CST to KST Converter

Category: Time Zone Converters

Central Standard Time (CST)

UTC-6 • Chicago, Dallas, Houston

Conversion Settings

Configure your timezone conversion preferences

Korea Standard Time (KST)

UTC+9 • Seoul, Busan, Incheon
--:--:--
Select a time to convert
Time Difference: --
UTC Offset (CST): -6
UTC Offset (KST): +9
DST Status: --
CST Time: --
KST Time: --
Time Format:
Current CST: --:--:--
Current KST: --:--:--
🇰🇷 KST is 15 hours ahead of CST (14 hours during CDT). Korea never observes daylight saving time and stays on KST year-round.

CST to KST Conversion Guide

What is CST to KST Conversion?

CST to KST conversion helps you translate time between Central Standard Time and Korea Standard Time zones. CST is UTC-6 during standard time from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March. KST is UTC+9 and never changes, as Korea does not observe daylight saving time. The time difference is 15 hours during CST and 14 hours during CDT, with KST being ahead.

Time Zone Information

Central Standard Time (CST): Used in Chicago, Dallas, Houston during standard time. UTC-6 during winter months (November to March).
Korea Standard Time (KST): Used throughout South Korea including Seoul, Busan, and Incheon. Always UTC+9 and never changes.
Time Difference: KST is 15 hours ahead of CST. During CDT (summer), the difference decreases to 14 hours.

Daylight Saving Time Impact

CST Period: First Sunday in November to second Sunday in March (UTC-6)
CDT Period: Second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November (UTC-5)
Korea: Never observes daylight saving time - remains UTC+9 year-round for consistency

Common Conversion Examples

Business Hours (CST)
CST 7:00 PMKST 10:00 AM (next day)
CST 11:00 PMKST 2:00 PM (next day)
15-hour difference
Business Hours (CDT)
CDT 8:00 PMKST 10:00 AM (next day)
CDT 12:00 AMKST 2:00 PM (same day)
14-hour difference in summer
Meeting Planning
Best CST Time: 6:00-8:00 PM
Converts to KST: 9:00-11:00 AM (next day)
Optimal for international calls
Travel Planning
CST Departure: 11:00 PM
KST Arrival: 2:00 PM (next day)
Cross international date line

Conversion Tips & Best Practices

KST is 15 hours ahead of CST - add 15 hours to convert from CST to KST
During CDT (summer), add 14 hours to convert to KST
Korea never changes time - KST is constant year-round at UTC+9
Best meeting times: 6-8 PM CST = 9-11 AM KST (next day)
Korea spans across one time zone for the entire country
Large time difference means next-day scheduling is common for business

Converting Between CST and KST

If you ever need to coordinate meetings, travel plans, or virtual hangouts between the U.S. Central Standard Time zone and Korea Standard Time, this time converter makes it incredibly straightforward. To help you get oriented, here’s a look at which countries belong to each time zone, shown side-by-side.

CST (UTC-6) KST (UTC+9)
🇧🇿 Belize
🇨🇦 Canada (parts of Manitoba, Saskatchewan)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇸🇻 El Salvador
🇬🇹 Guatemala
🇭🇳 Honduras
🇲🇽 Mexico (Central states like Mexico City)
🇳🇮 Nicaragua
🇺🇸 United States (Illinois, Texas, etc.)
🇰🇷 South Korea

Why You Might Need a CST to KST Time Converter

There’s a 14 or 15-hour gap between CST and KST depending on the time of year. That kind of difference makes it tough to keep track of calls, meetings, or deadlines. Whether you're syncing with a business partner in Seoul or preparing travel from Dallas to Incheon, this tool helps you stay on point without mental math or timezone mix-ups.

How This Converter Works Behind the Scenes

Pick a Time and a Zone

Start by choosing the date and time you want to convert. By default, it’s set to CST, but you can flip it to KST using the dropdown. The converter handles both directions: CST to KST or KST to CST.

Real-Time and Accurate

Once your inputs are in, the tool instantly shows you the converted time in the other zone. It also displays the time difference, both UTC offsets, and whether daylight saving time (DST) is active.

Live Clock Support

Need to see what time it is *right now* in either zone? The live clocks at the bottom keep things current so you don’t have to guess.

