How did they do it? Movies and TV shows from Korea are known for having their style, high production standards, and new stories. There are a lot of loyal fans of K-culture worldwide because it is different from other cultural exports: the content is very good.

Rise of K-Pop Giants

K-Culture includes many different things like music, TV shows, movies, clothes, food, and language. People everywhere love it! K-pop music, especially groups like BTS and Blackpink, has become household names, both locally and internationally. Their catchy songs and awesome dance moves have made them big stars worldwide.

The success of K-pop alone brings in billions of dollars, and many people say they visit South Korea just because of K-pop. Even with the challenges of COVID-19, South Korea’s tourism industry is bouncing back strong, and K-pop is a big reason for that.

Impact of Korean Television and Films

People all over the world love Korean TV shows and movies, thanks to sites like Netflix and YouTube. Huge hits like “Squid Game” and “Train To Busan” get people all over the world interested in Korean stories. It greatly influenced both people around the world and K-Culture.

They love the stories and how they mix old and new traditions. Squid Game has become the most-watched show on Netflix in 90 countries, including Ireland, showcasing its broad international appeal. The series is part of the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, which has been sweeping the globe with Korean cultural products.

After Squid Game came out, sellers of dalgona, the honeycomb candy that was featured in the show, saw a big jump in sales both in Korea and around the world. In the weeks after the show’s opening, sales of everyday clothes that looked like those worn on the show, like Vans slip-on shoes and green tracksuits, went up a lot. South Korea’s clothing industry had a short comeback when people wanted to buy clothes that were inspired by Squid Game. After the first episode of Squid Game aired, sellers of costume accessories like the guards’ masks also saw a lot of extra business as people got ready for Halloween.

Influence of Fashion on K-Culture

Korean fashion is super popular worldwide, thanks to the Korean Wave or Hallyu. This wave has made people everywhere interested in K-Culture, like music, TV shows, movies, and food. The cool styles and looks from Korean fashion have caught the attention of people all over the world. Lots of people who love K-Culture want to visit South Korea to see the fashion, music, and entertainment up close. This has helped boost tourism in South Korea, which is good for their economy.

Korean fashion trends, often started by K-pop stars, have become popular everywhere. Styles like big clothes, bright colors, and wearing lots of layers are now cool all over the world. Many designers and fans get inspiration from Korean fashion and this big success has also made South Korea more powerful globally.

K-pop and K-dramas, in particular, have become big draws for tourists coming to South Korea. A report from South Korea’s culture and tourism office says that K-pop has become the main reason people come to the country, beating out Korean food and cultural content.

New Visa Options for K-Culture Lover

Because of the non-stop popularity of K-pop and K-dramas around the world, South Korea added two new visas in 2024. This is to attract foreign talent, promote cultural exchange, boost tourism, and enhance the country’s global reputation as a hub for remote work and K-Culture. These Two Visa Programs might be the ones you’re looking for!

Digital Nomad Visa or the Workation Visa

As of January 1st, 2024, South Korea has released a new visa called the workation visa, aiming to encourage longer stays for foreign visitors. Unlike tourist visas that typically last for 90 days, this visa allows visitors to stay for up to two years, combining work and travel.

How does it work?

Foreigners had to apply for tourist visas or stay for less than 90 days without a visa for a “workcation” in Korea. The new system allows employees and employers from overseas companies to visit and work remotely in Korea for a longer period.

To apply, you must submit documents to the Korean embassy in your country proving an annual income of over 84.96 million won ($65,860), which is double Korea’s gross national income per capita for 2022.

Applicants also need to provide proof of employment, a criminal record check and proof of private health insurance with coverage of at least 100 million won for emergency travel. Applicants must be 18 or older and have at least one year of experience in their current job.

Once granted the visa, digital nomads can bring their spouses and children under 18. The visa allows an initial stay of one year, with the option to extend for another year, making the maximum stay two years.

K-culture Training Visa or Hallyu Visa

And big news for fans of K-Culture! South Korea is introducing a special visa just for you called the Hallyu visa, also known as the “K-culture Training Visa.” This visa will change how people who love South Korean culture can experience the country.

The Hallyu visa is named after the “Korean Wave,” which is the huge popularity of South Korean culture worldwide. It shows that South Korea cares about its culture and wants to welcome fans from everywhere. The Korean Tourism Board (KTB) says the new visa is for foreigners who love South Korean pop culture, especially those who are coming to Korea to work in the entertainment industry or study topics that are connected to it. It’s like a dream come true for anyone who loves Korean music, movies, and art.

In 2015, South Korea introduced the Entertainment and Culture visa. The new 2024 K-culture visa, on the other hand, lets you stay longer (than 90 days), gives you more job options in all arts, culture, and entertainment fields, and makes it easier to apply for jobs in the music industry and at reputable South Korean academies.

The exact requirements for the K-Culture Visa have not been revealed yet, but more information is anticipated to be available by the latter half of 2024. Fans of K-Culture are buzzing with excitement as more details about the Hallyu visa come out. This visa is a big deal for anyone who loves Korean music, dramas, and more. It’s opening up new opportunities to experience the culture of South Korea like never before.

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Food is a great way to understand a culture and a meal is more than just a way to refuel your body. Being able to discuss the meal, offer praise, ask simple requests, and being able to ask for another glass of soju will help you make friends and show you want to learn more about Korea and its people.

This guide covers everything about Korean food phrases; from entering a restaurant and getting a table, to understanding Korean menu words, asking about food, and finally settling the bill. You’ll also learn how to ask for takeout food in Korean, give compliments, and explain dietary restrictions.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why Learn How To Order Food In Korean?

Travelling to Korea has never been easier thanks to Korean translation apps like Papago, which can turn foreign phrases into Korean and vice versa. However, these apps can be time consuming to use and feel less personal than being able to communicate directly with the person you’re talking to.

That’s why I’ve made a guide about how to order food in Korean; so you can learn a few phrases to use when eating in or taking out food when visiting Korea. Learning these phrases, as well as some Korean travel phrases, will help you understand more, make a good impression, and travel in Korea more easily and authentically.

This is more than just a guide to ordering food in Korean, however. I’ve packed in extra tips and insights about Korean food culture, how to get takeout in Korean, how to avoid embarrassing dining mistakes, etiquette tips for eating out in Korea, and the best ways travellers to Korea can enjoy all the amazing foods Korea has to offer.

To help make it easier for you to find what you’re looking for, I’ve broken this article into the following sections. Click the quick links below to jump straight there or keep reading through all parts.

How To Get A Table

How To Read Korean Menus

Explaining Dietary Restrictions

How To Order Food In A Restaurant

Getting Takeout Food In Korea

How To Pay For Your Meal

How To Discuss Food & Meals

Korean Food & Dining Culture

A Note About The Korean Used In This Guide

Korean is a complex language and there can be multiple ways to say the same thing. In English, you might say ‘give me a pizza‘ or ‘I think I’d like a pizza, please‘ or just ‘pizza, please‘. They all mean the same thing, but can be easier or more difficult to understand for non-native English speakers. The same principle applies with Korean, which has various ways of saying the same thing.

I’ve tried to use the simplest Korean phrases to order food so that travellers can learn them more easily, and also so that Koreans will be able to understand you more easily. Comprehension is the key. Therefore, these Korean phrases for ordering food are designed for travellers who don’t speak Korean and have been simplified in places. Particles have been dropped where meaning is still obvious, and the grammar used is the polite form, which is the best form for talking to strangers.

If you’re interested in learning Korean and want to make more articulate sentences, then I recommend signing up to a dedicated Korean study website like Korean Class 101 or 90 Day Korean, which offer free learning materials and premium courses with personalised feedback and support. They can help you master Korean phrases to order food, how to make friends, and lots more.

How To Get A Table In A Korean Restaurant

The first step to eating out in Korea is finding a table. You usually don’t have to wait to be seated at a restaurant in Korea. Instead, you should go into the restaurant, find a table, sit down, check the menu, and order when ready. However, popular restaurants may have reserved tables (예약된 테이블).

Fast food restaurants in Korea, including franchise gimbap restaurants and other Korean quick foods, have kiosks to order at before you get a table. You might need a table number before placing your order, in which case you’ll need to get a table before you can order food at the kiosk.

If the restaurant looks busy, or you’re not sure whether you can get a table, these Korean phrases will help you know what to say and understand common responses you’re likely to hear. You can order food in Korean and get a table with a few of these simple phrases.

Getting A Table Phrases Explained

명 (myong) means ‘person / people‘. When you want to ask for a table you can say the number of people in Korean followed by ‘myong’. Alternatively, you can just indicate the number of people with your fingers and the server will understand. Pointing and gestures are a great way to get by if you don’t know Korean numbers. For fast food places, you usually get your own table.

