How to Call the US from South Korea: A Simple Guide

Dialling the US from South Korea comes down to a specific sequence of codes, and each country uses its own exit code for international calls. Getting that sequence wrong is the most common reason a call fails to connect.

This article walks through the steps for calling the US from South Korea efficiently and affordably, along with virtual phone system options that can make the whole process easier and, in many cases, cheaper than a standard international call.

Key Takeaways

• To call the US from South Korea, enter the exit code (001), followed by the US country code (1), and then dial the local area code and seven-digit phone number.
• Virtual phone systems offer a convenient and cost-effective solution for making international calls to the US from Korea.
• Advantages of using a virtual phone system include cost savings, easy setup, portability, additional features, professional image, flexibility, integration with other tools, and reliable customer support.
• The top virtual phone system providers for calling the US from Korea are Nextiva, CallHippo, Ooma Office Phone, Avoxi, and Talkroute.

How to Call the US from South Korea

To call the US from South Korea, follow these steps: enter the South Korea exit code (001), dial the US country code (1), input the local area code, and then dial the seven-digit phone number.

Step 1: Enter the South Korea exit code (001)

Every international call from South Korea starts with the exit code “001”. This three-digit number prepares the phone line for an international dialling sequence, telling the network that the call is leaving the country rather than staying local.

It’s the first step in the sequence, and the rest of the call won’t go through without it, so dial 001 before moving on to the next steps. Skipping it, or dialling the remaining digits first, is one of the most common reasons a call from South Korea fails to connect at all.

Step 2: Enter US Country Code (1)

The second step is dialling “1”, the country code for the United States. This number identifies calls aimed at numbers within US borders and is a required part of the dialling sequence, no matter which US city or state the call is headed to.

A country code works the same way a house address does: it tells the network which country the call is headed to, before the local details of area code and phone number take over from there.

After entering South Korea’s exit code (001), dial the US Country Code (1) right after. From there, the call can reach any of the 50 states, from New York City to Anchorage, Alaska, as long as the remaining digits are correct.

Step 3: Dial the local area code

After entering the US country code, the next step is the local area code. This three-digit number identifies the geographic region of the phone you’re trying to reach in the United States, and it comes directly after the country code with no pause or extra digits in between.

For instance, a call to New York City uses 212, while a call to Los Angeles uses 310 or 323. Getting the local area code right is essential for connecting the call from South Korea to its intended destination in the US, since even one wrong digit here routes the call to the wrong region entirely.

Step 4: Dial the seven-digit phone number

The last step is dialling the seven-digit phone number. A standard US phone number consists of a three-digit area code followed by a seven-digit local number, and together with the exit code and country code, that’s the full sequence needed to reach a US phone from South Korea.

Entering these seven digits after the previous steps completes the connection to the recipient in the United States. Calls placed within the same area code may only require the local seven-digit number, without an additional area code, though this generally applies to calls made from within the US rather than international calls from South Korea.

Best Options for Making International Calls to the US from Korea

Virtual phone systems offer the best options for making international calls to the US from Korea. Here’s why they’re worth using, and the top 5 providers to consider before signing up for one.

Virtual phone systems

Virtual phone systems offer a convenient and cost-effective way to make international calls to the US from Korea. They let you make calls using your existing internet connection instead of relying on traditional phone lines, which is part of why they tend to cost less per call.

That means staying connected with friends, family, or business contacts in the US without worrying about high roaming charges or poor call quality. Virtual phone systems also add features such as voicemail, call forwarding, and conference calling, making them a versatile option for communication needs generally.

Advantages of using a virtual phone system

Using a virtual phone system for international calls to the US from South Korea comes with several advantages, summarized in the table below:

Benefit	Description
Cost-effective	Offer competitive rates for international calls, providing savings compared to traditional phone services.
Easy Setup	Quick and hassle-free setup allows making international calls within minutes of registration.
Portability	Make calls to the US from anywhere in South Korea, provided there is an internet connection, catering to travelers and remote workers.
Additional Features	Enhance calling experiences with features like call forwarding, voicemail, and call recording.
Professional Image	Maintain a professional presence with a dedicated US number, even while operating from South Korea.
Flexibility	Accommodate scalable and customizable options to adjust calling needs according to requirements.
Integration	Seamlessly integrate with other communication tools like CRM software or email clients to streamline workflow.
Customer Support	Ensure reliable customer support to promptly address any issues or concerns that may arise.

Top 5 Virtual Phone System Providers for Calling the US from Korea

Here are five virtual phone system providers worth considering for calling the US from Korea.

Nextiva

Nextiva is one of the top virtual phone system providers for making international calls from South Korea to the US, offering reliable communication solutions for staying connected across borders.

With Nextiva, users get high-quality voice calls and features like call forwarding, voicemail transcription, and conference calling. Its interface makes it straightforward to set up and manage international calls.

With competitive pricing plans, Nextiva offers cost-effective options for staying in touch with friends, family, or business contacts in the US while in South Korea.

CallHippo

Among the top virtual phone system providers for making international calls to the US from Korea is CallHippo.

It offers reliable and affordable service for making international calls. With CallHippo, users enter the South Korea exit code (001), followed by the US country code (1).

From there, dialling the local area code and the seven-digit phone number completes the call. Using a virtual phone system like CallHippo also brings advantages such as cost-effectiveness and flexibility.

Ooma Office Phone

Ooma Office Phone is worth considering for making international calls to the US from South Korea. It’s a virtual phone system provider offering reliable and cost-effective calling.

With Ooma Office Phone, users enter the South Korea exit code (001), followed by the US country code (1) and the local area code of the desired destination, to connect with contacts in the US.

Ooma Office Phone makes international calling fairly straightforward for users based in South Korea.

Avoxi

Avoxi is one of the top virtual phone system providers for calling the US from Korea, offering reliable and cost-effective solutions that make international calling easy. With Avoxi, users can get a local US phone number that allows them to make and receive calls as if they were in the United States.

The service is user-friendly and includes features like call forwarding, voicemail, and call recording. Avoxi also offers competitive international calling rates, keeping costs down when staying connected with friends or family in the US while in South Korea.

Talkroute

Talkroute is one of the top virtual phone system providers for calling the US from Korea. It lets users make international calls easily and conveniently, with the service handling the dialling codes and phone numbers needed to connect with the desired contact in the US.

Talkroute simplifies the process of making international calls, keeping users connected with friends, family, or business associates across borders without much extra hassle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the costs of calling the US from Korea? How can you call Korea from the US? Find the answers to these and more in the FAQ section below.

Conclusion

Calling the US from South Korea may look complicated at first, but the steps are straightforward once you’ve done it a couple of times. Entering the South Korea exit code, followed by the US country code and local area code, connects the call quickly.

It’s worth checking your international calling rates in advance to avoid surprises on your bill. With this guide and virtual phone systems like Nextiva or CallHippo, staying connected across continents is more straightforward than it might first appear.

Frequently Asked Questions