Useful Korean Phrases for Tourists

By LTL Team HQ
Learn Korean
April 28, 2025

Survive That Trip to Seoul: Korean Phrases for Travellers

Planning a trip to Korea?

Knowing just a few key Korean phrases can make your journey smoother and much more enjoyable.

👉 In this guide, we’ve put together essential Korean phrases for tourists, covering everything from greetings and asking for directions to ordering food, shopping, and staying at hotels.

While many South Koreans, especially in major cities, speak some English, learning a few essential Korean phrases can significantly enhance your trip experience. It can help you get around, especially in places that are more traditional, where people only speak Korean.

With just a little Korean under your belt, you’ll feel more confident exploring all that Korea has to offer. Let’s get learning!

Useful Korean Phrases for Tourists | Greetings in Korean
Useful Korean Phrases for Tourists | Asking for Directions in Korean
Useful Korean Phrases for Tourists | Ordering Food in Korea
Useful Korean Phrases for Tourists | Shopping in Korea
Useful Korean Phrases for Tourists | Staying at a Hotel in Korea
Useful Korean Phrases for Tourists | FAQ

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Useful Korean Phrases for Tourists | Greetings in Korean

^{an-nyeong ha-se-yo}

안녕하세요

_Hello

One of the most common phrases you’ll hear in Korea is 안녕하세요 (an-nyeong ha-se-yo) which means hello. It’s a polite way to greet people and can be used in almost any situation.

For a more casual setting, such as with close friends or younger people, you can simply say 안녕 (an-nyeong).

MOST FORMAL	MORE FORMAL	CASUAL
안녕하십니까 an-nyeong ha-sip-ni-kka	안녕하세요 an-nyeong ha-se-yo	안녕 an-nyeong

^{gam-sa-ham-ni-da}

감사합니다

_{Thank You}

Here is a word you should know before visiting Korea as this might be the word you will get to use most often. It’s always good to show gratitude!

You’ll hear this phrase often in stores, restaurants, and anywhere service is provided. Don’t forget to say this when leaving a place that provides service to you!

MOST FORMAL	MORE FORMAL	CASUAL
감사합니다 gam-sa-ham-ni-da	감사해요 gam-sa-he-yo	고마워 go-ma-wo

^{sil-le-ham-ni-da}

실례합니다

_{Excuse Me (most formal)}

This phrase is important for getting someone’s attention politely, such as when you need to ask for directions when you’re in a crowded place or need to order at a restaurant.

Saying excuse me is almost always said in the most formal form.

^{jwe-song-ham-nida}

죄송합니다

_{I’m Sorry}

Apologizing in Korean can be useful, whether you’ve accidentally bumped into someone or made a mistake.

죄송합니다 (jwe-song-ham-nida) is the formal way to apologize.

MOST FORMAL	MORE FORMAL	MORE CASUAL	CASUAL
죄송합니다 jwe-song-ham-nida	죄송해요 jew-song-he-yo	미안해요 mi-an-he-yo	미안해 mi-an-he

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Useful Korean Phrases for Tourists | Asking for Directions in Korean

Getting around in a foreign country can be challenging, but with these useful phrases, asking for directions in Korea will be much easier.

장소 어디에 있어요? ]
[Jangso] eo-di-e it-sseo-yo
Where is [location]?

This phrase is crucial when asking for directions. Simply replace [Jangso] with the place you’re looking for.

For example, if you want to ask where the restroom is, you would say:

화장실 어디에 있어요? ]
hwa-jang-sil eo-di-e it-sseo-yo
Where is the bathroom?

화장실
hwa-jang-sil
Bathroom

지하철 어디에 있어요?]
ji-ha-cheol eo-di-e it-sseo-yo
Where is the subway?

^ji-ha-cheol

지하철

_{Subway, metro}

If you are looking for a specific station, you can say:

서울역 어디에 있어요?]
Seoul-yeok eo-di-e it-sseo-yo
Where is the Seoul Station?

^Seoul-yeok

서울역

_{Seoul station}

버스 정류장어디에 있어요?
beo-seu jeong-ryuj-ang eo-di-e it-sseo-yo?
Where is the bus stop?

^{beo-seu jeong-ryuj}

버스 정류장

_{Bus stop}

호텔어디에있어요?
ho-te-re eo-di-e-it-sseop-yo?
Where is the hotel?

^ho-te-re

호텔

_Hotel

백화점어디에 있어요?
baek-hwa-jeom eo-di-e it-sseo-yo?
Where is the department store?

^{baek-hwa-jeom}

백화점

_{Department store}

For learners staying longer in Korea, there are also youth-friendly language programs such as the Summer Camp Korea and Winter Camp Korea, along with long-term options like the Gap Year in Korea program for students who want deeper cultural immersion.

