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
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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.

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You’ll find all the best Korean travel tips and advice in this article. Whether you’re a first-time traveller to Korea, or you’ve visited before, this South Korea travel guide will show what to see, when to travel, and which places to visit, as well as help you avoid any difficult situations or surprising culture shocks.

This guide is designed to walk you through everything you need to know to prepare for your trip to Korea. You can use it to plan your itinerary, to pre-book travel essentials, to learn about what festivals and seasonal events are on, and to find more reasons to want to travel to Korea right now.

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

What’s In This South Korea Travel Guide

This South Korea travel guide covers all the essential information you need to plan a trip to Korea. This is useful for first-time travellers to Korea who might not be aware of uniquely Korean cultural and travel issues. Even if you’ve visited Korea before, I’m sure you can learn a lot from this travel guide.

This article contains lots of insights and knowledge about travelling to Korea and is quite long. I’ve added links in each section to articles that provide more information about each topic. Therefore, I suggest viewing this South Korea travel guide on a desktop computer as it will be easier to read.

What Are You Looking For?

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.

Latest Travel News

Entry Requirements

Why Visit Korea

When To Visit

Flights To Korea

Where To Stay

Korea Travel Costs

Travel Money

Phones & Internet

Public Transport

Where To Visit

Seoul Day Tours

Sightseeing Spots

Korean Activities

Korean Festivals

1-Week Itinerary

Culture Issues

Language Issues

Health & Safety

Korean Travel Tips

Korean Travel News And Travel Restrictions 2024

This section of the South Korea travel guide will show you the latest travel news and restriction updates, including any temporary or permanent changes to the entry process, visa changes, and other things that might affect travel to Korea. COVID-related updates will also be posted here.

Latest Korean Travel News In 2024

This section will detail any interesting or important travel news that could affect travellers to Korea, such as price increases in public transport, travel changes, new services, or closures.

What Are the Current COVID Restrictions In Korea In 2024?

Korea has been removing COVID-related restrictions in the country throughout 2022 and 2023. It is no longer necessary to show a QR code to enter a building and restrictions involving masks and health checks have mostly gone. The latest COVID-related rules for Korea are as follows.

Masks: From Monday, March 20th, Korea has removed the mandatory mask rule for public transport, one of the final places that masks were required for the general public. The only places that require a face mask (from June 1st) are in medical facilities (hospitals). Masks are not mandatory elsewhere, including in schools, shops, restaurants or anywhere outside. Source: Korea Herald

Self-Quarantine: From June 1st, Korea will no longer impose a mandatory self-isolation period on infected people. The government instead ‘recommends’ a period of self-isolation for 5 days to reduce the chance of transmission to other people. Source: Korea Herald

For further details about the latest COVID requirements for entering or travelling in Korea, check out the second section of this South Korea travel guide, which has a list of all the updated entry requirements, including visas, tests, and other considerations.

Current Requirements To Travel To Korea In 2024

This part of the South Korea travel guide is for tourists. If you plan to travel for business, employment, or other reasons, check your nearest Korean embassy for the latest travel requirements.

Most of the restrictions and requirements for travelling to Korea have now been scrapped. You can see what entry and travel rules are in place for Korea in the table below:

The following section provides more information and exceptions about these requirements:

COVID-positive travellers should avoid travelling to Korea: To avoid infecting others on the way to Korea, as well as in Korea, the Korean government recommends that you shouldn’t travel to Korea if you exhibit COVID-symptoms or have tested positive. Self-quarantine is mandatory in Korea.

There are no PCR or other testing requirements: It is not necessary to take a PCR or other test before travelling to Korea. However, you will be asked to take a test if you show symptoms of COVID or similar illnesses when travelling to or arriving in Korea.

There is no quarantine on arrival: Travellers to Korea no longer need to quarantine when entering Korea. From June 1st, there is only a ‘recommended’ 5 day self-isolation period for infected travellers, but this is not enforced.

Complete the self-health check before or on arrival: From July 15th, 2023, travellers to Korea no longer need to complete a Q-Code self-health check or declare their health status on arrival.

Apply for a K-ETA or tourist visa before travelling: You need to apply for either a K-ETA or tourist visa for South Korea before flying to the country. Entry will be prohibited without the correct one. From April 1st, 2023 until December 31st, 2024, 22 countries are excluded from the K-ETA.

If you’re not sure which of these you need to apply for, more information is provided in the next section of this South Korea travel guide about the K-ETA and tourist visa for Korea.

K-ETA (Korean Electronic Travel Authorisation)

The K-ETA (Korean Electronic Travel Authorisation) is an online travel authorisation that visa-free foreign visitors aged 18 to 65 must obtain before entering the Korea for tourism, visiting relatives, participating in events or meetings, and for business purposes other than profitable activities.

Tourists from 112 eligible countries need to apply for a K-ETA before travelling to Korea and won’t be allowed to board a flight to Korea without it. The approval process isn’t difficult, but requires accommodation details, travel dates, and personal details such as passport number, etc.

The K-ETA is based on your nationality, not the country you’re travelling from. That means, if you require a tourist visa from your home country (e.g. the Philippines), but are travelling from a country that requires a K-ETA (e.g. the USA), you can’t use the K-ETA to travel to Korea.

Tourists should apply as far in advance as possible at the official K-ETA website. If you would like to know more about the K-ETA, check out my article explaining what is the K-ETA. The K-ETA costs 10,000 KRW (about $9.00 USD). If you are charged more than this, you’re on the wrong site.

Official K-ETA website

Not sure if you need a K-ETA? Check out this infographic to find out.

Will The K-ETA End In The Future?

The K-ETA will continue for the indefinite future. It is not a pandemic-related travel restriction but a permanent feature that just happened to start in 2021. The Korean government have stated that the K-ETA will be ongoing and other countries and areas, such as the EU, are planning similar ETAs.

Update: In July 2023, the Korean government stopped requiring children 17 years and younger and adults 65 years and older to apply for a K-ETA. The validity period was also increased to 3 years.

Update: In April 2023, the Korean government suspended the K-ETA for travellers from 22 countries (listed previously). This is in an effort to reduce the burden on travellers visiting Korea during the ‘Visit Korea Years’ of 2023 and 2024. This lasts until December 2024, but could possibly go on longer.

Tourist Visas For South Korea

Tourists that aren’t from one of the 112 countries that require a K-ETA to travel to Korea will need to apply for a tourist visa. This includes nationals from countries such India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Tourist visas are based on nationality (passport), not country of residence.

The process to apply for a tourist visa differs depending on the country and may be as simple as submitting an application at the Korean embassy in the country you live in. For other countries, it may be necessary to submit extra information like bank statements and a full itinerary.

If you need a tourist visa for South Korea, contact your nearest Korean embassy as soon as you can to start the process. Tourist visas may be rejected, delayed, or take longer than expected. For some countries, such as the Philippines, it is necessary to apply through a specialist visa agency.

Transit Tour Visas For South Korea

Visa-free entry for foreign transit passengers at Incheon Airport will resume from May 2023 after being suspended for 3 years during the pandemic. There are two types of visa-free transit entry methods for travellers to Korea, they differ in length, requirements, and eligibility.

The first type of visa-free entry for transit passengers is open to all travellers to Korea and allows entry for 3 days, as long as they take a transit tour from Incheon Airport. The second type of visa-free entry for transit passengers is available for 30 days, but only from travellers from 36 select countries.

