Why Bother?
Most signs in tourist areas are in English, and younger Koreans often speak enough English for basic transactions. But outside of Seoul's main tourist districts, English drops off quickly. More importantly, making even a small effort with Korean is consistently well-received — Koreans genuinely appreciate visitors who try.
Pronunciation Basics
Korean vowels are consistent — unlike English, they don't shift between words. A few to know:
— 아 (a) = "ah"
— 오 (o) = "oh"
— 이 (i) = "ee"
— 우 (u) = "oo"
The consonants ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ are softer than English G, D, B at the start of words. Don't over-stress them.
The Essential 20
Greetings & Basics
안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo) — Hello
감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida) — Thank you (formal)
괜찮아요 (Gwaenchanayo) — It's okay / No problem
네 (Ne) — Yes
아니요 (Aniyo) — No
죄송합니다 (Joesonghamnida) — I'm sorry / Excuse me
At Restaurants
이거 주세요 (Igeo juseyo) — This one, please (point at menu)
얼마예요? (Eolmayeyo?) — How much is it?
맛있어요 (Massisseoyo) — It's delicious
영수증 주세요 (Yeongsujeung juseyo) — Receipt, please
물 주세요 (Mul juseyo) — Water, please
Getting Around
어디예요? (Eodiyeyo?) — Where is it?
[place] 가주세요 ([place] gajuseyo) — Please take me to [place] (in a taxi)
지하철역 어디예요? (Jihacheolyeok eodiyeyo?) — Where is the subway station?
화장실 어디예요? (Hwajangsil eodiyeyo?) — Where is the bathroom?
Shopping
얼마예요? (Eolmayeyo?) — How much?
너무 비싸요 (Neomu bissayo) — Too expensive
깎아주세요 (Kkakka juseyo) — Please give me a discount (markets only)
이거 주세요 (Igeo juseyo) — I'll take this one
봉투 주세요 (Bongtu juseyo) — Bag, please
At Restaurants: The One Trick That Always Works
Point at what someone at another table is eating and say "저거 주세요" (Jeogeo juseyo) — "That one, please." Works every time, requires zero Korean proficiency beyond those three syllables.
Learning Resources
For a 1–2 week trip, 30 minutes with Duolingo Korean before you go covers most of the above. The Korean alphabet (Hangul) takes about 2 hours to learn and dramatically improves your ability to read menus, signs, and station names — worth the investment even if you learn nothing else.
