You do not need to speak Korean to travel around Korea.
But knowing a few Korean phrases can completely change the way your trip feels.
Not because every Korean expects foreigners to speak Korean.
They don't.
The real advantage is much simpler:
You can order food without freezing.
You can ask where the restroom is.
You can tell a cashier you want a bag.
You can ask whether something is available.
And sometimes, saying just one sentence in Korean turns an awkward interaction into a surprisingly friendly one.
The good news?
You don't need 500 words.
Start with these 25 Korean phrases you can actually use while traveling in Korea.
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| An illustrated guide to 25 essential Korean phrases travelers can actually use while ordering food, shopping, getting around and asking for help in Korea. |
Before You Start: One Korean Rule That Matters
If you're a traveler, you don't need to worry about mastering Korea's complicated speech levels.
There is one shortcut:
Start polite.
Many of the phrases in this guide end in -요 (-yo) or use another polite form.
That's intentional.
Korean changes depending on age, relationship and social context, so the casual Korean you hear between friends in a K-drama isn't always what you should say to a restaurant employee or stranger.
For a visitor, polite Korean is the safest default.
Official Seoul tourism guidance similarly recommends beginning with formal/polite speech.
And don't panic about pronunciation.
If your Korean isn't perfect, that's okay.
Speak clearly, be polite, and use the phrase you know.
1. 안녕하세요 — Annyeonghaseyo
Meaning: Hello
If you learn only one Korean greeting, make it this one.
Use 안녕하세요 when entering a small shop, meeting someone, speaking to hotel staff or greeting someone politely.
You may have heard:
안녕! — Annyeong!
That's the casual version.
Don't make it your default with strangers.
Local Tip
You don't need an enormous dramatic bow every time you say hello.
A natural 안녕하세요 with a small nod is enough in most everyday travel situations.
2. 감사합니다 — Gamsahamnida
Meaning: Thank you
You'll use this constantly.
At restaurants.
At cafés.
At shops.
At hotels.
When someone helps you find the right subway entrance.
When someone hands you something.
감사합니다 is polite, extremely useful and worth memorizing before your flight.
3. 죄송합니다 — Joesonghamnida
Meaning: I'm sorry / Excuse me
Use this when you actually need to apologize — for example, if you bump into someone or cause an inconvenience.
You'll sometimes see English romanizations that make Korean pronunciation look easier than it really is. Don't become obsessed with reproducing every sound perfectly.
For reference, the National Institute of Korean Language gives the standard pronunciation of 죄송합니다 as [죄:송함니다] or [줴:송함니다].
For travelers, learning the phrase and using it politely matters more than achieving perfect pronunciation.
4. 괜찮아요 — Gwaenchanayo
Meaning: It's okay / I'm okay / No, thank you
This is one of those Korean expressions whose usefulness is much bigger than its English translation.
Someone accidentally bumps into you?
괜찮아요.
Someone offers something you don't need?
Depending on the situation:
괜찮아요.
Someone asks if you're okay?
네, 괜찮아요.
Yes, I'm okay.
You'll hear this word everywhere once you start noticing it.
5. 잠시만요 — Jamsimanyo
Meaning: Just a moment / Excuse me for a moment
Very useful when you need a second.
Maybe you're looking for your card.
Maybe you're checking something on your phone.
Maybe someone is waiting for your answer.
잠시만요.
It buys you a moment without having to explain everything in Korean.
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| A quick guide to five basic polite Korean phrases for travelers, including hello, thank you, sorry, it's okay and just a moment. |
At Restaurants & Cafés
This is where a tiny amount of Korean becomes surprisingly powerful.
You don't need to discuss Korean cuisine fluently.
Pointing + one short sentence can do most of the work.
6. 이거 주세요 — Igeo juseyo
Meaning: This one, please.
This may be the single most useful shopping-and-food phrase in this entire guide.
이거 = this
주세요 = please give me
Point at the menu:
이거 주세요.
Point at something in a bakery:
이거 주세요.
Point at an item in a store:
이거 주세요.
You just unlocked a large percentage of everyday tourist transactions in Korea.
7. 여기요 — Yeogiyo
Meaning: Excuse me / Over here, please.
This one surprises some foreign visitors.
In many Korean restaurants, you don't necessarily sit silently waiting for your server to notice you.
You may hear customers call:
여기요!
to get a staff member's attention.
VISITKOREA itself explains Yeogiyo! as a phrase customers can call when they want to order more or ask a question.
Say it normally.
You don't need to shout across the entire restaurant like you're in a drama.
8. 메뉴판 주세요 — Menyupan juseyo
Meaning: Menu, please.
메뉴판 means menu.
If you specifically need an English menu:
영어 메뉴판 있나요?
Yeongeo menyupan innayo?
Do you have an English menu?
This exact type of phrase is also included in official Seoul visitor guidance.
9. 물 주세요 — Mul juseyo
Meaning: Water, please.
물 = water.
Simple.
Useful.
Worth knowing.
One cultural note: depending on the restaurant, water may already be provided or there may be a self-service water station.
So before calling someone, look around.