Visa-Free Entry For Transit Passengers (3 Days)

From May 15, 2023, travellers from any country can travel from Incheon Airport to the Seoul Metropolitan area for up to 3 days, as long as they book at least 1 transit tour from Incheon Airport. If Korea is not their final destination, they’re free to explore more of Seoul after the tour.

There are a wide range of transit tours available from Incheon Airport, including cultural, historic, food, shopping, and entertainment tours. See the sights of Seoul’s most popular places in a few hours, or stay for longer and see more. You can find out more about transit tours from the Visit Korea website.

Requirements: To be eligible for a transit tour visa, travellers must:

• Have an onward flight to their home country or a 3rd country after Korea.
• Participate in a transit tour program by a designated travel agency.
• Stay within the Seoul Metropolitan area only.
• Have more than 2 hours between connecting flights.

Eligible countries: Visa-free entry with a transit tour is open to passengers of all countries, as long as they meet the above requirements.

Tip: If you have a transit tour in Korea, I recommend staying in Hongdae, as there is a direct train from Incheon Airport to Hongdae called the All-Stop Airport Line. Hongdae is also a really fun place where you can see lots of culture, try Korean dishes, and pack your suitcase with Korean souvenirs.

Visa-Free Entry For Transit Passengers (30 Days)

This will allow travellers from 36 countries to enter and stay in Korea for up to 30 days without a Korean visa. Travellers must be travelling to or from one of these 36 countries to be eligible to stay in Korea without a visa. This includes passengers who are not citizens of those countries.

Requirements: To be eligible for a visa-free entry as a transit passenger, travellers must:

• Hold an onward flight to any of the 36 countries mentioned below.
• Have no illegal stay records of any kind, nor have been denied entry to Korea.
• Not have exceeded a maximum of 3 days stay in any other transit airport.

Eligible countries: Travellers from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and 32 EU countries (see picture below) can stay for up to 30 days, as long as the above-mentioned requirements are met.

Why You Should Travel To Korea In 2024

There’s not enough space in this South Korea travel guide to write down all of the reasons why you should travel to South Korea. Korea is an under-appreciated gem that has so much to discover and experience that’s completely different from what you’ll find in other countries.

Much the way that Japan has a very distinct culture and history, Korea has lots of unique, appealing places to see, people to meet, history to learn about, and natural sights to appreciate. Many people only see a small slice of Korean culture and beauty through modern media, but there’s a lot more.

Here are some of the reasons you should travel to Korea:

• Delicious foods and tasty seasonal dishes.
• Four distinct seasons that offer a variety of views.
• Fascinating history to learn about and explore.
• Stunning mountains and beaches for outdoor lovers.
• Unique and unusual festivals throughout the year.
• Friendly locals and a safe country to travel around.
• Modern, high-tech cities that are clean and efficient.
• Welcoming Buddhist temples and temple stays.
• Cheaper than most other developed countries.
• A shopper’s paradise with many markets and malls.
• Korea really wants you to come and visit.

Korea wants you to visit so much that they declared 2023-2024 the Visit Korea Year. This two-year period, confusingly referred to as a single year, is set to feature loads of events and activities to draw tourists to Korea, and includes promotions for discounted flights, accommodation, and food.

Some of the events you can expect to see during the Visit Korea Year(s) include K-Pop concerts, e-sports competitions, food festivals, and cultural celebrations. There’ll be K-Cultural stars involved, too, including your favourite K-Pop and K-Drama stars. Get ready to travel to Korea soon!

Want to know what you can do in Korea that you can’t do in other countries? Check out these amazing unique Korean experiences that should definitely be on your Korean bucket list.

The Best Time To Visit Korea

The best time to visit Korea is in spring (late-March to May) or autumn (mid-September until mid-November). These seasons have the most comfortable weather, ranging from 10 to 30 degrees Celsius, an average amount of rain, and also have the most festivals and events.

My favourite months to travel in Korea are April and October. Early-April is when cherry blossoms come out and the weather warms up enough to stop wearing a jacket. October in Korea is a beautiful month when autumn foliage sweeps across the country and the weather is warm and calm.

When you travel to Korea, the season you travel in can have a big impact on what you can see, eat, and do. This section of the South Korea travel guide is one of the most important and if you want to travel to Korea in the future, I recommend learning about Korea’s seasons before making plans.

What Can You See In Korea Each Season?

Although spring and autumn are undoubtedly the best time to visit Korea, there are plenty of reasons to visit in other seasons, too. Visitors to Korea who are restricted to travelling during certain times, such as during school or work holidays, needn’t be put off by travelling in summer or winter.

Here’s a summary of what you can see and do in each season in Korea:

Spring: Cherry Blossoms, Blooming Nature, Culture Festivals

Spring is an amazing season to travel in Korea as you can see colourful plum blossoms (Mar), cherry blossoms (Mar-Apr), and many other bright sights. The warm weather allows people go out more to enjoy cultural activities and spring festivals, such as the Lotus Lantern Festival and Jindo Sea-Parting Festival, and also trekking, hiking, and cycling. Spring is one of the most popular times to travel in Korea for locals, so expect places to be busy, especially around cherry blossom season.

Check out my cherry blossom guide for the best places to see cherry blossoms in Korea.

Summer: Beaches, Korean Desserts, Water Sports, Camping

Summer is a difficult season for travellers due to the high humidity and heat. June and July are rainy season in Korea and it may rain for days on end, causing people to change travel plans to indoor activities. In late July and August it gets very hot, which is good for going to the beach and enjoying water sports or water parks, which Korea has many of. Evening activities like hiking, drinking in rooftop bars, and visiting night markets are great ways to get out in summer when it’s not as hot.

Check out my guide to Korean summer activities for the best places to have fun during summer and rainy day activities in Busan in case the weather isn’t so good.

Autumn: Foliage, Festivals, Fresh Foods, Harvest Festivals

Autumn is another incredibly popular time to travel in Korea, especially in October when the autumn foliage is at its best. The foliage really brings everything to life, adding shades of colour to plain palace walls, mountains, and parks. The calm weather is warm with clear skies, making it perfect for going into nature to see the fresh fruits and other harvest goods, as well as join in harvest and cultural festivals. Enjoy local Korean dishes, fresh from the farm to your table.

Check out my guide to autumn foliage in Korea for the best places to see the leaves.

Winter: Snow, Winter Sports, Ice Fishing, Light Festivals

Winter in Korea is often neglected due to the cold weather, but is actually a very nice time to travel with delicious winter foods to try. It’s the driest time of year with blue skies making everything bright and beautiful. When it snows, sights look even more incredible. Jeju Island is a great place to visit during winter as it has fresh citrus and colourful camellia flowers to see. You can enjoy winter sports, festivals and activities, such as ice fishing, ice skating, sledding, and more.

Check out my guide to Korean winter activities for the best places to have fun during winter.

What Is The Weather Like In Korea?

The weather in Korea follows a similar pattern each year, spread over five distinct seasons. As well as spring, summer, autumn, and winter, Korea also has a rainy season, which starts around mid-June and finishes mid-July. It doesn’t constantly rain during rainy season, but may do for several days.

There’s always something to do in Korea, no matter what the season. Even rainy season in Korea is fine for travelling, as long as you plan lots of indoor activities and can be flexible with your schedule. Don’t let the weather in Korea put you off visiting, you’ll find plenty to do in each season.

Here’s a summary of the weather in Korea each season:

The graph below shows you the average temperature each month in Seoul. This is an average temperature, so some days will be much hotter and others much colder. I’ve experienced summer temperatures of over 35 degrees and winter nights of -20, so be prepared for both.