Step-by-Step: From CST to KST (Or the Other Way Around)

  1. Select the input time zone from the dropdown. CST and KST are both options.
  2. Pick your date and time using the calendar and clock inputs.
  3. Make sure the correct options are toggled on: auto convert, daylight saving awareness, seconds display, and UTC offset (optional).
  4. Click “Convert Time” to see the results.
  5. If needed, click “Swap” to reverse the input and output zones. This is handy when working back and forth.
  6. Use “Now” to instantly fill in the current time of your selected zone. Useful for last-minute coordination.
  7. Need a clean slate? Hit “Reset.”

Extra Features That Make It Stand Out

Toggle Between 12-Hour and 24-Hour Time

Not everyone likes AM/PM. With one click, you can switch the display format to 24-hour military-style time or back to the familiar 12-hour clock.

Smart DST Awareness

The tool knows when DST starts and ends in the U.S., adjusting the conversion accordingly. Korea doesn’t observe DST, so that side stays the same year-round. You can also turn DST handling off completely if you prefer manual control.

Live Update Every Second

The clocks for both zones update in real-time. This is perfect if you’re watching the time to catch a flight or jump into a virtual meeting.

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Enter/Space – Convert Time
  • S – Swap Timezones
  • N – Set to Now
  • R – Reset Fields
  • F – Toggle Time Format

Common Questions, Answered Right Here

What’s the actual time difference?

It’s either 15 or 14 hours, depending on whether the U.S. is in standard time or daylight saving time. The tool calculates this automatically if DST awareness is enabled.

Can I go from KST to CST?

Yes. Just select KST as your input timezone. The tool supports full reverse conversion with all the same features.

What if I forget to click convert?

If auto-convert is turned on (which it is by default), the tool will do it for you as soon as you adjust the inputs. No need to press anything extra.

Does this work for exact travel planning?

Yes. For example, if you’re flying from Houston (CST) to Seoul (KST) and want to know what 11:00 PM departure translates to locally, plug it in and you’ll get the answer in seconds.

From Seoul to Chicago, Stay in Sync Without Second-Guessing

Whether you're arranging a cross-continental call or just making sure you're catching that K-pop concert livestream at the right time, this CST-KST time converter helps you stay organized. No confusion, no clocks off by a day. Just solid, clear answers that help you keep your schedule straight.

Time now in these cities:

Shanghai · Beijing · Dhaka · Cairo · Shenzhen · Guangzhou · Lagos · Kinshasa · Istanbul · Tokyo · Chengdu · Mumbai · Moscow · São Paulo · Karachi · Tianjin · Delhi · Jakarta · Bangkok · Wuhan · Lima · Seoul · Dongguan · Xi’an · Nanjing · Hangzhou · Mexico City · Tehran · Foshan · Ho Chi Minh City · London · New York City · Bengaluru · Luanda · Hanoi · Bogota · Riyadh · Hong Kong · Hong Kong · Chongqing · Baghdad · Qingdao · Shenyang · Rio de Janeiro · Suzhou · Ahmedabad · Abidjan · Lahore · Santiago · Singapore · Singapore · Johannesburg · Dar es Salaam · Saint Petersburg · Alexandria · Harbin · Sydney · Khartoum · Ankara · Hefei · Melbourne · Dalian · Kano · Addis Ababa · Changchun · Cape Town · Jeddah · Chennai · Kolkata · Xiamen · Surat · Yangon · Nairobi · Wuxi · Giza · Jinan · Taiyuan · Kabul · Zhengzhou · Amman · Shijiazhuang · Chattogram · Los Angeles · Kunming · Zhongshan · Nanning · Shantou · Yaounde · Yokohama · Ningbo · Busan · Casablanca · Ibadan · Berlin · Dubai · Shiyan · Algiers · Tangshan · Madrid · Changzhou

Time now in countries:

🇦🇷 Argentina | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇨🇳 China | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 🇫🇷 France | 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇮🇳 India | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 🇮🇷 Iran | 🇮🇹 Italy | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 🇵🇭 Philippines | 🇵🇱 Poland | 🇷🇴 Romania | 🇷🇺 Russia | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 🇪🇸 Spain | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 🇹🇼 Taiwan | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 🇺🇸 United States | 🇻🇳 Vietnam |

Time now in time zones:

UTC | GMT | CET | PST | MST | CST | EST | EET | IST | China (CST) | JST | AEST | SAST | MSK | NZST |

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