How To Read Korean Menus

If you’re travelling in Seoul or other touristy areas, you’ll find many menus have English translations on them, such as the one pictured above from a bindaetteok restaurant at Gwangjang Market. If they don’t have English translations, then they’ll probably have pictures that you can point to instead of having to order food in Korean.

These days it’s common for restaurants in Korea to use menu tablets fixed to the tables to order food, or automatic kiosks. The tablets sometimes have English translations, but not always. The menu on a tablet usually has headings along the side (e.g. starters, desserts, etc) to display what’s available.

For those brave enough to venture away from the touristy areas, or those who end up trying to read a menu that doesn’t have English translations or pictures, then the list of Korean menu items will help you work out your starters from your sweets. You can also learn how to ask for a menu.

Even though you might struggle with ordering food in Korean at one of these places, they’re usually the places with the best Korean dishes. Definitely try to find the non-touristy looking restaurants for authentic Korean food that will have you saying 정말 맛있다! (jong-mal ma-sshit-da!) – really delicious!.

Korean Menu Phrases Explained

You’ll notice that a lot of these words sound similar to their English meaning, such as menu (men-yu), starter (seu-ta-tuh), and dessert (di-juh-teu). You’ll see many ‘loan words‘ from English (or other languages) where there may not have been a Korean word when the thing was introduced.

This is common in many languages and makes it a lot easier for travellers who can speak English. When ordering food, you’ll find many non-Korean dishes have a similar sound to their English name, such as pi-zza, pa-seu-ta, ai-su-keu-reem, seo-si-ji. etc. If you want to order non-Korean food and don’t know the word, try just saying it in English.

반찬 (ban-chan) are one of the best things about eating out in Korea. These are Korean side dishes that come with Korean meals, which can range from a bowl of kimchi to a dozen small dishes packed with eggs, fish, meat, seafood, vegetables, crabs, pickles, pancakes, and so many other delicious nibbles. When you eat out in Korea, try to sample as many as you can. You won’t normally see them listed on a Korean menu, however.

How To Explain Dietary Restrictions In Korean

Korea has a wide range of foods that cater to people from around the world. Whether you like seafood, steak, salad, or a combination of all of these, there’s a Korean dish for you. There’s also a wide range or foreign foods to enjoy, some of them mixed with Korean dishes to create modern fusion food.

However, not everyone can or wants to eat the same thing. Some people choose to follow certain diets due to lifestyle or religion, whilst others may have an allergic reaction or intolerance to some ingredients. This section will introduce Korean phrases relating to allergies and dietary restrictions.

Halal Food In Korea

Muslim travellers to Korea who need to know how to ask about halal food in Korea, or want to know if halal food is served, can use the Korean phrase 할랄인가요? (hal-lal-in-ga-yo?) – ‘is this halal?‘. There are halal certified restaurants in Seoul, and places with halal goods are often well marked, as the picture shows. You can find halal restaurants in popular tourist areas such as Myeongdong and Itaewon. However, outside these tourist areas, it may be harder to find halal food. For halal restaurant recommendations, check out these halal restaurants In Seoul.

Vegan Food In Korea

There is a growing trend for vegan food in parts of Seoul and in areas such as Hongdae, Itaewon, and Gangnam you’ll be able to find several vegan restaurants. Some Korean food is naturally vegan, including Korean temple food and other vegan Korean dishes. However, vegan travellers to Korea outside these popular international areas might struggle.

If you want to say you’re a vegan in Korean, use this phrase – 나는 비건 채식을 해요 (na-neun bi-gan chae-shig-eul hae-yo). This means ‘I’m a vegan vegetarian‘. The word often used to refer to vegan is ‘비건‘ (bi-gan). This is an English loan word and not the actual Korean word.

To ask if something is suitable for vegans, you can say 비건 채식주의자가 먹을 수 있어요? (bi-gan chae-shik-ju-wee-ja-ga mog-ool su iss-oh-yo?) – literally: can this be eaten by vegans?

Warning: Be careful when you translate ‘vegan’ using translation apps as some might translate it to ‘vegetarian‘ (채식주의자 – chae-shik-ju-wee-ja), which is not the same as vegan. The Korean term for vegan, according to Papago, is 완전 채식주의자 (wan-jon chae-shik-ju-wee-ja) – ‘total vegetarian’.

The concept of veganism might not be understood by some Korean restaurants, so it may be safer to ask to exclude certain items with the phrase ‘___는 빼 주세요‘ (___neun bbae ju-seh-yo), which means ‘no ___, please‘. You can ask to exclude meat (고기 – gogi) or dairy products (유제품 – yu-je-poom).

As well as halal and vegan foods, these Korean food phrases will help you talk about other dietary restrictions and check what is inside certain foods, including the level of spice.

Dietary Restriction Phrases Explained

매워요? (mae-wo-yo?) means ‘is this spicy?‘. Another key Korean phrase for travellers to Korea who can’t handle spicy food that well (like me). If you’re concerned, point to a dish and say ‘mae-wo-yo?‘ to find out if it’s spicy. In my experience, many Koreans will say something isn’t really spicy as it’s not super-hot. That doesn’t mean it’s not still spicy though, so be careful. Korean levels of spice may not be the same as other places. If the dish is red, it’ll probably be spicy.

고기 (go-gi) is the word for ‘meat‘ and Koreans add this word to the animal’s name to make the type of meat. For example, pig (dwe-ji) and pork (dwe-ji-gogi), cow (so) and beef (so-go-gi), or chicken (dak) and chicken meat (dak-go-gi). However, fried chicken is usually just called ‘chi-kin‘. Fish meat is mul-go-gi, which translates to ‘water-meat’. Bul-go-gi, a Korean meat dish, translates to ‘fire-meat’, indicating the way it was cooked. Although bulgogi is typically beef, other meat can be served as bulgogi. Be careful when you order it if you want to avoid certain meats.

How To Order Food In Korean

Now that you’ve worked out what’s on the menu, it’s time to use these Korean food phrases to order your meal. This might seem the most daunting part of ordering food in Korean, but is actually quite simple. Remember, you can always point to the thing you want to eat if you get tongue-tied.

You can order food in Korea in several ways, depending on where you’re dining. Table service is common in Korea, where someone will come to your table to take your order. Servers often won’t come to take your order until you shout out ‘저기요!’ (joh-gi-yo) – ‘over here’ or press a call buzzer.

When you’ve called the server to take your order, or pressed a buzzer to get their attention, they’ll want to know what your ‘order‘, 주문 (ju-moon), is. In case a server comes to your table but you’re not ready to order, you can tell them 잠시만 (jam-shi-man), which means ‘just a moment‘ or ‘hold on’.

These Korean phrases to order food will help you say what you want and ask questions of the server, including checking the price, how spicy something is, and asking for recommendations.

Ordering Food Phrases Explained

주세요 (ju-seh-yo) means ‘please give‘ but can also be used to mean ‘please‘ when you order food in Korean. This is a really useful Korean phrase to learn and you’ll notice it appears many times at the end of these Korean phrases for ordering food. Whatever you want to order in a restaurant, you can simply point at it on the menu or directly and say ‘ju-seh-yo’.

이거 뭐예요? (ee-goh mwo-yeh-yo?) means ‘what is this?’ and is probably my most loved and used Korean phrase for ordering food, shopping, or exploring Korea. If you ever want to know what something is called, just point at it and say this phrase.

마세요 (ma-seh-yo) means ‘please don’t‘ and is often used in warning signs or when asking not to include things. If you have special dietary requirements, then this is a great phrase to learn. If you want to ask someone to stop or not do something, you should use the phrase 하지마 (ha-ji-ma), which literally translates to ‘don’t do‘. However, try to avoid using this unless you really have to or you’re with friends as this expression is informal and might seem rude.

셀프 (sel-peu) – In Korean restaurants it’s common to see a sign that says ‘셀프’ (sel-peu), which means ‘self‘. This is a self-serve area where you can top up on side dishes, water, etc., for free. In Korean BBQ restaurants this is where you’d get extra lettuce, kimchi, garlic, etc.

How To Ask For Takeout Food In Korean

Getting takeout at a Korean restaurant or cafe is a popular option, especially for light meals such as gimbap, toast, and coffee that you can enjoy outside. There is no extra charge for takeout and you might get discounts when you do. Restaurants have packaging and cutlery ready for takeout orders.

To ask for takeout food or drinks in Korean is really simple, just say 포장해 주세요 (po-jang-hae ju-seh-yo.) after you place your order at the counter, which means ‘takeout, please’. After you place an order in a restaurant or cafe, the staff will ask whether you want to eat in or take out if it’s not obvious.

You can state that you want to ‘dine in’ by saying 여기서 (yoh-gi-soh), or you can ask for ‘takeout’ by saying 포장 (po-jang). If you want to take uneaten food home, you can use the same phrase – ‘po-jang‘ – to get it boxed up to take out. Remember to add 주세요 (ju-seh-yo) to the request to make it politer.

