korea. Korea is:

   • 13 hours ahead of the eastern United States and Canada.
   • 16 hours ahead of the western United States and Canada.
   • 8 hours ahead of the UK.
   • 1 hour behind the Australian Eastern Time Zone.
7. 
   7
   Save your South Korean contacts with their full international number. You will need to add the international prefix and country code every single time you dial. To save yourself some time, make sure these digits are already added to any saved contacts that you have.
Advertisement

Section 4 of 4:

Exit Codes for Countries

Download Article

1. 
   Exit codes vary by country. We've made a list of all of the exit codes used around the world, but this list is not exhaustive. To make sure you have the right exit code, check Google or your favorite search engine.

   • 011 is the exit code for the United States, Canada, a number of US territories, and a number of Caribbean islands.
   • 00 is the exit code for almost all of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America, as well as some Asian countries.
     • Some countries, such as South Korea, Colombia, Brazil, Israel, Finland, and Indonesia, use 00 but also allow or require extra digits to specify your carrier.
   • 0011 is the exit code for Australia. No other countries are currently using 0011 as an exit code.
   • 010 is the exit code for Japan, and it's the only country that currently uses this code.
   • 001 is used by Guyana, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Thailand, and Cambodia.
   • 002 is used by Taiwan.
   • 0 is used by Samoa and Turks and Caicos.
   • 000 is used by Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Singapore.
   • 009 is only used by Nigeria.
   • 1XX0 is used in Chile, where the "XX" changes depending on your phone carrier.
   • 19XX is the exit code for Peru, where the "XX" is replaced by a specific carrier code.
   • 810 is the exit code for a number of countries in Eastern Europe: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

• Question

  Is it really possible to call North Korea? Would they even answer?

  

  Doggo

  Top Answerer

  Yes, just like if you were to call any other country. They would answer, but calls can be dropped, or redirected.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!