Most visitors to Korea get by on English and pointing. It works. But Korea is a country where making even a small effort to speak the language produces a reaction entirely out of proportion to the effort made. A single correct Korean sentence in a restaurant will earn you more goodwill than you expect. The locals do not expect you to speak Korean. When you do, something shifts.
This guide covers the phrases that actually come up — in cafés, on public transport, and in shops. Nothing theoretical. Nothing you will need once and never again.
A word on Hangul
Korean uses its own alphabet, Hangul (한글), which was invented in 1443 specifically to be easy to learn. Unlike Chinese characters or Japanese kanji, Hangul is a true alphabet — 14 consonants, 10 vowels, combined into syllable blocks.
Most learners can read Hangul accurately within a week of practice. It is worth learning before you arrive. Menus, station signs, and street names will make much more sense if you can sound out the letters, even if you do not know what the words mean.
At the café
Korean café culture is extensive and worth engaging with. A few phrases go a long way.
Ordering:
- 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요 (Americano han jan juseyo) — One Americano, please
- 카페라떼 주세요 (Kape latte juseyo) — A café latte, please
- 따뜻한 걸로 주세요 (Ttatteuthan geollo juseyo) — A hot one, please
- 아이스로 주세요 (Aiseullo juseyo) — Iced, please
- 테이크아웃이요 (Teikeuausieyo) — To take away
- 여기서 마실게요 (Yeogiseo masilgeyo) — I'll drink here
Asking for things:
- 영수증 주세요 (Yeongseujeung juseyo) — A receipt, please
- 화장실이 어디예요? (Hwajangsiri eodiyeyo?) — Where is the bathroom?
- 와이파이 비밀번호가 뭐예요? (Waipai bimilbeonhoga mwoyeyo?) — What is the wifi password?
The phrase you will use most: 주세요 (juseyo) — please give me. Attach it to almost any noun and you can order most things.
On public transport
Seoul's metro is one of the best in the world — extensive, reliable, clearly signed in both Korean and English. The phrases below cover the moments when the signs are not enough.
Buying tickets:
- [장소]까지 얼마예요? ([Jangso]kkaji eolmayeyo?) — How much to [place]?
- 편도요 (Pyeondoyo) — Single, please
- 왕복이요 (Wangbogieyo) — Return, please
- 다음 열차가 언제예요? (Daeum yeolchaga eonjeyeyo?) — When is the next train?
On the metro or bus:
- 이 버스가 [장소]에 가요? (I beoseuga [jangso]e gayo?) — Does this bus go to [place]?
- 다음 정류장이 어디예요? (Daeum jeongnyujang-i eodiyeyo?) — What is the next stop?
- [장소]역이 어디예요? ([Jangso]yeo-gi eodiyeyo?) — Where is [place] station?
When lost:
- 죄송합니다, 도와주실 수 있나요? (Joesonghamnida, dowajusil su innayo?) — Excuse me, can you help me?
- [장소]에 어떻게 가요? ([Jangso]e eotteoke gayo?) — How do I get to [place]?
- 오른쪽 / 왼쪽 / 직진 (Oreunjjok / Oenjjok / Jikjin) — Right / Left / Straight
Shopping
Korean markets — especially traditional ones like Gwangjang — are not self-service. Interaction is part of the experience.
In a shop:
- 이거 얼마예요? (Igeo eolmayeyo?) — How much is this?
- 다른 색깔 있어요? (Dareun saekkal isseoyo?) — Do you have another colour?
- 입어봐도 돼요? (Ibeobeado dwaeyo?) — Can I try it on?
- 이걸로 할게요 (Igeolro halgeyo) — I'll take this one
- 그냥 구경 중이에요 (Geunyang gugyeong jungieyo) — Just browsing, thanks
At a market:
- 얼마예요? (Eolmayeyo?) — How much?
- 깎아주세요 (Kkakkajuseyo) — Please give me a discount
- 신선해요? (Sinseonhaeyo?) — Is it fresh?
- 이거 뭐예요? (Igeo mwoyeyo?) — What is this?
Useful everywhere:
- 모르겠어요 (Moreugesseoyo) — I don't understand
- 천천히 말씀해주세요 (Cheoncheonhi malsseum haejuseyo) — Please speak slowly
- 영어 하세요? (Yeongeo haseyo?) — Do you speak English?
How to actually use these before you go
Reading a list of Korean phrases is not the same as being able to produce them at the counter of a Myeongdong street food stall with a queue behind you.
Learn the sound, not the spelling. Korean romanisation is a guide, not a pronunciation system. 지 is not "ji" as in English — it is closer to "jee" but shorter. Find recordings of native speakers for every phrase you want to use and learn the sound, not the letters.
Drill the scenarios, not the phrases. Instead of studying "transport phrases", imagine the scene: you are at Hongik University station, you need to get to Gyeongbokgung, you cannot find the right platform. What do you say? Practise that specific moment — several times, aloud — until it feels automatic.
Carry a translation app as backup, but try Korean first. Using the app immediately signals that the conversation will be in English. Attempting Korean first — even badly — changes the interaction. Most Koreans will meet you more than halfway.
The goal is not fluency. The goal is enough Korean to navigate, to show respect, and to have small moments of genuine connection. That bar is lower than you think, and the goodwill you earn by trying is real.