When you go to a Korean restaurant or cafe that has an automatic ordering machine, the first option you’ll see is whether or not you want to dine in (여기서) or get takeout (포장). You should be able to figure out which is which by the pictures that accompany them (a table vs. a takeout bag or house).

Using Korean Food Delivery Apps

Getting food delivery is easy in Korea with Korean delivery apps, such as Coupang Eats and Yogiyo, allowing you to place a food order to be delivered direct to your location for a small fee (~4,000 KRW). I use Coupang Eats as the system is mainly in English and, with a bit of help from Papago, it’s easy to order food delivery. However, you need a Korean phone number and a Korean bank account to use these delivery apps, so going to the restaurant and asking for takeout food is usually the only option for visitors to Korea.

How To Pay For A Meal In A Korean Restaurant

Paying for your meal in a Korean restaurant comes at the start of your meal if you order via a tablet or automatic ordering machine, or at the end of the meal if you ordered at a counter or with a server. You will receive a bill on a small clipboard that you should take to the cashier when you finish eating.

If you haven’t received a bill, or you want to ask for clarification about prices, the Korean phrases in this section will help you discuss settling up, splitting the bill, and getting a receipt. Before covering these phrases, there are a few Korean cultural issues related to dining that’ll help when eating out.

Paying the bill: In Korean culture, where age and hierarchy decide social standing and respect, footing the bill may go to the oldest person. If the eldest (Korean) guest offers to pay the bill, it is best to accept their offer and find some way to pay them back in kind later on, rather than fighting about it.

Splitting the bill: If you’re eating out with friends and want to split the bill, there’s an easy Korean phrase for that. You can say 따로 따로 (dda-ro dda-ro) to the cashier to indicate that you want to split the bill. The cashier will either split the bill by the number of customers or you can pay for what you ate.

Best Ways To Pay For Food In Korea

Visitors to Korea that don’t have a Korean bank account might find it difficult or expensive to pay for goods & services with an overseas credit or debit card. Furthermore, fewer places in Korea are accepting cash payments as Korean society move towards becoming cash-free. This includes public transportation, cafes, and restaurants. Almost all places in Korea should accept card payments.

As paying by card is becoming the default way to pay in Korea, I recommend getting a travel money card, such as that offered by Wise, which is a prepaid travel card that allows you to pay in Korean won when you’re travelling in Korea. Alternatively, pick up a WOWPASS when you arrive in Korea. This is a Korean debit card that you can top up in foreign currency, also with great exchange rates.

However you decide to pay when you eat out in Korea, these Korean phrases for paying for your food will make sure you don’t make a meal of the situation.

Food Payment Phrases Explained

얼마예요 (ol-ma-yeh-yo) means ‘how much‘ and is another one of those essential Korean words you can use for ordering food, shopping, and so much more. Want to haggle for a new bag in the market? Just ask ol-ma-yeh-yo? Want to know the cost of a train to Busan – ol-ma-yeh-yo? It’s short and an easy Korean word to remember.

카드 (ka-deu) and 현금 (hyun-geum) mean ‘card‘ and ‘cash‘ in Korean. Korea is a card-friendly country and you can pay by credit card in many places. However, some places might only accept hyun-geum (cash). These include food stalls in traditional markets and on street corners.

영수증 (yong-su-jeung) is a ‘receipt‘. You’ll hear this word every time you buy something in a shop or eat in a restaurant. If you want a receipt, then nod your head and they’ll give you one. If you don’t want a receipt, you can practice another easy Korean word – 괜찮아요 (gwen-chan-ah-yo), which means ‘it’s ok‘ or ‘no thanks’ in this situation.

How To Discuss Meals And Food In Korean

Food is a form of ritual and in all societies there are certain words and expressions that we use when we’re about to eat something or we’ve finished enjoying a stomach-filling meal. Korea is certainly no different and there are plenty of Korean phrases discussing food that you’ll hear in any restaurant.

Korea is a culture based around harmony and sharing, which you can see in the meals with communal dishes shared by all, such as Korean BBQ. Pouring drinks for each other is common, as is an endless procession of toasts at a Korean dinner party in the local restaurant after work.

If you want to wish the others at your table a pleasant and happy meal, tell them 맛있게 드세요 (ma-shi-geh deu-seh-yo), which means ‘enjoy your meal‘ or ‘bon appetit‘. After the meal, show how satisfied you are by saying 잘 먹었습니다 (jal moh-goh-sseum-ni-da), which means ‘I really enjoyed the meal’.

Feeling hungry in Korea? Then say 배고파요 (bae-go-pa-yo) to say ‘I’m hungry’. It’s easy to eat too much at Korean meals, especially meals like Korean BBQ. If you’ve had enough and want to stop eating, then say 배불러요! (bae-bul-loh-yo!) to show you’re full. It literally means ‘my stomach is full’.

Here are some more Korean phrases to help you discuss your meal and to help you ask for things while you’re eating out in Korea.

Korean Phrases Discussing Food Explained

더 (doh) means ‘more‘ in Korean and if you’re ordering food or want to get more of something, this simple word is all you need. Of course, be sure to add ju-seh-yo to the end to be polite.

너무 (noh-moo) means something is ‘too -‘, as in ‘too spicy’ or ‘too hot’. Once you learn some more adjectives, this is a great way to indicate how you feel about something. 너무 춥다 (noh-moo choop-da) – it’s too cold! If you’re travelling to Korea in winter, you’ll certainly say that a lot.

음식 (eum-shik) – you can’t talk about Korean phrases for ordering food without this word, which means ‘food’ in Korean. You can add this word to a country to ask for food from that place. For example, food from China (중국) is 중국 음식 (jung-guk eum-shik) and food from Mexico (멕시코) is 멕시코 음식 (mek-shi-ko eum-shik).

Cultural Tips When Eating In A Korean Restaurant

Here are a few quick tips about eating out in Korea and how to avoid cultural faux pas, taken from my guide to Korean etiquette and culture. These tips cover the whole dining experience, from entering the restaurant to eating politely and tipping. Learning these simple cultural differences will go a long way.

1: Remember to take off your shoes. If there is a raised entrance when you go into a restaurant, take off your shoes before entering. You’ll see shoe lockers to store your shoes in or leave them on the floor with the others. This usually only happens with traditional Korean restaurants.

2: Wait for elders to sit before you do. If you’re eating with a Korean family or co-workers, be sure to respect the age-based hierarchy and wait for elders to sit first. This also applies to your boss if you’re at a work social event.

3: Tipping isn’t necessary. I’ve lived in Korea since 2015 and never had to (or been able to) leave a tip. Except for a few restaurants in Seoul that might add a service charge, you won’t be asked or expected to tip staff in Korean restaurants.

4: Don’t pour drinks for yourself. This applies to social situations, not when dining alone or with your family. It’s said to be bad luck to pour your own drinks at a party. Be remembered for your generosity and offer to pour for others.

5: Help others before you help yourself. As with pouring drinks, Korean dining experiences are a communal event and you should consider others before yourself. This usually involves handing out chopsticks and spoons to others before eating, or offering dishes to people to try.

6: Use two hands when pouring drinks. This is a common etiquette rule that applies in several situations, including shaking hands and giving gifts or money. Keep two hands on the bottle when you pour drinks, or keep one hand on your arm as you pour.

7: Don’t lick your fingers while you eat. Even with the messiest food, you’re expected to use chopsticks to eat your meal (or a spoon). Licking your fingers is seen as unhygienic at best, but can also be considered rude to some Korean people.

8: Don’t stick your chopsticks upwards in rice. This is very bad etiquette as this looks like incense sticks used at Buddhist funeral ceremonies and brings bad luck. Avoid at all costs.

Pronunciation Tips For Ordering Food In Korean

Korean is a relatively straightforward language to pronounce, which is great news for people trying to order food in Korean as you won’t get your tongue tied up in knots saying what you want. Korean is a syllabic language, which means that if you pronounce each syllable clearly, you should be understood.

Most Korean words and syllables are pronounced as they are in English, but the vowel sounds can be a bit tricky. Here’s how to pronounce some of the vowel sounds used in this guide, as well as making soft vowel sounds using the letter ‘h’ at the end and double consonant sounds:

Be patient and do your best when trying to speak Korean. I really hope you’ll have great success when using these phrases while you’re eating out in Korea. If you have trouble understanding what someone is saying to you, you can ask them to speak more slowly with the following phrase:

Want to learn how to pronounce Korean words? Check out this video teaching you how to learn Korean pronunciation from the Learn Korean Free YouTube channel.

Useful Tips To Order Food In Korean

I’ve eaten out in Korea way too much, it’s hard not to. The food is cheap, delicious, and there is so much variety, a lot more than people realise before visiting Korea. I’ve put together a few tips to help you get even more out of your trip and the delicious Korean meals you’re going to enjoy.