10. 포장해 주세요 — Pojanghae juseyo
Meaning: Please pack it to go.
Use this when ordering takeaway or asking for something to be packed.
At cafés you may also simply hear people distinguish between eating there and taking something out.
If you're unsure, this phrase gets your intention across:
포장해 주세요.
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| A practical Korean restaurant phrase guide showing how travelers can order food, ask for water, call staff and request takeaway. |
Shopping in Korea
You've entered Myeongdong.
Your suitcase is already in danger.
Now you need four phrases.
11. 얼마예요? — Eolmayeyo?
Meaning: How much is it?
Point at something and ask:
얼마예요?
Official Seoul tourism materials also list this among useful basic Korean phrases.
In large stores, prices are usually displayed clearly.
But at markets, small shops or stalls, this phrase can be especially useful.
12. 카드 돼요? — Kadeu dwaeyo?
Meaning: Can I pay by card? / Do you take cards?
Literally, this is closer to asking whether card payment “works/is possible.”
It's short and natural enough for a traveler to use.
카드 돼요?
If you're shopping somewhere and aren't sure about payment, this is far more useful than memorizing a long textbook sentence.
13. 봉투 주세요 — Bongtu juseyo
Meaning: A bag, please.
봉투 = bag.
Useful at shops when you need a shopping bag.
If the cashier asks something and you suspect they're asking whether you need one, you can also simply respond:
네, 주세요.
Yes, please.
14. 이거 있어요? — Igeo isseoyo?
Meaning: Do you have this?
This becomes especially useful if you have a photo on your phone.
Show the employee the item.
Then:
이거 있어요?
You don't need to know the Korean name for the product.
Your phone does half the conversation for you.
15. 다른 색 있어요? — Dareun saek isseoyo?
Meaning: Do you have another color?
다른 = different/another
색 = color
있어요? = is there/do you have?
For clothing, accessories or souvenirs, this is a very practical shopping phrase.
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| A Korean shopping phrase guide for asking prices, paying by card, requesting a bag, finding an item and asking for another color. |
Getting Around Korea
Korean subway systems are increasingly accessible to international visitors, but there will still be moments when a human being is faster than your phone.
16. 화장실 어디예요? — Hwajangsil eodiyeyo?
Meaning: Where is the restroom?
Memorize this one.
Seriously.
Official Seoul travel materials also include 화장실 어디예요? as a useful visitor phrase.
화장실 = restroom
어디예요? = where is it?
This works in restaurants, cafés, stations, shopping centers and many other places.
17. 지하철역 어디예요? — Jihacheol-yeok eodiyeyo?
Meaning: Where is the subway station?
지하철 = subway
역 = station
You can actually reuse the same structure:
___ 어디예요?
Where is ___?
Once you understand that pattern, you've learned much more than one sentence.
18. 여기 맞아요? — Yeogi majayo?
Meaning: Is this the right place? / Am I in the right place?
Your map says you've arrived.
Reality says otherwise.
This happens.
Show the destination on your phone and ask:
여기 맞아요?
This is an extremely useful way to confirm that you're in the correct place.
19. 어떻게 가요? — Eotteoke gayo?
Meaning: How do I get there?
Show the destination first.
Then ask:
어떻게 가요?
If the answer comes back as five sentences of rapid Korean, don't panic.
The person may point.
And sometimes that is all you needed.
20. 도와주세요 — Dowajuseyo
Meaning: Please help me.
Hopefully you won't need it often.
But this is worth knowing.
Official Seoul guidance also lists 도와 주세요 among useful phrases for asking for help.
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| A practical Korean phrase guide for travelers asking where the restroom or subway station is, confirming a location, getting directions and requesting help. |
When Communication Gets Difficult
Here's the reality nobody tells you in phrasebooks:
The hardest part isn't always saying the Korean sentence.
It's understanding the Korean answer.
So these last five phrases are your backup system.
21. 한국어 잘 못해요 — Hangugeo jal motaeyo
Meaning: I don't speak Korean well.
This is much more useful than pretending you understood something.
한국어 = Korean language
잘 못해요 = can't do it well
Say it with a smile.
Now the other person knows to simplify things, point, type or find another way to communicate.
22. 영어 하세요? — Yeongeo haseyo?
Meaning: Do you speak English?
Perfectly reasonable to ask.
But don't assume every Korean you meet should speak English.
Ask politely.
If the answer is no, use your phone, gestures and the simple phrases in this guide.
23. 다시 말해 주세요 — Dasi malhae juseyo
Meaning: Please say it again.
다시 = again
말해 주세요 = please say/tell me
If you almost understood something:
다시 말해 주세요.
Of course, there's one possible problem.
They may repeat it...
at exactly the same speed.
Welcome to language learning.
24. 천천히 말해 주세요 — Cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo
Meaning: Please speak slowly.
This may save you when someone is trying to help but speaking too quickly.
You can even combine it with the previous phrase:
다시, 천천히 말해 주세요.
Please say it again, slowly.
25. 잘 모르겠어요 — Jal moreugesseoyo
Meaning: I'm not sure / I don't really understand.
