Essential Korean Phrases for Seoul Travelers: Survival Guide from a Local

Ever wished you knew a bit more Korean while traveling in Seoul?

English works fine in many places, but smaller shops, local restaurants, and markets are way easier with some Korean. I've lived in Seoul for 20+ years, and I've compiled the phrases my foreign friends ask about most—the stuff you'll actually use.

This guide is practical, easy to memorize, and works immediately. I've included Romanization so you can start using it right away.

Start Here: The Essential 10

Learn these first. They'll get you through 50% of situations in Seoul. Seriously.

Greetings

• Annyeonghaseyo (An-nyeong-ha-se-yo) - Hello
• Gamsahamnida (Gam-sa-ham-ni-da) - Thank you
• Joesonghamnida (Joe-song-ham-ni-da) - I'm sorry

Must-Know Basics

• Ye / Aniyo - Yes / No
• Ne (Ne) - Yes (more casual than "Ye")
• Algetseumnida (Al-get-seum-ni-da) - I understand
• Moreugetseumnida (Mo-reu-get-seum-ni-da) - I don't understand
• Igeo juseyo (I-geo ju-se-yo) - Please give me this one
• Eolmayeyo? (Eol-ma-ye-yo?) - How much?
• Hwajangsil eodieyo? (Hwa-jang-sil eo-di-ye-yo?) - Where is the restroom?

At Restaurants

Entering

• Meot myeong-iseyo? (Meot myeong-i-se-yo?) - How many people?

  • Du myeong-iyo (Du myeong-i-yo) - Two people
  • Se myeong-iyo (Se myeong-i-yo) - Three people

• Menyu juseyo (Me-nyu ju-se-yo) - Menu please

• Yeongeo menyu isseoyo? (Yeong-eo me-nyu i-sseo-yo?) - Do you have an English menu?

Ordering

• Jumunhalgeyo (Ju-mun-hal-ge-yo) - I'd like to order
• Igeorang igeo juseyo (I-geo-rang i-geo ju-se-yo) - This one and this one please
• Maeun geo an juseyo (Mae-un geo an ju-se-yo) - Not spicy please
• Mul juseyo (Mul ju-se-yo) - Water please

Paying

• Gyesanhae juseyo (Gye-san-hae ju-se-yo) - Check please
• Kado dwae-yo? (Ka-do dwae-yo?) - Do you accept cards?
• Yeongsujeung juseyo (Yeong-su-jeung ju-se-yo) - Receipt please

Pro Tip: No tipping needed. Service charge is included in the price.

Shopping

Asking Prices

• Igeo eolmayeyo? (I-geo eol-ma-ye-yo?) - How much is this?
• Neomu issayo (Neo-mu bi-ssa-yo) - Too expensive
• Kkakkajuseyo (Kka-kka-ju-se-yo) - Can you give me a discount?
• Halinae juseyo (Hal-in-hae ju-se-yo) - Please give me a discount

Size & Color

• Keun saiju isseoyo? (Keun sa-i-ju i-sseo-yo?) - Do you have a bigger size?
• Jageun saiju isseoyo? (Ja-geun sa-i-ju i-sseo-yo?) - Do you have a smaller size?
• I saekkkal isseoyo? (I saek-kal i-sseo-yo?) - Do you have this color?
• Ibeobol su isseoyo? (I-beo-bol su i-sseo-yo?) - Can I try it on?

Payment

• Yeogiseo gyesanhaeyo (Yeo-gi-seo gye-san-hae-yo) - I'll pay here
• Pojanghae juseyo (Po-jang-hae ju-se-yo) - Please wrap it as a gift
• Seonmulyong-ieyo (Seon-mul-yong-i-e-yo) - It's a gift

Getting Around

Asking Directions

• ~ eodieyo? (~ eo-di-ye-yo?) - Where is ~?
• Jido boyeojuseyo (Ji-do bo-yeo-ju-se-yo) - Show me the map please
• Georeoseo eolmana geollyeoyo? (Geo-reo-seo eol-ma-na geol-ryeo-yo?) - How far to walk?
• Gakkauin jihacheolyeog eodieyo? (Ga-kka-un ji-ha-cheol-yeog eo-di-ye-yo?) - Where is the nearest subway station?

Taxi

• ~-ro gajuseyo (~-ro ga-ju-se-yo) - Please go to ~
  • Example: "Myeongdong-euro gajuseyo" (To Myeongdong)
• Jikjinhae juseyo (Jik-jin-hae ju-se-yo) - Go straight please
• Jwahoejeon / Uhoejeonhae juseyo (Jwa-hoe-jeon / U-hoe-jeon-hae ju-se-yo) - Turn left / right please
• Yeogi naeryeojuseyo (Yeogi nae-ryeo-ju-se-yo) - Drop me here please
• Yeongsujeung juseyo (Yeong-su-jeung ju-se-yo) - Receipt please

Subway & Bus

• Hwanseunghaeya hanayo? (Hwan-seung-hae-ya ha-na-yo?) - Do I need to transfer?
• Meot beonjjae chulguyeyo? (Meot beon-jjae chul-gu-ye-yo?) - Which exit number?
• I beoseu ~ gayo? (I beo-seu ~ ga-yo?) - Does this bus go to ~?