1: Korean food is cheap. Don’t be surprised by how much you get. However, food can get expensive, especially if you want to eat foreign foods. You’re in Korea and so I’d really recommend trying the local foods before looking for something more familiar.

2: Meals are often for two. Some meals will be for two or more people and will be indicated on the menu with – 2인 (2 people in Korean). If you see this, then the price is for the whole meal, not per person. This is a big sharing meal and are often much better than individual meals – check them out!

3: Understanding Chinese characters. Sharing meals (like those found in tip 2) usually come in 3 different sizes, which are represented by traditional Chinese characters. These are as follows:

• 小 (so) – small portion
• 中 (jung) – medium portion
• 大 (dae) – large portion

A small portion is enough for 2-3 people. Remember, the meal will usually come with side dishes, too.

4: Eat at traditional markets. Korea’s traditional markets and Korean street food stalls offer the most amazing Korean food and are often cheaper and fresher than in a restaurant. Be sure not to miss them when you visit Seoul and other cities.

5: Indulge in side dishes. Traditional Korean meals typically come with side dishes, called banchan (반찬). These are included with the meal and if you ask for more, you can often get free refills. Don’t be surprised if you order a simple meal and end up with 10 or even 20 side dishes!

6: Wrap it up. If your meal comes with a bowl of lettuce leaves (or cabbage), you’re probably meant to use it to wrap the other parts of the meal. Eating a Korean BBQ is a really fun experience and one of the times it’s ok to get your fingers dirty. Pick up some meat, garlic, kimchi, and whatever else you fancy, and wrap it inside the lettuce leaf and pop it into your mouth.

7: Stay Hydrated. Restaurants in Korea always give you free water (sometimes iced tea). This is a great way to get free liquids during the day. Make the most of it as Korea can be hot, especially in summertime. Also, Korean dishes tend to be quite salty, so staying hydrated is important.

Korean Cookbooks To Make Korean Dishes At Home

If you’re not in Korea yet, why not try making delicious Korean foods at home instead? Here are some Korean cookbooks to learn how to make a range of tasty Korean treats. Start with the basics, such as tteokbokki and mandu, or jump straight into filling meals like kimchi jjigae and jjamppong.

Maangchi’s Big Book Of Korean Cooking

The book contains the favourite dishes by famous Korean chef and YouTuber, Maangchi. She has perfected many Korean meals over the years, from Korean barbecue and fried chicken to bulgogi and bibimbap. Discover Maangchi’s professional approach to Korean cooking today.

Available on Amazon

The Korean Vegan: Joanne Lee Molinaro

Joanne Lee Molinaro has captivated millions of fans with her powerfully moving personal tales of love, family, and food. In her debut cookbook, she shares a collection of her favorite Korean dishes, some traditional and some reimagined, as well as poignant narrative snapshots that have shaped her family history.

Available on Amazon

Wookwan’s Korean Temple Food

As the first volume of temple cuisine published in English, Wookwan herself has written an elegant volume that introduces the reader to Korean temple food, including what it means to care for the ingredients at each step of preparation, following the three key principles of cooking temple food, interspersed with her own accounts and tips among the recipes.

Available on Amazon

Korean Stone Bowl Cooking Pot

An essential part of many Korean winter dishes is the stone bowl (dolsot) cooking pot. This can be used to make dishes such as dolsot bibimbap, kimchi jjigae, and many other hot soups and stews.

Available on Amazon

Cookbooks not your thing? Check out the Baek Jong Won YouTube channel. He’s one of Korea’s most famous chefs and you can find his restaurants all over the place. He can teach you to make tteokbokki and many other tasty Korean winter foods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about how to order food in Korean. These answers are based on my own experience and from research conducted to write this article. If you have any more questions about this topic, please feel free to post a comment at the end of this article.

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In this guide to how to use Papago, you’ll discover the many different ways you can translate Korean to English and other languages. Besides the basic typed translation, there are many other ways to translate Korean words, including image translation, voice translation, and website translation.

This simple to use guide to Papago will help you get the most out of the best Korean translation app for travelling in Korea. There are lots of pictures to show you all the functions of Papago and practical tips for using the app as you travel. Find out why Papago is one of my favourite apps in Korea.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why Use The Papago App To Translate Korean In Korea?

The Papago app is the best method to translate Korean into English and other languages as you travel in Korea. With the Papago app, you can translate signs and written Korean into English, as well as translate words and phrases you want to say from English into Korean.

Here are some of the useful things the Papago app can do for you:

• Translate English into Korean
• Translate Korean into English
• Translate Korean images into English
• Translate Korean websites into English
• Translate conversations into Korean
• Provides you with 100s of essential Korean phrases
• Can help you learn Korean vocabulary

This article will show you the various ways to use Papago to translate Korean into English or English into Korean and the different ways the app can do this. To help save you time, I’ve answered some of the most common questions about the Papago app here before giving a more detailed overview.

What is Papago? Papago is a translation app from Naver, one of Korea’s largest tech companies. It launched in 2016 and allows translation between Korean and 12 other languages. Papago is a multilingual AI-based cloud translation service that uses neural machine translation to learn from its mistakes and improve the accuracy of the translations it offers. In Korean, it’s called 파파고.

Is Papago the same as Naver Dictionary? Naver Dictionary is a Korean translation service that offers direct translations based on dictionary entries from a stored database. Papago is not the same as Naver Dictionary as it is uses neural machine translation to improve its personalised translation services based on people’s experience of using the app.

What languages does Papago translate Korean into? Papago translates between Korean and English, Chinese (simplified), Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese (traditional), Spanish, French, Indonesian, Russian, German, and Italian.

Where can you download the Papago app? You can download Papago on Google Play and the App Store. You can also access Papago from a desktop browser by visiting papago.naver.com.

Is the Papago app free? The Papago app and website are both free to use.

Is Papago better than Google Translate? Both Google Translate and Papago are used to translate Korean into English and vice versa. However, Papago is often recognised as being more accurate when translating into Korean as it has been created by a Korean company.

Do you need to be connected to the Internet to use the Papago app? The Papago app works best when it is connected to the Internet as it can access Naver’s language database and offer better translations from Korean into other languages. There are also offline language packs that can be downloaded for English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese. Below is the English language pack.

Does the Papago Korean translation app translate spoken words? The Papago app can translate spoken words, typed words, pictures, text, and even whole conversations into Korean, English, or other languages. It is a versatile app that can be used to translate any Korean words into English

Does Papago provide reliable Korean translation? Translations by Papago into Korean and from Korean are more accurate and authentic than translations by other translation services. Because of the neural machine translation used by Papago, translations are increasingly more reliable.

Can Papago help me learn Korean? The Papago app not only translates between Korean and other languages, it can also be used to study Korean. The ‘myEdu‘ section of the Papago app allows you to study Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese and can help improve vocabulary retention. There is also a section with useful phrases that has hundreds of essential phrases for travellers.

Do you need to create an account to use Papago? You don’t need to create an account to use Papago’s translation services. Once you download the app, you can use the translation functions freely. There is an option to sign in to a Naver account to keep a history of your translations. To sign up for a Naver account, you need to enter your personal details and have an available phone number.

How To Use The Papago Korean Translation App

The Papago app is one of the easiest and most reliable methods of translating Korean into English and other languages into Korean. Not only are the results more accurate, the app is simple to use and works quickly. The app is available in English, meaning you don’t need to understand Korean.

To use Papago, type the English word you want to know in Korea into the home screen of the app. This will instantly translate the word into Korean and show you the word written in Hangul, the Korean alphabet, and the phonetic spelling to help you pronounce the word.

The images below show you an example of how Papago translates English into Korean. The word ‘hello’ has been entered into the central area and then translated into Korean. You can see the most common Korean translation in the main screen, as well as alternative words below.

When Papago translates from English into Korean, it shows the Korean word in the honorific form, which is the polite form used to speak to people in Korea that aren’t your friends and family. This is the recommended form to use when travelling in Korea unless you are socialising with Korean friends.

The speaker icon above the Korean translation allows you to listen to the pronunciation of the word so you know how to say it. You can use this to practice learning how to speak Korean or to let a Korean speaker understand what you want to say without saying the Korean words yourself.

There are many other functions of the Papago app, which will be covered below. These functions include translating typed words, translating websites, translating text on images, and translating spoken words. Each of these are covered in the next few sections of this article.

Using The Papago App To Translate Korean And English Words

You can translate single words or whole sentences into Korean using Papago. If you aren’t comfortable speaking Korean, use the Papago app to write what you want to say and show that to the Korean speaker you’re trying to communicate with. Alternatively, click the speaker icon for sound.

Not only can you translate from English into Korean with Papago, you can also translate Korean into English. This function is very useful if you receive a text message or visit a website with Korean text that you want to translate into English. Copy the text and paste it into Papago for instant translation.