The table below shows the average rainfall for each month in Korea, based on records from climate-data.org. The summer months have the most, while winter in Korea is very dry. The rainfall in the winter months can turn to snow when it’s cold enough, too.

There will be more information about the sights, festivals, and events you can enjoy in Korea in later parts of this South Korea travel guide. Check them out for travel ideas for your trip to Korea.

How To Book Flights To Korea

Flying to Korea in 2024 is getting easier with more airlines offering direct or connecting flights to Korea and budget airlines adding more routes to Korea from other parts of Asia and as far away as the USA. There aren’t as many routes as there were in 2019, but they are returning month by month.

Booking a flight to Korea is one of the first things most people do and finding the right flight can really affect your travels. Choosing the right flight not only affects how much money you need to spend, but also when you’ll arrive, how you’ll get to your hotel, and where you’ll arrive in Korea.

Check out my guide to booking flights to Korea to discover the best ways to book a flight to Korea, including the best time to book (21 to 127 days before travel), where to get cheap flights, the various airlines that offer flights to Korea, and lots more.

Arriving At Incheon Airport

Most flights to Korea arrive at Incheon Airport, which is near Seoul. It takes about an hour to get to the centre of Seoul from Incheon Airport and there are various transportation options including a high-speed train, subway, limo buses, taxis, and private transfers.

The best option for transferring from Incheon Airport to your hotel is usually a limo bus as these run to popular areas of Seoul, such as Myeongdong, Hongdae, Gangnam, and Insadong. There’s also a direct train to Seoul Station and a subway that goes to Seoul Station via Hongdae.

Arriving during the daytime gives you the best options for getting from Incheon Airport into Seoul, while nighttime flights will leave you fewer options. There are a few night buses that run, but late arrivals will either need to stay at the airport or book a private transfer or taxi instead. More details about taking a taxi from Incheon Airport can be found in my guide to taxis in Korea.

If you want to book a private transfer direct to your hotel from Incheon Airport, contact Jerry Heng, a freelance driver. I want to recommend Jerry as he has years of experience organising airport pick-ups and drop-offs, as well as personalised tours around Korea. He’s also a friendly guy.

Recommended Flight Comparison Sites

I suggest checking at least one flight comparison website before booking any flights. You can alter the arrival and departure times, flight duration, choose direct or indirect flights, and sort by price to find the perfect flight for you. Skyscanner is my preferred comparison site, but they’re all useful.

Take time to change the dates and flight times to find the most suitable flights for you. Cheaper flights often have inconvenient arrival times, so you should decide whether it’s worth the hassle to save a bit of money. Sometimes spending more for the right flight is worth it, especially when time is limited.

I try to go for a balance of convenience and savings and avoid flights that arrive late at night or leave too early in the morning. These flights require you to book an extra night at the airport or make you lose time when you could be travelling and doing more interesting things.

Here are 4 of the best flight comparison sites for booking flights to Korea:

Skyscanner is one of the most popular flight aggregators and offers flights, hotels, and other travel bookings for all major destinations. Skyscanner shows airline environmental ratings and which flights are practical or difficult.

Skyscanner Flights

Expedia is a large US travel company that offers tours, flights, hotels, and other services around the world. You can book hotel and flights together, to save you time and effort when travelling. A good place to start your flight search.

Expedia Flights

Kayak is great for people looking for cheap flights to Korea. You can see price trends for your flight to Korea to see when the best prices are available. There are also lots of budget travel options on the site that can save you more.

Kayak Flights

WayAway is a flight comparison site for the modern generation, with Instagram tips & travel advice as well as a good selection of cheap flights. You can get cashback on bookings with their premium service.

Wayaway Flights

Where To Stay In Seoul

Incheon Airport is the main arrival destination for most travellers visiting Korea, with more than 71 million travellers passing through the airport in 2019, making it the world’s 14th busiest airport. It’s close to Seoul and has lots of transportation options to get into Korea’s capital.

Seoul is the first place people visit, not only because it’s close to Incheon Airport, but because it’s undeniably the heart and soul of Korea. The greater Seoul area includes about 50% of Korea’s population (25 million people) and is by far the biggest, most vibrant, and fun city in Korea.

To travel to Korea you need either a K-ETA or tourist visa. One of the requirements to apply for these is the address of the first place you’ll be staying in Korea. Therefore, you should book at least your first hotel in Korea so you can begin those applications. Seoul is an ideal first place to stay.

Best Neighbourhoods To Stay In Seoul

Deciding where to stay in Seoul can be difficult because there are so many unique neighbourhoods, each offering something interesting for travellers to experience. Knowing which has the best sights, entertainment, culture, shopping, transport, markets, restaurants, cafes, etc., is useful.

Seoul’s neighbourhoods typically contain a mixture of several of these elements and will appeal to different types of travellers. Below is a very rough guide for which neighbourhood each type of traveller might enjoy. Of course, there are plenty of other things to do in each area.

As you can see from the list above, both Hongdae and Myeongdong have a lot to offer and I would definitely recommend either of these neighbourhoods for first time travellers to Seoul. Even people who have travelled to Korea before will find lots of reasons to stay there. They’re where I usually stay.

I have detailed guides to hotels in the two best districts for staying in Seoul – Hongdae and Myeongdong. My guide to hotels in Hongdae includes a range of hotels for all types of travellers, while my guide to hotels in Myeongdong highlights Myeongdong’s best budget to mid-range hotels.

Each neighbourhood feels unique and offers something to discover, from traditional markets and eateries, modern Insta-worthy cafe districts, peaceful parks and lakes, world-class skyscrapers, and many fun activities. Wherever you choose to stay, you’re sure to find something you enjoy.

I’ve included the 8 best neighbourhoods in Seoul in this South Korea travel guide, along with a small summary about what you can expect in each area. These are the most popular areas for tourists to stay in, but certainly not the only places to stay. There are also links to hotels in these areas.

Here are the 8 best neighbourhoods in Seoul:

Myeongdong is arguably one of the best places to stay in Seoul for any traveller. It has the best range of budget and mid-range hotels in Seoul and is conveniently located for sights, activities, and public transport. It’s close to popular tourist sites, such as the N Seoul Tower and royal palaces. There are traditional markets and Myeongdong’s famous street food alley to check out. As Myeongdong is popular with tourists, you’ll find more people that can speak English and places to exchange money.

Hongdae is one of the coolest neighbourhoods in Seoul and a must-see for any traveller to the city. This area has emerged as a creative hotbed for the latest Korean fashion, art, food, and culture, thanks to innovations from students of nearby universities. Youth culture is on display in Hongdae’s main and side streets, with boutique shops, trendy bars and cafes, inventive restaurants, street art, and live performances. If you want to see a vibrant, colourful side of Seoul, then Hongdae is the place for you.

Gangnam is an upscale area of Seoul that’s home to some of Korea’s biggest stars. This area was where K-Pop was invented, as can be seen by the golden Gangnam Style statue outside COEX Mall. Gangnam is a lot more than that, and is a powerful business area with Seoul’s best shopping and dining experiences, as well as some of the city’s finest cafes and bars. Gangnam has a host of upmarket hotels that provide outstanding luxury, but also has a selection of budget and mid-range hotels making it accessible for all travellers.