Convenience Stores & Markets

Convenience Stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven)

• Tmoney chungjeonhae juseyo (Ti-meo-ni chung-jeon-hae ju-se-yo) - Please recharge my T-money
• Igeo deowojuseyo (I-geo deo-wo-ju-se-yo) - Please heat this up
• Ilhoeyong keup isseoyo? (Il-hoe-yong keup i-sseo-yo?) - Do you have disposable cups?

Markets (Namdaemun, Gwangjang)

• Gyeokaneun eodiseo haeyo? (Gye-san-eun eo-di-seo hae-yo?) - Where do I pay?
• Bongtu juseyo (Bong-tu ju-se-yo) - Bag please
• Pojanghae juseyo (Po-jang-hae ju-se-yo) - Please wrap it

At Your Accommodation

Check-in / Check-out

• Chekeuinhae juseyo (Chekeu-in-hae ju-se-yo) - I'd like to check in
• Yeyakhaesseoyo (Ye-yak-ha-sseo-yo) - I have a reservation
• Jigeum chekeu-authalgeyo (Ji-geum chekeu-au-t-hal-ge-yo) - Checking out now

Requests

• Waipai bimilbeonho allyeojuseyo (Wa-i-pa-i bi-mil-beon-ho al-ryeo-ju-se-yo) - WiFi password please
• Sugeon deo juseyo (Su-geon deo ju-se-yo) - More towels please
• Kkaekkusi cheongsohae juseyo (Kkae-kku-si cheong-so-hae ju-se-yo) - Please clean thoroughly
• Jim bogwanhae juseyo (Jim bo-gwan-hae ju-se-yo) - Please store my luggage

Emergency Situations

Hospital & Pharmacy

• Byeongwon gajwoyo (Byeong-won ga-jwo-yo) - Take me to the hospital
• Yakkuk eodieyo? (Yak-kuk eo-di-ye-yo?) - Where is the pharmacy?
• Yeongeo haneon uisa isseoyo? (Yeong-eo ha-neon ui-sa i-sseo-yo?) - Do you have an English-speaking doctor?

Police & Help

• Gyeongchul bulleojuseyo (Gyeong-chal bul-reo-ju-se-yo) - Call the police please
• Dowajuseyo (Do-wa-ju-se-yo) - Help me please
• Ireobeoryeosseoyo (Il-eo-beo-ryeo-sseo-yo) - I lost something

Want to Learn More Korean?

Pronunciation Tips

Korean pronunciation is easier than you think.

• Read Romanization exactly as written - an-nyeong-ha-se-yo → 안녕하세요
• Final consonants are light - hap (합), ip (입)
• Link sounds naturally - bareum (발음) → ba-reum

Recommended Apps

• Papago - Most accurate Korean translator
• Google Translate - Camera translation feature is super useful
• Duolingo Korean - Great for basics

Speak Like a Local

• Use polite endings - Words ending in ~yo, ~seumnida
• Smile - Works even without words
• Use gestures - Combine with hand signs for clarity

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Seoul hard to navigate without Korean? A: Not at all! English works in most places. But these basic phrases make things 10x easier.

Q: Can I pronounce Korean just from Romanization? A: Yes! Korean Romanization is super close to actual pronunciation. Just read it as written.

Q: Where should I start learning Korean? A: Start with this guide. Master these 50 phrases and you're set for most situations.

Q: Is it okay if I make mistakes? A: Completely! Koreans love it when foreigners try speaking Korean. The effort matters more than perfection.

Q: Will they understand me if my pronunciation isn't perfect? A: Yes! Just speak slowly and clearly. Add gestures and you'll be fine.

Q: Do I need to learn Hanja (Chinese characters)? A: No! You only need Romanization. Hanja isn't necessary for travel Korean.

Final Tips

Learning a bit of Korean doubles your Seoul travel quality.

Memorize these 10 core phrases:

• Hello (Annyeonghaseyo)
• Thank you (Gamsahamnida)
• How much? (Eolmayeyo?)
• This one please (Igeo juseyo)
• Where is the restroom? (Hwajangsil eodieyo?)
• Please go to ~ (~-ro gajuseyo)
• Yes/No (Ye/Aniyo)
• I'm sorry (Joesonghamnida)
• I understand (Algetseumnida)
• Help me please (Dowajuseyo)

With just these, you can handle restaurants, shopping, transportation, and emergencies.

Try saying "Annyeonghaseyo" (hello) in Korean, and locals will smile and rush to help you. Seriously!

Enjoy the satisfaction of communicating in Korean during your Seoul trip. It'll make your journey way more special. 😊