Tip: Some words in English or Korean can have multiple meanings and Papago won’t always know which one you want to use. For example, the word ‘lead’ can mean to lead someone somewhere or is a type of metal. Translating sentences gives Papago context to help it know which meaning of the word you want to use. If you’re not sure if you have the correct translation, check it in a sentence.

Using Papago To Translate Websites From Korean Into English

The Papago app can translate websites in real time as you browse them, allowing you to use Korean language websites as if they were in English. This can be done by selecting the ‘Website Translate‘ option on the side bar of the Papago app. Tap the three lines to access the side bar in the app.

Enter the URL of the website and Papago will translate it from Korean into English or one of the other supported languages. Copy the URL from a browser on your mobile device and paste it into the box in the Papago app and it will translate the site for you. You can save favourite websites for later.

Once you’ve chose which website you want to translate, you can easily change which language is shown using the to and from language options at the top of the screen in the app. Select the original language on the left and then the language you want to display the website as on the right.

The example above shows a translated version of the Wikipedia homepage from English to Korean. Translating English websites into Korean with Papago could be useful when you want to share information from an English website to someone in Korea who doesn’t speak English.

The Papago app can be used to translate Korean websites into English and other languages, making them more accessible for foreigners travelling in Korea. This works for Korean text that is present on a website, however, it won’t translate images as these aren’t formatted as text.

As you can see from the examples below of a translated website from Korean to English by Papago, there are a lot of Korean words still present. This is because a lot of Korean websites use embedded images with text on them instead of writing directly onto the webpage.

Fortunately, it is possible to translate images with text online and offline thanks to the Papago app. This can be done with the next feature of the app, which is to translate Korean text in a picture.

Using The Papago App To Translate Korean In Pictures

One of the most useful functions of the Papago app is to translate signs, pictures, and images with Korean text into English by using your phone’s camera. On the main translation screen, select the ‘Image‘ icon, as shown in the picture above. This will open up your phone’s camera to take a picture.

Below is an example of how the Papago app translates images with the camera. The first picture is the original text on a box of delicious chocolate mushrooms that I often eat with a coffee. The second picture is the translated version of the same picture with the Korean text now showing in English.

When you choose the camera translation with Papago, you can choose to translate everything the camera can see (translate all), translate instantly as you move the camera around (realtime translation), or translate only selected areas (translate partially). A flash option is available, too.

The Papago app can use images stored on your phone, including screenshots, downloaded images, and pictures taken with your phone’s camera, and can translate these into Korean. Below is an example of a screenshot from a Korean website translated into English using the Papago app.

As well as translating images with Korean text into English, you can also do the opposite and use Papago to translate English text into Korean. This can be useful to show a Korean speaker a business card, image, or similar picture that you need to show that’s written in English.

Using The Papago App To Translate Spoken Words

If you need to talk to a Korean speaker face-to-face, then the voice and conversation functions on the Papago app can be useful to help understand what is being said by both parties. The voice translation function in Papago allows you to speak Korean or English and translate it to the opposite language.

To use the voice translation feature in Papago, click on ‘Voice‘ on the home screen and start speaking. You might need to change the language settings first, which you can do by choosing the desired languages at the top of the screen. Press the green microphone button to start translating.

The images below show the result of the voice translation function for the word ‘hello’, spoken in English in the first image and then spoken in Korean in the second image. When translating into Korean, Papago will add in the phonetic spellings and speaker button to hear the word spoken.

You can say more than single words in the voice translation section of Papago and the app will translate whole sentences into Korean, English, or other languages. This can be useful for telling simple sentences and requests to Korean speakers, asking for help, or answering questions.

Using The Papago App To Translate Korean Conversations

If you plan to have a conversation in Korean, then the ‘Conversation‘ function in Papago will be more useful as it allows direct conversational input and output in Korean and English. In this screen there are two halves to the screen. The top half is for translating Korean, the bottom half is for English.

Depending on whether an English or Korean speaker wants to translate what they’re saying, push the blue button on the top (Korean) or bottom (English) half of the screen and then talk. This will show the spoken words in both Korean and English on their relative screens, as can be seen below.

This is a faster way to communicate with instant translations between Korean and English with each speaker having a screen they can speak into. To hear the pronunciation of the Korean or English words, tap on the text in either screen and Papago will play the word or sentence out loud.

After you finish speaking in English, Papago will automatically play the spoken sentence in Korean, which allows for faster translations and conversations. Only the currently translated sentences are shown on the screen, but there is a ‘History‘ function in the sidebar to check past translations.

There is a lot more to simply knowing the language when having a conversation in Korean. There are also a lot of Korean cultural and etiquette issues to understand, too. This can include knowing to shake hands with both hands, when to bow, why Koreans may not be able to refuse offers, and more.

How To Use The Papago App To Study Korean

The Papago app not only works as a direct translation tool for Korean text, images, websites, and spoken words, it can also be used to help you learn Korean and other languages. There are two key language learning features in Papago; vocabulary flashcards and a Korean expressions phrasebook.

This section will give a brief overview of these two features.

Learn Korean Vocabulary With Papago

One of the most popular ways to learn Korean vocabulary on your phone is with flashcards. Flashcards can help you build association between a word and an image, which can improve vocabulary retention. Papago helps you learn Korean with flashcards covering 27 useful topics.

There are flashcards to help you learn the Korean words for various animals, foods, numbers, colours, body parts, clothes, dates, jobs, sports, and more. You can practice learning these in Korean, English, Chinese (simplified), or Japanese and can learn multiple languages at the same time.

Below are two screenshots from Papago’s ‘Word Cards‘ section that shows some of the different topics and the straighforward word cards with image and text in both languages. Word pronunciation is in the top right corner and there is an option to cycle through the word cards automatically in a loop.

Learn Basic Korean Phrases With Papago

Knowing some basic Korean phrases can really help you when you travel Korea as you can not only ask for what you need, but also understand what’s being said to you. The Papago app can help you prepare for common expressions with a Korean phrasebook that covers many typical situations.

The ‘Phrasebook‘ section of Papago covers topics such as accommodation, phrases for eating out, transportation, emergencies, shopping, and more. There are hundreds of phrases covered in this phrasebook that will be useful when travelling in Korea and talking with Korean speakers.

The images below show some of the topics that are covered in the phrasebook, with each topic having various subsections within them. Not only are there phrases in each section, there are also example conversations to help you react and interact with Korean speakers more naturally.

How To Create A Naver Papago Account

It isn’t necessary to have an account to use Papago’s translation services, but creating a Naver Papago account will allow you to get more from the Papago app. A feature that is only available when signed in is the Papago Gym. Below is a brief summary of how to create a Naver Papago Account.

To sign up for a Naver Papago account, you will need to have an email address and phone number. Select ‘Sign In‘ at the top of the sidebar on the app and then select ‘Sign Up‘ under the large green Sign In button to create an account. You can also log in with a Facebook or Line account.

The first step of creating a Naver Papago account is to accept the terms and conditions. Next, enter your preferred username and password, followed by your personal details such as name, date of birth, gender, and phone number. These can be seen in the images below.

You don’t need to have a Korean phone number to create a Naver Papago account, you can use a phone number from any country. However, you will need to be able to receive a verification code to activate your account, so you will need to have a network connection to receive messages.

After you verify your phone number, you can finish the account creation by clicking the large green Sign Up button. Your Naver account should now be activated and you can use it to log into Papago and get the full set of features from this Korean translation app.

What Else Can You Do With Papago?

There are further features to the Papago app not mentioned above. One of the most useful is the Papago Mini function which allows you to place a floating widget on your phone’s home screen so you can translate text, voice, or an image instantly. This is useful when travelling around Korea.

New features of Papago include the ‘myEdu‘ section, which allows you to learn English, Chinese, or Japanese with Korean. This looks like it will be useful for studying between those languages with Korean. There’s also a study camera on the home screen to take a photo of study materials (or upload them) and to make your own notes, flashcards, and to translate them instantly.

The Papago app is moving beyond simple translation between Korean and other languages and appears to be becoming a tool for learning Korean through self-study. Even if you don’t plan to study Korean through Papago, Papago is definitely the must-have translation app for travelling in Korea.

Why I Recommend Papago For Travelling In Korea

As I live in Korea, and I’m not yet fluent in Korean, I use the Papago app all the time. Relying on translation apps can be a double edged sword, something I talk about in my article about whether or not you need to learn Korean to live in Korea successfully. Papago is on the front screen of my phone as I always need access to it. I use it a lot, especially in these situations:

• Translating signs and notices in various places.
• Communicating with my coworkers, especially about work matters.
• Translating text messages and emails from Korean to English
• Checking Korean websites to find information.
• Translating into Korean when dealing with banking matters.

There are lots of other times when I use Papago, but those are the most common. Expat life in Korea is much easier with apps like Papago and allows me to have conversations, solve problems, find information, and learn about what’s going on much more easily. I’d be lost without it.