Jongno is the area north of Myeongdong that includes Insadong, Bukchon Hanok Village, Ikseongdong Hanok Village, Jogyesa Temple, 4 of Seoul’s royal palaces, the presidential Blue House, and lots more. This area is packed full of interesting sights and traditional restaurants and tea houses to explore. You can find a good range of hotels in Insadong, Seoul’s artistic area that is home to artists and tourist-friendly attractions. There are also guesthouses and apartments to rent in the residential areas of Jongno that offer a more homely stay.

Jamsil is an upmarket residential neigbourhood close to Gangnam that’s home to one of Korea’s largest companies, Lotte. You’ll find the Lotte World Tower, Lotte World Theme Park, and Lotte Aquarium in this area, as well as the beautiful Seokchon Lake and leafy Olympic Park. Jamsil is a great base for people visiting for cherry blossoms in spring as the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival is one of Seoul’s best. There are lots of trendy cafes and bars near the lake and it’s a relaxed part of the city to stay in.

Dongdaemun is known for both its traditional markets, where you can buy a range of goods, as well as the futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). The area is an unusual mix of traditional Seoul, with Gwangjang Market offering some of Seoul’s best Korean street food, and modern culture, displayed by the night markets and art installations at the DDP. There are lots of cheap eats and bargain markets and malls in this area, making it a great place to stay if you plan to do a lot of bargain shopping in Seoul.

Yongsan is the area encompassing the N Seoul Tower, the popular international area of Itaewon, the trendy hilltop area of Haebangchon (HBC), Seoul Station, the National Museum of Seoul, and many riverside parks. Yongsan has a busy train station with towering skyscrapers and hotels around it catering to business and luxury travellers, as well as shoppers. This quiet business and residential area has good transport links and fewer crowds than other parts of Seoul, as well as interesting cultural attractions.

Yeouido is a large island that rests in the Han River, overlooking Hongdae and Yongsan. It has some of the best parks in Seoul and is a popular place for locals to walk along the river on weekends and at night. These parks are home to Seoul’s biggest cherry blossom festivals, as well as summer night markets, fireworks performances, live music, and people enjoying life outside of work. Yeouido is the upmarket financial centre of Seoul, making it an ideal base for business, luxury, and family travellers.

Seoul’s neighbourhoods are informal designations, not necessarily the official district name. For example, Hongdae is a neighbourhood in the Mapo-gu district and Myeongdong a neighbourhood in the Jung-gu district. Whereas Jongno is both the neighbourhood and district name (Jongno-gu).

You might see some areas referred to differently. However, the terms I’ve used in this section are the names most commonly used to describe these areas by tourists and expats. Koreans will certainly know which area of Seoul you’re talking about when you use these names.

Learn more: If you want to know more about Seoul’s best districts and figure out where the best place to stay for your trip to Korea, then check out my detailed guide about where to stay in Seoul. It’s packed with useful info about each neighbourhood, hotel recommendations for different budgets, and tips about booking accommodation in Seoul. Also learn more about the Han River Boat Service launching in 2024 to connect Yeoudio, Jamsil and other riverside destinations.

Hotel Recommendations For Seoul

There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of hotels in Seoul to choose from ranging from multi-person dorm rooms to the height of luxury looking down over Seoul from a 5-star hotel room in the Lotte World Tower. Whatever your budget or requirements, there’ll be somewhere to stay in Seoul for you.

To save you time searching for the best places to stay in Seoul, I’ve created a list of the 9 best luxury, mid-range, and budget hotels in Seoul, as well as 6 long-stay serviced apartments. This list has been created based on customer reviews, location, facilities, amenities, reputation, and quality.

I live outside of Seoul, so often book hotels when I’m visiting Seoul for the weekend. I’ve stayed at quite a few of these, so can personally recommend them based on my own experience. I’ve had both good and bad hotel experiences in Seoul and only want to recommend the best to you.

Recommended Luxury Hotels

Seoul has some incredible luxury hotels to enjoy, each with a true 5-star service, excellent amenities, and delectable restaurants. Many of Seoul’s best luxury hotels are located in Gangnam, Seoul’s wealthiest district, where you can find top restaurants and designer brand shopping.

Recommended Mid-Range Hotels

If you want to experience a luxurious stay in Seoul without breaking the bank, then these mid-range hotels will be perfect for you. These unique, 4-star hotels are reasonably priced and provide stylish, comfortable rooms that you’ll sleep easily in after a busy day exploring Seoul.

Recommended Budget Hotels

Seoul has a wide range of excellent budget hotels with prices that might surprise you for a large city. These are some of my favourite places to stay in Seoul when I visit for the weekend and are popular with travellers due to their convenient location, facilities, and comfortable beds.

Recommended Serviced Apartments

If you plan to stay in Seoul for a month or more, these serviced apartments will provide you all the comforts of home with the benefits of staying at a hotel. These excellent serviced apartments come with cleaning services, health facilities, cooking facilities, and are value for money.

Cost To Travel In South Korea In 2024

This part of the South Korea travel guide will help you understand some of your expected costs to travel to Korea. The costs to travel to Korea include flights, accommodation, food, drinks, transportation, activities, sim cards, visas, souvenirs, travel insurance, and lots more.

The costs you will pay when you travel vary massively depending on what type of traveller you are and what style of travel you can afford. If you want 5-star luxury and fine-dining, your budget will be very different from someone eating ramyeon from 7-11 and staying in a budget guesthouse.

Therefore, I will try to provide expected costs for 3 different types of traveller – budget, mid-range, and luxury. These aren’t exact figures, but should give you a rough idea of how much you’ll spend.

Daily Costs To Travel In Korea

There are costs that you will pay each day when travelling in Korea that can be averaged out to give you a daily cost. Knowing these figures will help you plan your budget for Korea and to see where you can afford to spend more for the one-off costs to travel, which will be covered next.

The daily costs are accommodation, food & drinks, transportation, attractions & tours, and miscellaneous expenses that can pop up unexpectedly. These miscellaneous costs might include getting a street food snack, an unexpected entrance fee, or a few extra drinks in the evening.

Transportation will be covered later in this South Korea travel guide and there are some useful tips to reduce your transportation costs. You will also be able to see some of the best attractions, tours, and activities in Korea and you’ll be able to work out how much you’ll spend on those.

Here are the daily costs per person to travel in Korea:

Please note: These are costs per day, per person. Couples and families sharing a room will have lower costs as double rooms aren’t much more expensive than single rooms. Some days will be cheaper, some much more expensive, especially if you take day trips or visit premium attractions.

There are also one-off costs not included in these daily costs. These can be pre-travel costs, such as flights and a K-ETA or tourist visa (already covered), travel insurance, vaccinations, and such like. Pre-travel costs are different for each traveller and depend on your country of residence.

Other one-off costs during travel in Korea may include day tours, souvenirs, shopping, celebrations, medical costs, and expenses that you don’t normally pay each day. Again, these vary for each traveller and are difficult to calculate as people’s budgets are so different.

Is Korea A Cheap Country To Travel In?

Korea is relatively cheap country to visit, but certainly isn’t always a budget destination. The cost to travel to Korea has risen over the last few years and might be more expensive than you think, even if you’ve previously visited Korea. Flying to Korea is certainly more expensive now.

Food costs rose by 7.5% in 2022 alone and these costs have been passed on to restaurants, which now charge higher prices for meals. Transportation costs rose by about 20% in 2023 for buses and subways, although these are still relatively cheap compared to some countries.

Despite these price increases, travelling in Korea is still cheaper than travelling in most other high-income industrialised countries such as Japan, the USA, and Western Europe. If you’re from countries such as the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, or Malaysia, Korea may seem expensive.

