Flight time from San Francisco to Seoul
A nonstop flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Seoul (ICN) takes about 12 h 20 min. Flying back from Seoul to San Francisco takes about 10 h 50 min. The two airports are 5,645 miles (9,085 km) apart.
| Route | Typical nonstop time | Leave 9:00 AM, land (local time) |
|---|---|---|
| SFO → ICN | 12h 20m | San Francisco → 2:20 PM the next day |
| ICN → SFO | 10h 50m | Seoul → 2:50 AM |
Example arrival times are for a departure on November 18, 2026. Times are estimates of gate-to-gate block time, from the great-circle distance, typical jet cruising speeds, average upper-level winds and about 45 minutes for taxi, take-off, climb and landing. They are not airline schedules, and we don't track which airlines fly this route nonstop. Real flights vary by aircraft, routing, season and the day's wind; check your airline for the exact time.
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Time difference
Seoul is 16 hours ahead of San Francisco right now. Allow for it when you plan: the clock at your destination may show a very different time from the hours you spent in the air. See the time now in San Francisco and Seoul, or compare them in the time zone converter.
The Seoul to San Francisco flight is usually quicker than San Francisco to Seoul. High-altitude winds, led by the jet stream, mostly blow from west to east, so planes heading east ride a tailwind and planes heading west fight a headwind. On busy routes the difference shows up in airline timetables every day.
Questions people ask
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Seoul?
A nonstop flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Seoul (ICN) takes about 12 h 20 min, gate to gate. The return flight takes about 10 h 50 min.
How far is Seoul from San Francisco?
5,645 miles (9,085 km) along the great-circle route, the shortest path over the Earth between SFO and ICN airports.
What is the time difference between San Francisco and Seoul?
Seoul is 16 hours ahead of San Francisco right now. The difference can change by an hour during the year when one city changes its clocks for daylight saving time and the other does not.
If I leave San Francisco at 9 a.m., when do I arrive in Seoul?
Leaving San Francisco at 9:00 AM on November 18, 2026, you would land in Seoul at about 2:20 PM the next day local time.
More flight times
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Last updated October 21, 2026. Airport locations: OurAirports via airportsdata; time zones: IANA time zone database 2026.