For travellers coming to Korea, Papago should definitely be one of the first apps you install on your phone. There are lots of English translations in Korea, but you’re almost certainly going to need to translate a bit of Korean as well, especially if you travel out of the big cities.

If you want to make friends and a make a good impression with the locals, then learning or using a few phrases when you travel Korea will make a big difference. You can use Papago to speak to others, thank them for their help, ask for help, and navigate transport signs, menus, and shop signs.

Overall, Papago will be an essential app for travelling in Korea.

Useful Apps For Travelling In Korea

Besides Papago, there are several other apps that will make travelling in Korea a lot easier and save you time, money, and hassle. I’ve covered these in my South Korea travel guide, which includes lots of really useful information about phones, Internet access, apps, and lots more.

Here are some of the apps I recommend for travelling in Korea and what each one does.

• Kakao Taxi – book taxis anywhere in Korea.
• Kakao Talk – Korea’s most popular messenger app.
• Naver Maps – most reliable map app for Korea.
• Coupang Eats – food delivery to your location.
• Korail Talk – official app for booking train tickets in Korea.
• Seoul Subway – plan routes and check subway times.
• Klook – manage tours and bookings from this great tour company.

Unlike Papago, several of these apps will require a Korean sim card to use as you need to register a Korean phone number before activating the apps. It’s possible to use Kakao Taxi without a Korean phone number, something I’ve helped many people with in my article about using Kakao Taxi.

FAQs About Using Papago Korean Translation App

Finally, here are a few FAQs about how to use the Papago Korean translation app when travelling in Korea, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you. If you have any other questions you’d like to ask, feel free to leave a comment.

Support In My Korea

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This Lingopie review article will introduce you to an innovative method of learning Korean through TV shows and other videos, as well as explain how you can create your own personalised study lists as you’re enjoying a show. As an English teacher in Korea, I appreciate new and alternative methods to studying a language and have tried Lingopie to see if it’s worth recommending or not. I’m also studying Korean myself and can appreciate the site as a learner.

In this article you’ll find lots of information about how and why to use Lingopie, as well as who it is (or isn’t suitable for). I offer my own, unbiased thoughts after using the site and as a Korean language learner. I hope you find it useful.

Lingopie Review: What Is Lingopie?

What is Lingopie? Lingopie is a paid language learning site that allows you to learn Korean and other languages through a wide range of videos, including K-dramas, music videos, children’s shows, and more.

There are also specially created videos designed for language learning, such as hangul flashcard videos to help you master the basics of the Korean alphabet.

As well as videos, Lingopie also offers traditional language learning tools to help you master Korean, including flashcards, review tools, and games, as well as many in-video tools.

Lingopie differs from other language learning sites like 90 Day Korean and Korea Class 101 as it offers a library of videos with natural language presented through TV shows.

Learning Korean by listening to native speakers is a great way to develop communication skills and can improve your chances of sounding more natural when you speak Korean.

Lingopie also has a blog that offers tips for learning Korean and interesting articles about language, such as the Best Shows To Learn Korean and How To Learn A Language With TV.

Lingopie is also available for Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, & Russian.

How Can You Learn Korean With Lingopie?

The main way to learn Korean with Lingopie is by watching the many TV shows available (and being added) to Lingopie. There are also flashcards and games to help you practice what you learn. Here’s a brief overview of the different services available on Lingopie.

Learn Korean While Watching TV Shows

The primary way to learn Korean with Lingopie is through the TV shows specially selected and translated to help you learn. Each video comes with a script, subtitles, and translations, as well as the ability to practice and repeat at your own speed.

Besides K-dramas, there are also travel shows, documentaries, children’s shows, and family shows. The shows are generally aimed at adults and those with an interest in Korean culture and travel, but there are some dedicated shows for younger learners, too.

The TV shows used are actual programs you’d watch in Korea and offer the chance to hear native Korean which hasn’t been adapted for language learning. Exposure to words you might not normally see in a structured language course can help you develop language skills at your own pace and teach you a bit of slang, too.

Useful Features While watching TV Shows

Here are some of the features that you can use to help you learn Korean with Lingopie while you watch the TV shows:

Script: Really useful script that follows the video. Hover over words to see translations and add them to your study list.

Subtitles: Interactive subtitles that include translations for key words that you can add to your own study list.

Auto-pause: Automatically pause playback at the end of each subtitle

Caption-skip: Skip back or forward by caption.

Caption settings: Change between Korean (hangul) and English letters on the subtitles.

Speak sentence: Listen to the sentence and learn to pronounce it.

Practice speaking: Practice speaking the sentence and record yourself.

Loop sentence: Repeat the same sentence to help you memorise it.

Adjust play speed: Choose the play speed that’s right for you. From half speed to full speed.

These features give you a lot of freedom to learn at your own speed and to practice and perfect your Korean skills. Being able to instantly add words you see to your own study list helps you to build your vocabulary in your own way.

Use The Special Korean Learning Videos

In order to be able to read and follow Korean dramas with subtitles, it’s first necessary to be able to read the Korean alphabet – hangul. Hangul was created by King Sejong in 1446 and is a relatively easy alphabet to learn.

The Korean alphabet is made up of straight lines and circles and can be learned in a couple of days with flashcards and videos like the one in the picture above, taken from the Lingopie website.

There are a few videos on Lingopie that will help you learn how to read hangul, as well as teach you the basic sounds, which come in syllable groups of 2 or 3 characters.

Practice Korean Using Flashcards

After you watch a video, any words that you’ve added to your study list can be reviewed through flashcards. These flashcards are created using the videos on Lingopie and help you build your Korean vocabulary skills.

Lingopie prompts you to practice these when you finish the video, which is a good way to reinforce what you’ve just learnt, and you can also study these at any time by going to the ‘Review and Practice’ section of the website.

The use of video clips to create flashcards is quite unique and a good way to recall language from the show you’ve just watched and create associations in your brain between the drama and language. You’ll also get to hear native Korean as you practice.

Practice Korean Using Games

Besides flashcards, there are also a couple of games to help you remember and develop your language skills. This kind of repetitive practice can help the words stick in your mind.

Word Master: This is a matching game that asks you to match the Korean word to the English meaning. You can listen to the word and read it in hangul.

Pop Quiz: This is a multiple choice quiz where you’ll be asked to find the correct meaning of the word in Korean or English. The game is based on your own study list, not pre-composed lists.

Review Words In Your Personalised DIctionary

When you learn Korean with Lingopie, there are loads of chances for you to see what words you know, as well as review words that you’re currently learning.

At the start of each video, you’ll see a screen like the picture above with a set of recommended words to learn in that video, as well as words you’ve already covered.

As you watch each video, you can select any word you want to learn and add it to your personal study list. This personal study list isn’t the same as a structured study list you might find in a Korean textbook, this is made up of all the words you’ve selected to learn.

You can manage your personal study list by reviewing the words to practice again, deleting them from your list, or marking them as known, which means you’ve memorised them.

Any of the words in your personal study list will be used for the review games and flashcards.

Learn Together In The Korean FOrums

One of the other services offered by Lingopie is the forum. There is a dedicated forum for Korean language learning where Lingopie admin and language learners can discuss study tips, share information, ask questions, and provide information, like in the picture above.

Forums can help make the language learning process more effective as they build a community where members can support and learn from each other. It’s also a good place to share your ideas with the admin and to learn what’s new.

How Much Does Lingopie Cost?

Due to all of the features included with Lingopie, including fully translated and subtitled Korean dramas and other shows, as well as new content added regularly, there is a cost to using Lingopie.

The amount you pay depends on the commitment you want to make to learning Korean, with the annual plans being half the price of the monthly plan. The yearly plan is one payment, which works out as $5.99 per month, whereas the monthly plan allows you to pay month by month and cancel at any time for $11.99 per month.

The family plan looks really good as it’s much cheaper when you split the cost. Also, studying with family (or friends) helps to improve your own motivation for learning a language. Being able to share and discuss your learning experience with others helps you stay focused and encourages you to learn more.

You can also study any of the other 7 languages (Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, & Russian) for this price. Useful if you want to learn Korean and another family member wants to learn, for example, Japanese.

Lingopie Review: My Thoughts

I think Lingopie is an interesting idea and an innovative approach to learning Korean. I’ve studied Korean for several years, so I’m not a beginner, and I was able to follow along with the videos and learn some new words and expressions as I went.

I’ve used Lingopie for several weeks during this summer and generally watched shows in small bursts as there is a lot of language included in each one. I especially liked the travel documentaries, but I guess most Korean language learners would like the K-dramas, which are packed with interesting Korean culture.

Even though most videos are only 10-15 minutes long, this actually works out at an hour or more (or several hours!) of language learning as you go back to learn new words, add words to your study list, practice listening and speaking, and check your own understanding.

Lingopie’s video player make it easier to learn Korean than by following YouTube videos due to the aforementioned features, such as advanced subtitles, definitions, and playback settings.