City Passes That Save You Money In Seoul

There are a number of city passes that can save you money when visiting Seoul by offering free or discounted entry to some of the best attractions in the city for a single price. The original city pass for Seoul is the Discover Seoul Pass, but now there is also the Go City Pass and Klook Pass Seoul.

Here’s a summary of each of these Seoul city passes:

Discover Seoul Pass: Available in 24 | 48 | 72 hour periods, allows entry to top attractions in Seoul such as Lotte World Adventure, N Seoul Tower, COEX Aquarium, Alive Museum, Zoolung Zoolung, Sealala Sauna, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and more. Prices start at 50,000 KRW.

Go City Seoul Pass: Available as 1 – 5 day passes or a flexible pass for up to 7 attractions. Covers a wider amount of attractions than the DSP, including a DMZ Tour, Nanta Cookin’ Musical, Seoul Land, Seoul Pub Crawl, Seoul Ghost Tour, and more. Prices start at 68,000 KRW.

Klook Pass Seoul: Available for use 2 – 5 attractions, including Everland or Lotte World Adventure theme parks. The Klook Pass Seoul allows free entry to selected attractions within a 30 day period. Attractions include the N Seoul Tower and Lotte World Aquarium. Prices start at 44,000 KRW.

If you’d like to know more about these passes, be sure to check out my article about the Klook Pass Seoul, as well as my suggested Discover Seoul Pass itineraries. I’ll have a review article of the Go City Seoul Pass soon, too.

How To Save Money In Korea

There are always ways to save money and spend less in Korea. Budget options exist for travellers and you can travel in Korea for less than 150,000 KRW per day, even as little as 50,000 KRW per day. Here are some of the ways you can save money in Korea and travel more for less:

Eat like a local: Visit the traditional markets, food stalls, and traditional Korean restaurants. These are much cheaper than eating foreign foods in Korea. University areas are usually cheap, too.

Spend less on coffee: Coffee in Korea can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. A latte could cost you 5,000 KRW in a chain store, but there are cheap hole-in-the-wall cafes where it’s half that.

Shop in the markets: From designer goods (possibly fake) to souvenirs, the markets of Seoul and other cities usually have the best prices. Don’t be afraid to haggle.

Use public transport: Korea has a fantastic public transport network both in cities and between cities. Don’t waste money on taxis and private transfers when you can use a bus or subway.

Book everything online: You can find discounted entry and tour tickets online that are much cheaper than the regular price. Use Klook, Get Your Guide, and Viator for the best prices.

Stay in guesthouses and hostels: You can find rooms for as little as 10,000 KRW per night in shared dorms and 20,000 KRW in guesthouses. Book ahead to find the best prices.

Take advantage of free things: There are lots of places you can visit for free in Seoul and free services, such as walking tours in Seoul, 30-minute hanbok rentals, and even free entry to the palaces.

Get your tax back: Korea makes it really easy to recover tax you’ve paid when shopping. Stores in Seoul will process tax returns for you or you can claim a refund at the airport when you leave.

You will see tips and links in this South Korea travel guide that are designed to help you save money when you visit Korea. Booking tours, attractions, and sim cards in advance can save you a lot of money, as can using a T-Money card and Wise travel card. Keep reading for more money-saving tips.

Travel Money And Money Exchanges In Korea

If you follow the tips in this section of this South Korea travel guide, you can certainly save yourself a lot of money and avoid unnecessary fees when spending in Korea. Learn where and how to exchange money, how to avoid ATM and card fees, and how to get tax back before you leave.

Because this section covers a lot of the common questions people ask about travel money in Korea, it will be broken down into a question and answer format. This should make it easier for you to find the information you’re looking for and discover answers you didn’t know you were looking for.

Can You Use A Foreign Card In Korea?

Almost all foreign credit cards with Visa or Mastercard will be accepted in Korea and it is possible to use these cards to pay across the country. American Express is also accepted in popular tourist areas, but not as widely as Visa or Mastercard and may have problems outside of big cities.

Foreign debit cards should work if they use Visa or Mastercard, but there may be restrictions in place with your bank when using them abroad. It is recommended that you call your bank to check before travelling. For both credit and debit cards, check your bank for any fees you’ll pay overseas.

Can You Withdraw Cash From An ATM In Korea?

You can withdraw cash from ATMs in Korea using a debit card, but not all ATMs will accept international cards. Look for a sign saying ‘Global ATM’ or ‘Foreign Currency ATM’ to withdraw cash in Korea with a debit card. You can also withdraw cash using a credit card, but it’s more expensive.

Whether you use a debit or credit card, an ATM is likely to charge a fee to withdraw money using a foreign card. Your bank or credit card company may also charge a fee or give a bad exchange rate. These costs can add up a lot if you withdraw regularly, so try to make fewer withdrawals.

Learn more: Should you use cash or card when you visit Korea? This article about the how to pay in Korea has lots of useful information about payment methods in Korea, including alternatives to the usual mix of cash and a credit card.

How Can You Save Money When Paying By Card In Korea?

Instead of using a foreign debit or credit card in Korea, which might have expensive fees or not work in places, here are two better options. The first is the WOWPASS travel card, which offers tourist-friendly card services in Korea. The other is to apply for a travel card that can be used globally.

Both the WOWPASS and the two other travel cards offer the ability to pay by card in Korea and to withdraw cash in Korean won. They also offer better exchange rates than you’ll find in airport or local money exchanges in Korea. They each have some unique features, which will be illustrated below.

Pay Like A Local With WOWPASS

The WOWPASS is a new way to pay in Korea that combines the essential functions of a T-Money transportation card with the benefits of a local debit card. This is a prepaid card you can top up at more than 90 locations in KRW or your own currency. Just look for the bright orange WOW machines.

The T-Money function in the WOWPASS means it’s more useful than other travel cards as you don’t need to carry two separate cards when you travel. Please note, you still need to charge the T-Money balance of WOWPASS with cash, just like a regular T-Money card.

The WOWPASS travel card allows you to add up to 1,000,000 KRW to your card and can be used to pay for almost anything in Korea without any fees. The card is issued by a Korean company, so you can use it to withdraw cash at any WOWPASS machine located in Seoul & other cities in Korea.

Thanks to the user-friendly WOWPASS app, users can freeze or replace their card, check their spending, add funds, and check exchange rates. Because the WOWPASS isn’t tied to your home bank account, it also reduces the damage by card fraud, in case the worst was to happen.

As well as a regular WOWPASS, you can also reserve the All-In-One Airport Package, which includes the WOWPASS, 10,000 KRW T-Money balance, and a discounted Korean sim card. This is really useful for those who want to get connected and travelling as soon as they arrive in Korea. Get the WOWPASS app for Android or Apple.

Tip: Use the invitation code INMYKOR1 to get cashback on WOWPASS top-ups in foreign currency.

Overseas Travel Cards You Can Use In Korea

Overseas travel cards are another option for spending in Korea and I use them myself to spend money from my UK bank account in Korea, as well as when travelling in other countries. They’re really simple to use and are much cheaper than paying with my foreign card or exchanging money.

Two of the leading travel card companies are Wise and Revolut. I use both of these to pay for things in Korea and have written an article about how to use the Wise card in Korea. You can use them to pay for hotels, food, drinks, transportation, taxis, attractions, and lots more. They’re really useful.

Here’s a summary of the main features of these travel cards:

The Wise travel card allows you to easily transfer and convert money from your home bank account into dozens of other currencies and use this money to pay when you’re travelling. You only need to transfer as much as you plan to spend and can easily transfer back anything you haven’t. The exchange rate will be better than your bank or a money exchange offers, too.

