Before going to a charging station, check:

1. Where the charging port is on your car
2. What connector type your car uses

🔍 Easiest ways to check

• Look at the rental car info sheet
• Open the charging port and check the label inside
• Search the car model name online
• Use a charging app — most show car-by-car compatibility

1) Charging port location

This matters for how you park at the charger. The cable is short — if you park backwards, it might not reach.

2) Connector type

🟢 Non-Tesla cars (most rentals)

Fast charging (DC):

• CCS Combo 1 (DC콤보): 50–350 kW — 👉 Korea's main fast charger standard
• CHAdeMO (차데모): 50–100 kW — older standard, becoming rare

Slow charging (AC):

• AC 3-phase (AC3): 11–22 kW — shopping malls, public buildings
• J1772 (AC slow): 3.3–7 kW — homes, apartments

🔴 Tesla cars

• Tesla Superchargers (Tesla-only): V2, V3 (250 kW), V4 (350 kW)
• NACS connector

👉 Important for Tesla rentals: To use Korea's public chargers (non-Tesla), you'll need a CCS Combo 1 adapter. Ask the rental company:

• "Do you provide a CCS Combo 1 adapter with the car?"
• "Can I use Tesla Superchargers AND public chargers?"

Tesla Korea officially supports the CCS Combo 1 adapter for public charging.

3) Finding a charger

Two ways: search before you leave or search while driving.

🔎 What to filter by

1. Your car's connector type (most important!)
2. Currently available (not in use / not broken)
3. Distance from you

👉 Korea has chargers spread widely across city centers, public parking lots, large facilities, and highways. You usually won't be far from one.

🏁 At your destination

Korean law requires that 2–5%+ of total parking spots be EV charging spots in major facilities (under the Eco-Friendly Vehicle Act). So your destination probably has a charger — but check ahead, especially at small venues.

📱 Recommended apps for finding chargers

• EV Infra — best for finding chargers and live availability (works without Korean signup as a map tool)
• Naver Map / Kakao Navi / TMAP — built-in charger search

👉 Pro tip: Always have a backup charger within 5–10 minutes saved. Even if an app says a charger is available, it could be broken or blocked when you arrive.

4) How to charge — step by step

1. Park at the charging station

2. Turn off the engine

3. Open the charging port (like opening a fuel cap)

4. Confirm the connector matches your car

5. Confirm fast (급속) or slow (완속)

6. Choose your payment method

7. Plug in the connector

8. Start charging

9. When done: unplug, return cable to the holder

10. Move your car right away ⚠️

👉 Step 10 is critical. Don't leave your car at the charger after charging is done — you'll get fined.

5) How do foreigners pay?

💰 Price — how much does it cost?

As of 2026, EV charging prices in Korea are now close to gas prices. The gap that once made EVs much cheaper has narrowed.

👉 Update (April 2026): Korea is moving toward making price displays mandatory at all charging stations, similar to gas stations. Until that's fully enforced, always check the price on the screen before starting a charge.

When is it cheaper?

🌐 What is "roaming"?

In Korea, EV chargers are run by many different companies:

• MOE (Ministry of Environment / 환경부)
• E-pit (Hyundai)
• KEPCO (Korea Electric Power)
• GS Caltex, SK E&S
• Tesla Superchargers
• Many private operators

To avoid signing up with each one, Korea uses a roaming system:

1. You sign up with "Charging App A"

2. You arrive at "Charging Station B"

3. You pay with App A

4. App A handles payment with Company B for you

5. One app, all networks ✅

💳 Payment options for foreigners

Option 1 — Rental car charging card 🚗

Many rental companies provide a pre-set charging card. Ask:

• "Is a charging card included?"
• "Which charging stations does it work at?"
• "What battery % do I need to return the car at?"

Option 2 — WOW PASS 💳

A prepaid travel card for foreigners. Useful when:

• The charging app doesn't accept your foreign card
• The kiosk rejects your overseas credit card

👉 Korean payment systems often have trouble with foreign cards — both online and at kiosks. Charging payment can actually be harder than the charging itself. A backup like WOW PASS saves a lot of stress.

🔗 [Link to WOW PASS guide]

Option 3 — "EV Infra" (모두의 충전 in Korean) 📱

A roaming app that works across most networks. Some foreign cards are supported.

• ✅ Long-stay travelers: worth setting up
• ❌ Short-trip tourists: probably not worth the signup hassle
• 👉 Tip: You can still use the app as a map (non-member mode) without signing up. Useful for finding nearby chargers and checking live availability.

6) Renting an EV? Checklist ✅

When picking up the car:

1. ☐ Confirm the charging card is included
2. ☐ Confirm the return battery % rule (often 80%+)
3. ☐ Check chargers near your hotel before driving off
4. ☐ Plan to charge before your last day — don't rush at the airport return

👉 Tesla rental? Also check: CCS Combo 1 adapter included?

7) Hidden perks 🎁

🛣️ Highway toll discount

EVs (blue plates) get discounts on highway tolls in Korea.👉 The discount is automatic if you have a hi-pass device or scan a card at the booth.

8) What if you can't charge?

While driving 🚗

If your battery is critically low:

• Call emergency roadside assistance (your rental company or insurance provider)
• They'll arrange a tow to the nearest fast charger

👉 Do NOT try to carry a portable generator or spare battery — they're heavy, bulky, and not practical for EVs.

At return time 🔙

If you can't charge before returning the car:

• Most rental companies will charge you a fee (a fixed penalty, sometimes plus a per-% rate)
• Always check the return battery rule when you pick up the car

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