One of the best features of Lingopie has to be the use of Korean TV shows and the chance they offer for unstructured language learning (i.e. how people really speak, not specially made for language learners). As a language teacher (I teach English at a Korean university), I can appreciate both structured and unstructured language learning tools.

I use unstructured videos to teach English and to expose my students to native English from around the world (not just British English). It helps them to hear native English and can be an enjoyable way to learn a language.

However, the use of unstructured language learning is something that makes Lingopie not entirely suitable for beginners. Although there are videos that cover the basics, such as learning the Korean alphabet (hangul), there is no obvious progression and path from absolute beginner to simple words, vocabulary, grammar, then on to intermediate language skills, etc.

This makes it very hard for language learners to have a deep understanding of the language and can leave a lot of gaps in their vocabulary and grammar knowledge. That being said, I do know people who have learnt Korean without any formal training, mostly through exposure to native Korean speakers and TV shows like the ones used on Lingopie.

The flashcards and review activities do help to develop language learning and tying them into the videos you’ve watched is a nice touch and could be very useful for building lasting language skills through association.

Whilst being able to choose the words you want to learn can be really useful for intermediate and advanced learners, the lack of structure and grouping (i.e learning animal names or colours in one group) can make it confusing for beginners. If you already have a wide vocabulary, and understand the basics of Korean grammar, then these activities should be useful for you.

The cost of Lingopie is fairly reasonable compared to sites like FluentU, which starts at $239.99 per year, and the 90 Day Korean Inner Circle Course, which starts at $150 per year. You do get more from those sites, but for experienced Korean language learners who want to develop their skills from native speakers, the price is acceptable. Whilst you could obviously watch Korean language learning videos for free on YouTube, the cost of Lingopie covers interactive subtitles, personalised study lists, and more.

Perhaps my biggest issue with Lingopie, although it’s not massive, is the range of Korean content currently on the site. It would be nice to see more varied content, including some comedies that teach funny expressions and Korean humour. However, the lack of content now (as of August 2022) is understandable as the Korean and Japanese language options were only added in April 2022.

I’m sure there will be a lot more content in the coming months and years and there’s enough already on the site to keep you busy for many weeks and months.

Final Conclusion

In conclusion to this Lingopie review, I think that intermediate and advanced Korean language learners could benefit from the content and learning styles used by Lingopie. The site offers a good chance to discover and develop Korean language skills and expressions in a natural, unstructured way.

For experienced learners who want to fill in the gaps in their vocabulary, add new expressions, and sound more natural when speaking Korean, the TV shows used on Lingopie will help a lot.

For learners who need support and structured learning, the format of Lingopie could make it difficult to learn Korean without additional resources such as grammar and study books, but can still be useful.

Lingopie Review Summary

Here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons of Lingopie for learning Korean.

Alternative Ways To Learn Korean

If you’re interested in learning Korean from TV shows, then I’d recommend trying Lingopie to see how it is. There’s a 7 day free trial for the annual and family plans which will give you enough time to decide if it’s right for you.

Other options for learning Korean include the Talk To Me In Korean series (this is how I started learning Korean), the internationally popular Learn Korean With BTS (perfect for K-Pop fans), dedicated course with personal tuition, such as that from 90 Day Korean, and YouTube channels such as Billy Korean.

You can also check out my basic Korean travel phrases and Korean phrases for ordering food to help you learn the basics for travelling to Korea. These articles not only introduce you to 60 really useful words and phrases, they also offer tips on how to use the words, how to make sentences, and alternative uses of the words.

Learning Korean With Lingopie FAQs

Finally, here are a few FAQs about Lingopie, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you.

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From simple greetings to shopping, eating out, travelling around, and even asking for help, these simple Korean phrases pack a lot of punch and are easy enough to learn before travelling to the Land of the Morning Calm. They’re easy to learn and go a long way.

Korean is a unique language with letters that look unfamiliar, but it’s actually easier to learn than English. A few basic Korean phrases and words go a long way. Now read on to start learning these easy Korean words and phrases and begin your journey to language success.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Understanding These Basic Korean Phrases

These basic Korean phrases for travellers have been split into 6 sections to cover the various places where you might need some Korean when travelling in Korea. There’s also a bonus section about Korean numbers.

Essential Phrases – basic phrases to talk to people and be polite.

Greetings – how to greet people, ask about others, and start chatting.

Ordering Food & Drink – how to order food, ask questions, and give thanks.

Getting Around – how to use public transportation and understand directions.

Shopping – how to check for prices, ask for discounts, and complete a sale.

Emergencies – how to ask for help in an emergency and to describe problems.

Korean numbers – how to say and understand Korean numbers.

Before covering these basic Korean phrases, I want to point out some key points about the phrases used here, how to use them, and how to speak Korean.

The Korean Writing System

For those who have never studied Korean and are used to a latin script, like English, the Korean writing system (hangul) can seem very confusing. It’s actually one of the easiest to learn and you can pick it up with a few days of practice. I really recommend learning hangul, it’ll make your trip to Korea so much easier and let you read signs, menus, displays, and lots more.

Phrases With Blank Spaces

Some sentences have blank spaces so you can add what you want in that phrase. For example, ‘I’ll have a ____’. This is a useful phrase (covered in section 3) where you can add in whatever it is you want to buy, eat, or drink.

How To Pronounce These Basic Korean Phrases

To make it easier to learn these basic Korean phrases, I’ve included a pronunciation guide for each section.

Korean words are made up of groups of syllables, e.g. kim–chi (김-치) Therefore, the pronunciation guide is in syllable groups. If you pronounce the words as you would in English, you’ll be able to speak Korean, even if you don’t understand what the words mean.

To understand how to pronounce these Korean words more naturally, try to remember these pronunciation rules:

‘eu‘ is pronounced like ‘oo’ in ‘boot’ but without rounding your lips.

‘ae‘ is pronounced like ‘ay’ in ‘pay’.

‘oo‘ is pronounced like ‘oo’ in ‘zoo’.

‘kk‘, ‘gg‘, ‘tt‘ and other double consonants are pronounced more strongly than a single consonant.

‘ah‘, ‘eh‘, ‘oh‘, ‘uh‘ are pronounced softly (like a in apple, not a in ace)

Who Is This Guide For?

These basic Korean phrases are designed for people who don’t speak Korean. Many phrases are simplified, some particles are dropped where the meaning is obvious, and grammar is usually in the polite form.

When we use English, we can use many phrases for the same thing. For example, ‘Give me a pizza‘, or ‘I’ll have a pizza‘, or just ‘Pizza, please‘. The meaning is the same, but the way we say them differs.

The same applies with Korean. I’ve used basic Korean phrases for the various topics covered here. This is not only to help you learn them more easily, but also so that Koreans can understand you.

If you’re interested in learning how to speak Korean and want an excellent course that will start you on your journey, I highly recommend 90 Day Korean. You can learn more about their Korean language learning courses with the link below.

Now let’s look at the first 10 basic Korean phrases, covering the essentials.

1: Essential Korean Phrases

If you’re only going to remember one set of basic Korean phrases, it should probably be this one. These are the most basic Korean words and phrases and if you can master these, you’ll be one step closer to travelling more easily.

These will help you be polite and show the locals that you’re willing to learn a little bit of language when you visit their country. This can open the door to conversations and more. Plus, it’s always nice to be polite when you travel.

Understanding These Essential Basic Korean Phrases

In this section I’ll explain some of the Korean words from this list that will help expand your vocabulary.

주세요 (ju-se-yo) – Please

This is a very flexible word and can be used in many situations. It directly translates to ‘please give me‘. Add any word in front of it (e.g. pizza) and you can ask for something you want to buy, receive, or learn about.

안녕 (an-nyong) – Hello & Goodbye

This is the short (informal) version of both 안녕하세요 (hello) and 안녕히 가세요 (goodbye) and can be used in both situations. 2 for the price of 1!

괜찮아요 (kwen-cha-na-yo) – OK

This is my favourite Korean word, one which I use many times each day. It’s very flexible and you can use it when you want to say you’re OK, refuse something, or tell someone that, yes, you do know how to use chopsticks.

Do you want a receipt?
괜찮아요 (no, thanks).

Can I sit here?
괜찮아요 (yes, you may).

Are you sure you can eat spicy food?
괜찮아요! (sure I can!).

2: Korean Phrases For Greeting People

Now that you know how to be polite, why not learn a few words to introduce yourself and start a simple conversation?

These basic Korean phrases for greeting people will help you stand out when meeting people for the first time. After all, a nice greeting can go a long way to breaking down cultural barriers and getting to know more about Korean people when you visit Korea.

If in doubt, you can greet people with a simple ‘hello’ (an-nyong-ha-se-yo) from the previous list. I usually use this when I meet a stranger or get in a bus or taxi.