A versatile, easy to use app breaks down what you’ve spent by category so you can track your travel spending. You can withdraw cash from ATMs, pay by QR code, use it for Google Pay, and pay by contactless. Even if you lose your card, you can still spend money. It’s also really safe as you can freeze your card, set spending limits, and limit how much money you transfer.

Wise Travel Card

The Revolut travel card can be used in Korea to pay for a wide range of goods and services without expensive fees for spending your home currency overseas. Unlike the Wise travel card, which lets you transfer money into different currencies and then spend in a local currency, such as Korean won, the Revolut travel card lets you pay fee-free with your home currency.

The Revolut travel card comes with an easy to use app that can be used to manage your money both at home and when travelling in Korea. You can check your spending with categories and reports and set budgets for your spending. The Revolut travel card also offers cashback in the US, stock and crypto investments, and the same security features as the Wise travel card.

Revolut Travel Card

Can You Use Apple Pay In Korea?

Apple Pay wasn’t previously available in Korea due to a lack of approval by Korea’s financial regulator. However, in February 2023, Apple Pay received approval to begin operating in Korea through the Hyundai Card Co., allowing payments with Apple devices from March 2023 onwards.

The Apple Pay payment system has been available in Korea since March 21st, 2023 and allows Apple Pay members to pay for goods and services at NFC-enabled payment terminals. However, on the launch date of Apple Pay, there were only 70,000 NFC-enabled payment terminals in Korea.

The lack of NFC-enabled payment terminals will be a big issue for Apple Pay users in Korea as there are around 2,900,000 shops in Korea and most won’t accept Apple Pay. Franchises like Starbucks can’t accept Apple Pay and it can’t be used to pay for public transport. You’ll need a T-Money card.

Samsung Pay, which uses MST technology, not NFC, currently dominates the Korean market. NFC-enabled terminals should grow, especially in tourist areas and city-centres from 2023 onwards. This will be good news for Google Pay, which also uses NFC technology and also isn’t in use in Korea yet.

Should You Exchange Money Before Travelling To Korea?

It is not necessary to exchange money into Korean won before travelling to Korea, but it can certainly be useful to have a small amount of money. Exchange rates for Korean won outside Korea may not be as good as within Korea and changing large amounts of cash before you travel isn’t essential.

It might be hard to get Korean won from your local bank or money exchange as it’s not one of the most commonly exchanged currencies. Therefore, you might find exchange rates less favourable and extra fees applied to exchange money. Using travel cards like Wise or Revolut is a better option.

Should You Change Money At Incheon Airport?

I’ve travelled around the world and always avoid exchanging money at the airport if I can help it. Airports often have the worst rates for money exchange as they know people need to get local cash, there aren’t many other options, and you need at least a bit of money to travel to your hotel.

Incheon Airport is an exception to this rule and I’ve compared travel exchange rates at several times when flying into and out of the airport. The foreign currency exchange rates at Incheon Airport aren’t that bad and are just slightly higher than what you’d find in Seoul. Not the best, but not bad.

There are also Global ATMs at Incheon Airport, so you can withdraw cash here. If you have a Wise or Revolut travel card, you can withdraw up to $200 fee-free from an ATM in Korea. However, Korean banks will charge a withdrawal fee (about 3,000 KRW), which applies to any foreign card used.

Where Can You Exchange Money In Seoul?

Seoul is the first destination for most travellers to Korea and if you want to save money on exchange rate fees, I recommend exchanging money in the capital. There are two main options for exchanging money easily and quickly in Seoul – WOW money exchange machines and money exchanges.

Here’s a summary about the two main ways to exchange money in Seoul:

The cheapest and most convenient option for exchanging money in Seoul is through a WOW money exchange machine. This automated machine gives the best exchange rates and can quickly and easily exchange foreign cash for Korean won. It doesn’t accept card payments, only cash. All you need to do is scan your passport and deposit your cash and it will convert it into Korean won immediately. There are dozens of these machines in Seoul, as well as in other cities like Busan and Daejeon.

The traditional way to exchange foreign currency in Seoul was through a money exchange. You can find these in Myeongdong, where many tourists stay and visit in Seoul. There are also money exchanges inside banks and in other tourist hotspots. These used to be the best place to exchange money, until the WOW money exchanges were introduced and travel cards like Wise and Revolut made it easier to use a card. If you want to use a money exchange in Seoul, Myeongdong is the best place to do it.

Can You Get Tax Back When Shopping In Korea?

Travellers to Korea can claim tax back on eligible purchases during their trip. This can be done immediately after you purchase an item (if the shop offers the service) or at Incheon Airport or other airports in Korea before you depart.

Instant tax refunds are available at certain locations in Seoul and other big cities. These are usually department stores and large chain stores. You are able to claim tax refunds for goods up to a total value of 2,500,000 KRW (incl. tax). There is a tax refund limit of 500,000 KRW per transaction.

2024 Tax Refund Changes: From 2024, the tax refund limits will be doubled, so you will be able to claim up to 5,000,000 KRW of tax back and claim up to 1,000,000 KRW back per transaction. Source: Korea Herald.

To claim a tax refund you need:

• To show your passport
• To be a tourist in Korea
• To spend between 30,000 to 300,000 KRW in one place
• To be leaving Korea within 3 months

Tax isn’t refundable on all purchases, so be sure to check when shopping. Tax refunds can also be claimed at the airport as long as you have the receipt and the goods you’ve purchased.

Mobile Phones And Internet In Korea

Staying connected to the Internet when visiting Korea is becoming more and more essential these days. Keeping your mobile phone, tablet, or computer connected to the web is useful not only to stay in touch with people back home, but also to help you save money and travel Korea more easily.

There are several options to stay connected in Korea when you travel. The main options for travellers are tourist SIM cards, either physical or eSIMs, portable WiFi routers, and relying on free WiFi provided in public places and hotels. All of these are good options, but there are other considerations, too.

This South Korea travel guide will cover the main differences between Korean SIM cards and portable WiFi routers and which will be most suitable for you. There are also details about why you might want a Korean phone number and which apps to use to help you travel in Korea.

Don’t forget, if you bring your phone or other mobile devices to Korea, you’ll need a travel adapter.

Should You Get A Korean SIM Card Or WiFi Router?

Both a Korean SIM card or portable WiFi router will provide access to Korea’s high-speed mobile networks and keep you connected to the Internet. They provide a secure internet connection, but do so in a different way and with different available features. Find out about the best Korean SIM card for tourists in this SK SIM card review.

Here are the main features of Korean SIM cards and WiFi routers:

Costs: SIM cards and WiFi routers are similarly priced when using them for a two week period, but they are charged in different ways. SIM cards are fixed-price and can be bought for set time periods, whereas WiFi routers are charged daily. WiFi routers are cheaper in the short-term.

Ease of use: If you purchase or pre-order a SIM card or portable WiFi router at Incheon Airport, which I highly recommend, the staff will install or setup everything for you. Once they’re activated, it’s very simple to use either one. Cancelling and returning them at the airport is also easy for both.

Here are the reasons you should get a Korean SIM card or portable WiFi router in Korea:

You should get a Korean SIM card when visiting Korea to get a Korean phone number. The benefits of having a Korean phone number are mainly to make calls and use Korean apps. SIM cards are also useful if you want a secure connection everywhere you go and plan to make calls or send texts. When you have a SIM card, you can tether your network connection to connect other devices you own. Korean phone coverage is amazing and you’ll get service everywhere. SIM cards don’t require you to carry any extra devices and are cheaper over the long-run than WiFi routers.

