Essential Korean Travel Phrases

Survival basics

Five phrases that smooth every interaction from Incheon arrivals to the last taxi home. Koreans warm up fast when a traveler opens in Korean.

1. 1 안녕하세요 annyeonghaseyo — Hello
2. 2 감사합니다 gamsahamnida — Thank you
3. 3 실례해요 sillyehaeyo — Excuse me
4. 4 죄송합니다 joesonghamnida — Sorry
5. 5 이거 얼마예요? igeo eolmayeyo? — How much is this?

Getting around

Seoul's subway is world-class and taxis are cheap — but the apps are different here. These phrases plus a transit card cover the rest.

1. 6 역이 어디에 있어요? yeogi eodie isseoyo? — Where is the station?
2. 7 버스 정류장이 어디에 있어요? beoseu jeongnyujangi eodie isseoyo? — Where is the bus stop?
3. 8 몇 번 버스를 타야 해요? myeot beon beoseureul taya haeyo? — Which number bus should I take?
4. 9 택시를 불러 주세요. taeksireul bulleo juseyo — Please call me a taxi
5. 10 공항까지 얼마나 걸려요? gonghangkkaji eolmana geollyeoyo? — How long to the airport?
6. 11 2호선으로 환승하세요. ihoseoneuro hwanseunghaseyo — Transfer to line 2

   환승 (transfer) is the word your map app and the subway announcements both lean on.

Tickets and the KTX

Korea's KTX bullet train shrinks the country — Seoul to Busan in under three hours. These phrases get you from the ticket window to the right platform.

1. 12 표를 사고 싶어요. pyoreul sago sipeoyo — I want to buy a ticket
2. 13 표가 얼마예요? pyoga eolmayeyo? — How much is the ticket?
3. 14 편도 표 한 장 주세요. pyeondo pyo han jang juseyo — One one-way ticket, please
4. 15 왕복 표 주세요. wangbok pyo juseyo — A round-trip ticket, please
5. 16 부산행 기차 표 주세요. busanhaeng gicha pyo juseyo — A train ticket to Busan, please
6. 17 이 플랫폼이 맞아요? i peullaetpomi majayo? — Is this the right platform?

Flights, passports and luggage

The airport phrases that matter — including the two you hope you never need.

1. 18 여권 보여 주세요. yeogwon boyeo juseyo — Please show your passport

   You'll hear this at immigration — now you'll recognize it.

2. 19 비행기가 지연되었어요. bihaenggiga jiyeondoeosseoyo — The flight was delayed
3. 20 여권을 잃어버렸어요. yeogwoneul ireobeoryeosseoyo — I lost my passport
4. 21 짐을 어디에 맡길 수 있어요? jimeul eodie matgil su isseoyo? — Where can I store my luggage?

At the hotel

Check in, get your key, check out — the full hotel loop in four phrases.

1. 22 호텔을 예약했어요. hotereul yeyakhaesseoyo — I booked a hotel
2. 23 체크인하고 싶어요. chekeuinhago sipeoyo — I'd like to check in
3. 24 방 열쇠 주세요. bang yeolsoe juseyo — The room key, please
4. 25 체크아웃하려고요. chekeuautharyeogoyo — I'd like to check out

In real life: catching the KTX to Busan