Understanding These Greeting Phrases

In this section I’ll explain some of the Korean words from this list that will help expand your vocabulary.

영어 (yong-oh) – English language

This is the word for the English language (Korean is han-gook-oh – 한국어). Even if you can’t remember the complete phrase to ask if someone speaks English, you should be able to convey that you want to speak in English with just ‘yong-oh‘.

You might be surprised at how many people can speak English in Korea and once you’ve asked them, they will often open up and start talking more. If you’re lucky, that’ll be in English, too.

뭐예요? (mwo-ye-yo?) – What is this?

This is a really useful basic Korean phrase that can be used to ask what something is. If you want to know the name of something, simply point and say 뭐예요? – the other person should understand that you don’t know what it is.

천천히 (chon-chon-hee) – Slowly

This word is perfect for when you want someone to slow down, such as when someone is talking too fast or your taxi driver is driving too fast.

Another useful basic Korean phrase to remember in these situations is palli-palli (빨리빨리), which means ‘hurry up’. Korea has been described as a palli-palli culture – always busy!

3: Korean Phrases For Dining Out

You can’t travel to another country and not try the Delicious Korean Dishes! Korea has a wide range of culinary treats just waiting for you.

Fortunately, many restaurants have picture menus, like the one above. They often have English translations, too, which can really help.

If in doubt, point to something and say ‘ju-se-yo‘ (please). This simple Korean phrase will help you get what you want most of the time.

Understanding These Phrases For Dining Out

In this section I’ll explain some of the Korean words from this list that will help expand your vocabulary.

매워요 (may-wo-yo) – Spicy

This is a Korean word you’ll definitely want to learn if you love spicy food (or can’t stomach it). When a Korean dish is red, it’s more than likely going to be spicy. If you want a spicy dish, you can point at a dish and ask mae-wo-yo? (is this spicy?).

알레르기가 있어요 (al-le-loo-gi-ga iss-o-yo) – I have an allergy

If you need to say you ‘have an allergy to something’, then say the thing you’re allergic to, followed by this phrase. For travellers with special dietary needs, it would be a good idea to find the word of the food you’re allergic to before travelling.

Want More Dining Out Phrases?

For more basic Korean phrases about eating out and ordering food, including more about health and dietary requirements in Korean, check out this article with 60 more Korean phrases for eating out.

4: Korean Phrases For Transportation

Travelling in Korea is a lot easier than you might think. Many signs at airports, train stations, subways, and on buses, are in English. They’re sometimes in Chinese and Japanese, too.

Korea is a very modern country when it comes to transport and there are a lot of different transport options, including high speed trains (KTX), subways, and buses.

These phrases will help you avoid getting lost and help you find your way around. Remember, if you get really stuck, you can always use gestures.

Understanding These Korean Phrases For Transportation

In this section I’ll explain some of the Korean words from this list that will help expand your vocabulary.

어디예요? (oh-dee-ye-yo?) – Where is?

This basic Korean phrase is very helpful not only for transportation, but also shopping and when you need to find a toilet in Korea.

Want to go to Gyeongbokgung Palace? Point to a picture of it and ask ‘oh-dee-ye-yo?‘. These other Korean phrases will help you understand the directions, too.

가주세요 (ga-ju-se-yo) – Please go (somewhere).

This phrase is used to ask someone to ‘take you somewhere’. As mentioned, ‘ju-se-yo‘ means ‘please’. The ‘ga’ part of this phrase is from ‘ga-da‘, the verb for ‘to go’.

You can use ga-ju-se-yo whenever you want to go somewhere. Usually in a taxi. Jump in, tell the driver ‘Seoul-yog (Seoul Station) ga-ju-se-yo‘ and they’ll take you straight there.

Save Money On Transportation

When you travel in Korea, don’t forget to pick up a T-Money Card. This transportation card makes travelling around Korea a real breeze and you can also use it to pay for things in shops and restaurants. Why not practice using these Korean phrases when ordering a taxi from Kakao Taxi in Korea.

5: Korean Phrases For Shopping

Shopping in Korea will be a lot easier with these basic Korean phrases, whether you’re in a department store or trying to buy some delicious Korean street food.

Learning to give your opinion about how cheap or expensive something is shows the shop owner you know a good price and can get you a big discount.

The traditional markets in Korea are great places to get some bargains on local and international brands. You’ll also find some of the best food available here and a window into traditional Korean culture.

Understanding These Korean Phrases For Shopping

In this section I’ll explain some of the Korean words from this list that will help expand your vocabulary.

얼마예요? (ol-ma-ye-yo?) – How Much?

This is a basic Korean phrases you can use for so much – ordering food, shopping, asking for taxi fees, and more. Want to haggle for a new bag in the market? Ol-ma-ye-yo? Want to know the cost of a train to Busan? Ol-ma-ye-yo?

싸요! (ssa-yo!) & 비싸요! (bi-ssa-yo!) – That’s cheap! & That’s Expensive!

You can use these Korean phrases in the traditional markets when you want to haggle. After asking how much something is (and hearing it’s too much), reply with ‘bi-ssa-yo!’ and start to walk away. The vendor, no doubt impressed by your Korean skills, will start to haggle, and lower the price (if you’re lucky).

6: Korean Phrases For Emergencies

Crime rates in Korea are very low, but you can never be too careful. Hopefully you will never need to use these emergency Korean phrases, but they are here for you just in case.

If you need to get some medicine, then visit one of the many pharmacies located throughout any city. You can’t miss them, they have a big green + sign outside.

There are separate numbers for emergency services in Korea.

Dial 112 for the police

Dial 119 for fire & medical services

Dial 1339 for COVID-19 support

Dial 1330 for tourist support

Understanding These Korean Phrases For Emergencies

In this section I’ll explain some of the Korean words from this list that will help expand your vocabulary.

도와주세요 (do-wa-ju-se-yo) – Please help me

This basic Korean phrase isn’t just for emergencies. If you have heavy luggage and you want to ask for help carrying it down the stairs, you can say ‘do-wa-ju-se-yo‘ (in a calm voice). A kind Korean person will surely help out.

의사 (wi-sa) – Doctor

If you need to speak to a doctor, you can use this word to ask for help. Doctors can often speak English, at least for discussing medical problems.

약국 (yak-gook) – Pharmacy

As mention, you can find a pharmacy by looking for a big green cross sign. You’ll also see the word ‘약‘ on the sign. Look for these if you need medicine.

7: How To Say Korean Numbers

There are two ways to say numbers in Korean, known as the Korean system and the Chinese system. The Korean system only goes up to 99. The Chinese system is generally used more, which is why I’ll tell you about those numbers.

Whichever system you use, Koreans will be able to understand you as they mean the same thing, they might just grumble you’re using the wrong system.

Find out about how the Korean numbering system works in this article.

You can see how to say and read the Korean numbers from 1 to 10,000 in the table below.

Learning Korean At Home

I hope you’ve found these basic Korean phrases useful and can use them to explore Korea and interact with the locals a bit more easily.

Learning a foreign language can be a massive undertaking, one that you need to devote a lot of time and effort to be successful at. But it can also be very rewarding, make you smarter, and help you travel more easily.

If you’re interested in learning how to speak Korean, then I’d personally recommend the inner circle course with 90 Day Korean – it’s the course I have been using to learn Korean.

Of course, there is more than one way to learn a language. I practice Korean in a variety of ways. Here are some of the best apps and courses for learning Korean.

• Korean Class 101
• Talk To Me In Korean
• Memrise

Papago and Google Translate are translation apps that will translate words into Korean and also show you how to say them. I prefer Papago as it is more accurate and wrote an article about how to use Papago to show you how to get the most out of this essential translation app.

One final Korean word for you to learn – ‘hwaiting‘ 화이팅, which is Korean for ‘fighting’ – or ‘you can do it’! Fighting!

Do You Need To Learn Korean?

No. You don’t have to learn Korean, but it will definitely help you. Even expats like myself who have lived here for a long time don’t necessarily have to learn Korean to enjoy being in Korea. If you want to know more about whether or not you need Korean to survive living in Korea, check out my article about whether you need to learn Korean to live in Korea.

Learn More About Korea

Understanding a language is a lot more than learning a few basic Korean phrases. You also need to understand some of the cultural and societal reasons that people speak and behave in the way they do.

Here are some of my best articles about Korean culture that will give you interesting insights into Korean society, people, and help you prepare to visit the Land of the Morning Calm.

Are you interested in understanding Korean etiquette? It’s really helpful to know more about how and why people behave the way they do in Korea. Impress your friends at home or in Korea with these South Korean culture facts. You might be shocked at some of these interesting facts.

If you’re worried about planning a trip to Korea, check out my pre-travel tips for Korea.

Support In My Korea

Thanks for reading. If you want to help me to create more great content in the future, why not buy me a coffee? A strong coffee helps me write more and is a simple way to show gratitude for this free content.

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