Korean Sim Card

You should get a portable WiFi router if you’re travelling in a group or as a family as you can connect multiple devices to one router. This is much cheaper than getting separate SIM cards for all travellers, but also requires people stay close together. WiFi routers are charged per day and if you need additional days, they’ll be automatically added and charged when you return the router. This means you’ll never have to worry about your service suddenly ending. The main downside to using a WiFi router is the lack of Korean phone number, but that might not be an issue if you don’t need one.

Korean WiFi router

Where Can You Get Korean SIM Cards Or WiFi Routers?

You can get a Korean SIM card or portable WiFi router in several ways. The easiest way, and one that I definitely recommend, is to purchase online through a tour company such as Klook, Viator, or Get Your Guide, and get a SIM card at Incheon Airport or other entry point into Korea when you arrive..

The main reason I recommend this method is that you can guarantee you will get a SIM card or router and it will be waiting for you when you arrive. The collection desks at Incheon Airport are open 24-hours a day and they will help you install everything you need to get started immediately.

You can also get SIM cards and WiFi routers when you arrive at the airport and you should find similar rates. However, you won’t be guaranteed a device and you will need to pay in person. When you book online, you can pay in your home currency and avoid those issues.

I don’t recommend getting a SIM card or WiFi router in Seoul or other cities. It is possible, but you may run into language issues and find less tourist-friendly options. Phone shops outside the airport usually cater to Koreans, not tourists. Airport rentals are the easiest options for visitors to Korea.

What’s The Benefit Of A Korean Phone Number For Tourists?

There are two main benefits of having a Korean phone number for tourists. The first benefit is the ability to call people when you’re in Korea. This can be useful for making reservations, keeping in touch with people, and in case of emergencies.

The second benefit of having a Korean phone number is the ability to use Korean apps. It isn’t mandatory to have a Korean phone number to use Korean apps, but most won’t let you use their services unless you sign up with a phone number. Using Korean apps makes travelling easier.

A phone number is like a form of identity in Korea, which is why you need your passport to register a SIM card. Once you have a phone number, many more services are available, including food delivery, ordering taxis, making reservations (such as for the Busan Sky Capsule), and online messaging.

What Apps Do I Need For Travelling In Korea?

If you have a Korean phone number, you can use Korean apps. Even without a Korean number, you can still download these apps and use some of their services. Full features typically require a phone number though. There are other, non-Korean apps that will help you when travelling, too.

Here are the most useful apps to use when travelling in Korea:

Papago: This is the essential translation tool for visiting Korea. Papago’s translation services are the best and you can use the app to take pictures and translate Korean signs, menus, and other pictures.

Naver Maps: To find your way around Korea, use Naver Maps or Kakao Maps. Their systems are much more accurate in Korea than Google Maps. Use them to plan travel routes and transport times.

Kakao Taxi: Uber and Grab don’t really exist in Korea, so if you plan to take a taxi, you’ll need to use Kakao Taxi. Simple to use and takes the hassle out of trying to use Korean to give directions.

Kakao Talk: This is Korea’s most popular messaging app and is useful for keeping in touch with Korean friends, contacting businesses in Korea, and even calling abroad.

Seoul Subway: Use this app to travel around Seoul’s underground more easily. Plan your route, see when the next train is due to arrive, check connections, and see how late the trains run.

Korail Talk: This app allows you to book trains on Korea’s high-speed train network and regular train routes. This app has an English setting, so you can check train times and prices easily.

Coupang Eats: This is a food-delivery app that allows you to order almost anything edible and get it sent directly to you. You can even order convenience store goods. Useful for rainy days.

Mango Plate: Find restaurants in Korea with this app and discover the best places to go out and eat. You can also see restaurant details and get directions in Naver Maps and Kakao Maps.

WOWPASS: To use the WOWPASS to pay like a local in Korea and for T-Money functions, you’ll need the WOWPASS app. This will let you check your balances and spending and control your card.

Wise & Revolut: As mentioned in this South Korea travel guide, using a travel card to pay for items in Korea will save you money when you travel. If you use Wise or Revolut, make sure you have the app.

Klook: This company provides some of the best tours in Korea and if you make bookings through their website, you can easily manage them with the Klook app.

Intercity Bus by T-Money: This app is great for booking buses between cities in Korea. There is an English version that allows you to book tickets, check times, and see available seats.

These apps should be available on both Android and Apple. Some of these apps might default to Korean, but you should be able to change them to English in the side menu.

Is There Free WiFi In Korea?

Travellers in Korea have the option to not get a sim card or portable WiFi but still stay connected. This is thanks to the excellent Free Wifi in Korea that is provided in public transport, government buildings, restaurants, cafes, and many other places. This is mostly in the cities, however.

Hotels also provide free WiFi in most cities in Korea. If you plan to rely on free WiFi, I recommend using the hotel’s WiFi to plan routes, check opening times, and research places you want to visit. Take screenshots of these details so you can see them later, even if you don’t have Internet access.

The only warning I would give about relying on free WiFi when travelling in Korea is the increased use of mobile-dependent apps and passes in Korea. Physical tickets and passes are being phased out in favour of digital versions, which often need an active Internet connection to use.

I’ve noticed in recent years that services that impact travellers have moved to digital versions. This includes the T-Money card, Discover Seoul Pass, train and coach tickets, attraction tickets and event tickets. I believe that having a reliable net connection will be a must for most travellers soon.

Using Public Transport In Korea In 2024

This section of the South Korea travel guide looks at Korea’s public transport system and how to navigate it as a traveller. Korea has arguably one of the best public transport systems in the world. It’s cheap, well-connected, frequent, and runs on time. Other countries could learn a lot from Korea.

The great news for tourists is that Korea’s public transport is very foreigner friendly and information is provided in English in almost all places, as well as Chinese and Japanese in popular areas such as Seoul and Busan. Travelling by public transport in Korea is cheap, easy, and convenient.

How Much Does Public Transport Cost In Korea?

The cost of public transportation in Korea is fixed, no matter what day you purchase tickets on. If you buy one month in advance, or last minute, you will pay the same price for the journey. Journeys within a city are a single price and not dependent on how far you travel, unless you leave the city limits.

All journeys are single fares and you can’t buy return tickets. You will need to buy two singles when you want to travel somewhere and back again. The cost of a single fare depends on how you pay for the ticket – by cash or with a transportation card.

Here are the costs for public transport in Korea by payment method, type and user:

Please note: The cost of subway rides is set to rise to 1,400 / 1,500 KRW in October 2023. These prices will be adjusted when this occurs.

How Do You Pay For Public Transport In Korea?

The cost of public transport in Korea depends on whether you pay with a transportation card, such as T-Money, a Korea Tour Card, or Cashbee, or in cash. This applies to both subways and buses. If you use a transportation card, you should add credit to it, then touch it to the card reader at the subway or bus to pay.

To use cash to buy a subway ticket, you will need to buy a ticket at the station. For buses, you should pay the correct fare to the driver when boarding the bus. However, since 2022, buses across Korea have started to end the use of cash and some will insist on payment by transportation card only.

In the future, bus payments are expected to become simpler with fares deducted via bluetooth-enabled phones that have the relevant app downloaded. This system has already been in place in Gyeonggi Province since March 2022 and is likely to spread to more bus routes in the future.