This is a useful polite escape hatch.
You don't need to nod while understanding absolutely nothing.
Say:
잘 모르겠어요.
Then show your phone, point at the map or try another method.
Communication doesn't have to be elegant.
It just has to work.
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| A saveable Korean travel survival card with useful phrases for language difficulties and simple tips for communicating when you do not understand Korean. |
The 10 Phrases I'd Memorize First
Twenty-five still feels like too many?
Then learn these ten:
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 안녕하세요 | Hello |
| 감사합니다 | Thank you |
| 죄송합니다 | I'm sorry |
| 괜찮아요 | It's okay / I'm okay |
| 이거 주세요 | This one, please |
| 여기요 | Excuse me / Over here |
| 얼마예요? | How much is it? |
| 카드 돼요? | Can I pay by card? |
| 화장실 어디예요? | Where is the restroom? |
| 도와주세요 | Please help me |
Screenshot that table.
You can survive quite a lot with it.
One Phrase Pattern That Unlocks Korean
If you remember only one building block from this guide, remember:
주세요 — Juseyo
It means roughly:
Please give me / Please do this for me
That's why you keep seeing it.
이거 주세요
This one, please.
물 주세요
Water, please.
봉투 주세요
A bag, please.
And in verb constructions:
도와주세요
Please help me.
말해 주세요
Please tell/say it.
Once you start recognizing 주세요, Korean stops looking like 25 completely unrelated sentences.
You start seeing patterns.
And that's a much better way to learn.
A Korean Local's Advice: Don't Try to Sound Korean
You don't need to.
Foreign visitors sometimes worry so much about pronunciation that they become afraid to say anything.
But your goal during a trip isn't to convince someone you grew up in Seoul.
Your goal is communication.
Say:
안녕하세요.
Point.
Say:
이거 주세요.
Finish with:
감사합니다.
That's already a successful interaction.
And if the conversation becomes too difficult?
Your phone exists.
Use translation.
Show photos.
Show the Korean address.
Point at the menu.
Koreans do not expect a first-time visitor to suddenly become fluent.
A few polite words simply make the interaction easier — and often warmer.
One Warning About K-Drama Korean
K-dramas are fantastic for making Korean expressions familiar.
But don't copy every sentence exactly as you hear it.
Characters may be:
- close friends
- siblings
- couples
- classmates
- enemies
- speaking casually
- deliberately being rude
Korean speech changes according to the relationship between speakers.
That's why this travel guide intentionally favors polite expressions.
If you enjoy recognizing the Korean you hear on screen, read our guide:
[INTERNAL LINK — 20 Korean Words You Always Hear in K-Dramas]
That article is about understanding Korean entertainment.
This one is about surviving your trip.
Different mission.
FAQ
Do I need to speak Korean to travel in South Korea?
No. Many international visitors travel Korea without speaking Korean. In major tourist areas, English signage and translation tools can help considerably. Still, a few Korean phrases make everyday interactions easier.
Should I say annyeong or annyeonghaseyo?
With strangers, employees or people you've just met, use 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo). 안녕 (annyeong) is casual and shouldn't be your default with strangers.
What is the most useful Korean phrase for tourists?
If I had to choose one beyond hello and thank you, it would be:
이거 주세요 — Igeo juseyo — This one, please.
You can use it with food, drinks, shopping and menus.
Is Korean pronunciation difficult?
Some sounds don't map neatly onto English, so romanization is only a guide. Don't let imperfect pronunciation stop you from trying.
Is it rude to speak casual Korean to strangers?
It can sound overly familiar or inappropriate depending on the situation. Travelers are safer beginning with polite expressions ending in -요 or other polite forms. Seoul's official visitor guidance likewise advises visitors to begin formally.
Can I just use a translation app?
Absolutely.
Think of Korean phrases and translation tools as partners, not competitors.
Knowing basic phrases helps with quick interactions; your phone can handle the complicated ones.
Final Thought
You don't need perfect Korean to have a great trip to Korea.
You need enough Korean to make the first move.
안녕하세요.
이거 주세요.
감사합니다.
Three short expressions can already take you surprisingly far.
Learn ten and you'll feel more comfortable.
Learn twenty-five and you'll start noticing something even better:
Korean isn't just text on signs anymore.
You're beginning to interact with it.
And that makes Korea feel a little less like a place you're visiting —
and a little more like a place you're experiencing.
Keep Learning Korean Before Your Trip
Want to understand the Korean words you'll hear outside of everyday travel situations? Our 20 Korean Words You Always Hear in K-Dramas — What They Really Mean in Korea guide explains common expressions you may already recognize from Korean shows.
You may also hear Koreans say “fighting” or “hwaiting” to encourage someone. Our Why Do Koreans Say “Fighting”? What Hwaiting Really Means in Korea guide explains what the expression actually means and when Koreans use it.
And if you're curious about why the Korean language changes depending on age and relationships, read Why Do Koreans Ask Your Age? What It Really Means in Korea to understand the cultural context behind one of the questions that often surprises foreign visitors.
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