Directional Phrases

KOREAN	HANJA	MEANING
왼쪽	wen-jjok	Left
오른쪽	oh-reun-jjok	Right
직진	jik-jin)	Straight

왼쪽에 있어요
wen-jjok-e it-sseo-yo
It’s on the left

왼쪽으로 가세요
wen-jjok-eu-ro ga-se-yo
Go to the left

오른쪽에 있어요
oh-reun-jjok-e it-sseo-yo
It’s on the right

오른쪽으로 가세요
oh-reun-jjok-eu-ro ga-se-yo
Go to the right

직진 하세요
jik-jin ha-se-yo
Go straight

앞에 있어요
ap-pe it-sseo-yo
It’s in the front

If you want to ask how much it costs to get somewhere you can say:

[장소]까지 얼마에요?
[Jangso] kkaji eol-ma-e-yo
How much does it cost to [Location]?

서울역 까지 얼마에요? ]
seoul-yeok-kka-ji eol-ma-e-yo
How much does it cost to Seoul Station?

공항 까지 얼마에요? ]
gong-hang kka-ji eol-ma-e-yo
How much does it cost to the Airport?

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Useful Korean Phrases for Tourists | Ordering Food in Korea

Eating Korean food should be a top to-do list during your visit. There are so many places you can visit to eat delicious Korean food.

^ju-se-yo

주세요

_{please give me}

This is a phrase you will use at the end when asking or ordering something.

For example:

콜라 주세요
cola ju-se-yo
Give me a coke/ I will have a coke

떡볶이 주세요
tteok-bbok-ki ju-se-yo
I will have the Korean Rice Cake.

갈비 주세요
galbi ju-se-yo
I will have Galbi

영어 메뉴 있어요?
yeong-eo men-yu it-sseo-yo
Do you have an English menu?

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Useful Korean Phrases for Tourists | Shopping in Korea

Korea has amazing shopping experiences, whether you’re browsing through traditional markets, trendy boutiques, or big shopping malls. While most places have fixed prices, markets may allow some bargaining.

This is the simplest and most commonly used phrase when asking for prices while shopping.

^{yi-geo eol-ma-e-yo}

이거 얼마에요?

_{How much is this?}

이 바지 얼마에요?
yi ba-ji-eol-ma-e-yo
How much are these pants?

^ba-ji

바지

_Pants

이 제품 얼마에요?
yi je-poom ul-ma-e-yo
How much is this product?

^je-poom

제품

_Product

현금으로 결제 할게요
hyeon-geum-eu-ro gyul-je hal-gge-yo
I will pay with cash.

카드로 결제 할게요
kad-eu-ro gyul-je hal-gge-yo
I will pay with a card.

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Useful Korean Phrases for Tourists | Staying At A Hotel in Korea

When staying at a hotel or guesthouse, it’s helpful to know a few phrases to communicate with the staff.

예약했어요
yeyakhaesseoyo
I made a reservation

체크아웃 시간 언제에요?
Chekeuaut sigan eonje eyo?
What time is checkout?

방 청소해 주세요
bang chung-so-hae ju-se-yo
Please clean my room.

Now that you have picked up some simple phrases, make sure to try using them on your next visit to Korea!

Useful Korean Phrases for Tourists | FAQ

Is English widely spoken in Korea?

English is common in tourist areas, major hotels, and some restaurants, but in smaller towns or local markets, basic Korean phrases are very helpful.

Do I need to know Korean to travel in Korea?

No, but learning a few basic phrases can make your trip much easier and help you connect with locals.

How can I practice Korean before my trip?

You can use language apps, watch Korean dramas or YouTube videos, or even take Korean language classes online with Flexi Classes!

How do you say hospital in Korean?

병원 (byung-won)

In case of emergency you can say :

가까운 병원으로 가주세요 (ga-kka-eun byung-won-eu-ro ga-ju-se-yo)

Please take me to the nearest hospital.

How do you say emergency room in Korean?

응급실 (eung-gup-sil) – emergency room

가까운 응급실로 가주세요 (ga-kka-eung-gup-sil-ro ga-ju-se-yo)

Please take me to the nearest emergency room

How do you say I want to buy this in Korean?

이 제품 사고 싶어요 (yi je-poom sa-go-shi-po-yo)

이 제품 (yi je-poom) – this product

사고 싶어요 (sa-go-shi-po-yo) – want to buy.

Want More From LTL?

FANCY LEARNING KOREAN? Check out our online Korean courses here.

We offer a 7-day free trial to all online students where you can study Korean 24/7.

Want to study Korean in Korea instead? Our Korean courses in Seoul can either be taken in small groups of no more than 5 students or individually for a more tailored experience.