I highly recommend getting a T-Money card when you travel to Korea. You can use it to pay for public transportation (at a discounted rate), and it will work almost everywhere in Korea. It can also be used to buy goods from shops, cafes, and restaurants. It’s really convenient and a must-have for Korea.

Using T-Money To Pay For Public Transport In Korea

A T-Money card is the essential transportation card for using public transport in Korea. You can purchase one at Incheon Airport, subway and train stations, and convenience stores across Korea. The card can be used in many places. It never expires, so you can use it on different trips, too.

Here is how to use a T-Money card in Korea:

• Purchase a T-Money card (2,500 KRW)
• Add money to the card (cash top-up only)
• Enter the bus or subway station
• Tap the T-Money card against the card reader (see pic above)
• Tap the T-Money card again when you get off (for transfer discount)
• Recharge when necessary

I recommend adding about 10,000 KRW for each day you plan to travel in Korea. That means about 70,000 KRW for a week. You can add more money later if necessary. You can top up at convenience stores and transport stations. There is also an app version of T-Money, but the card version is better.

How Do You Use Trains In Korea?

The train network in Korea is divided into high-speed trains (KTX) and regular trains (ITX and Mugunghwa). The KTX network connects major cities in Korea and is convenient for travelling around Korea quickly and cheaply. The carriages are comfortable and come with modern facilities.

Unlike other forms of public transport in Korea, transportation cards like T-Money aren’t accepted for trains. You will need to buy a train ticket to travel and all tickets are single tickets. The price to buy a ticket doesn’t change and you can refund a ticket up to the last minute for only a small fee.

You can book tickets within 30 days of travel through the official Korail website or app, or at a train station in Korea. Unfortunately, buying a train ticket online in Korea can be difficult as Korean payment systems often reject cards issued outside of Korea. Buying in person is recommended.

How To Book Korean Rail Tickets Outside Of Korea

If you want to book Korean train tickets outside of Korea, you can do it online with Trip.com, which is Korail’s exclusive overseas distributor. The price is slightly higher (about 5%) than the price you’ll pay in Korea, but it will allow you to book tickets online and secure your seat in advance.

If you plan to travel on the main KTX route between Seoul and Busan, I highly recommend booking tickets in advance. There are three types of tickets available – first class, regular, and standing. The journey takes 2:34 and you don’t want to be standing for all that time. Book ahead for comfort.

Is The Korea Rail Pass Worth The Price?

The Korea Rail Pass is a good option for tourists who plan to travel long distances by train in Korea, such as between Seoul and Busan or Seoul and Jeonju. The pass has two main options – flexible and consecutive. These mean you can use it any time (flexible) or within consecutive days.

The flexible pass is more expensive, but offers more freedom to travel around Korea over a longer period. You can use the pass to only cover big journeys and won’t feel pressured to use it again until you’re ready. The extra cost is more than worth the inconvenience of having to rush travel plans.

Will you save money with the Korea Rail Pass? That depends on your travel plans, how often you’ll be travelling by train, and how many people are travelling. If there are 2 people or more, purchase the group saver pass and save 10,000 KRW each on the pass. Group tours make it better value.

The Korea Rail Pass does not allow you to ride on the subway for free, which would make it better value. It can also be complicated to reserve tickets online using the pass and buying tickets in the regular way is more convenient. Overall, the pass isn’t essential, but might save you money.

How Do You Use Taxis In Korea?

Taxis in Korea can be hailed from the street or called directly to you using apps such as Kakao Taxi. Companies like Uber and Grab don’t have a large presence in Korea and operate the same way as Kakao Taxi, by helping you find an official taxi driver. Private taxi services aren’t common.

The big issue facing the Korean taxi industry in 2024 is the lack of taxi drivers. This can make it hard to get a taxi, even when using an app like Kakao Taxi. Late night taxis are particularly difficult to find. Read this guide about how to use Kakao Taxi to help you learn how to call a taxi in Korea.

Taxi prices in Korea are reasonable, especially compared to countries like Japan and the UK. Although base taxi fares rose in 2023 to 4,800 KRW, the price is still low and relatively affordable to travel by taxi if you need to. It’s a good option if there are no direct public transport routes.

Taking a taxi to and from Incheon Airport is a convenient option if you have a lot of bags or you are travelling in a group. For solo travellers or couples, I would recommend using public transport or a limo bus, as it’s significantly cheaper and won’t take much longer than a taxi.

How Do You Use Intercity Buses In Korea?

Intercity buses in Korea operate in a similar way to trains. You can only book tickets within 30 days of travel and can only buy single tickets. Book tickets online through websites such as T-Money Bus or Bustago, through app versions of these sites, or at the bus terminal you will depart from.

You can’t walk onto intercity buses without a ticket, nor can you use transportation cards like T-Money to pay on entry. You will need to pay for and receive your ticket (physical or digital) before you can enter the bus. Ticket machines usually (but not always) have English options for buying tickets.

There are no return bus tickets in Korea and you can only buy tickets from your point of departure, unless you book online or via an app. If you’re travelling from Seoul to Gangneung, for example, you will need to buy a ticket in Seoul and then a ticket in Gangneung. You can’t buy both in Seoul.

How Can You Hire A Car In Korea?

Renting a car is a great way to see parts of Korea that aren’t covered by the train network and gives you the freedom to explore at your leisure. If you plan to travel to Jeju Island, which doesn’t have any trains, hiring a car will be a lot more convenient and is almost a must if you plan to travel inland.

Car rental in Korea isn’t that expensive and you can rent a modern car for as little as 75,000 KRW per day. I recommend booking car rentals through Klook, they will deal with the Korean car rental companies and reserve a car for you. This is easier than trying to do it in Korean.

To hire a car in Korea, you will need:

• Driver’s license (must have had it for at least 1 or 2 years)
• International Driving Permit (in some cases)
• Credit card (in the name of the main driver)
• Valid photo ID (passport)
• Printed voucher for rental (if booked online)

Here’s some more information about the International Driving Permit and rules you should follow when driving in Korea, such as the legal requirement to wear seatbelts, booster seats for under 6s, and not using your phone while driving. Be sure to read up on local rules before driving in Korea.

Best Places To Visit In Korea In 2024

The next few sections of this South Korea travel guide will help you figure out what you want to do and see on your travels. This first section will give you a brief introduction to the best places to visit in Korea, including the major cities, tourist hotspots, and unique areas that you’re sure to love.

Here are the best places to visit in Korea:

Seoul: Korea’s Capital

Seoul is Korea’s vibrant, bustling capital and truly a must-see for any first-time visitor to Korea. There is so much to see and do in Seoul that you could easily spend a week or more exploring the city and not get bored. You will find yourself falling in love with the city for different reasons. Maybe it’s the friendly people, the deliciously cheap street eats, the way things just work, the hidden murals on old buildings down side streets, the feeling of safety even in a big city, or the historic sights creeping out from modern buildings. Seoul includes everything Korea has to offer, plus a lot more you won’t find elsewhere.

What To See In Seoul

Here are 10 great places to visit in Seoul:

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace
2. Bukchon Hanok Village
3. Myeongdong Street Markets
4. Lotte World Tower & Seokchon Lake
5. Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Markets
6. Yeouido Han River Park & Cruise
7. Secret Garden (Changdeokgung Palace)
8. N Seoul Tower & Namsan Mountain
9. COEX Mall & Bongeunsa Temple
10. Bukhansan National Park

Busan: Big Coastal City

While Seoul is a showcase of all things Korean, Busan is unashamedly its own city and a celebration of coastal life and local culture. Busan is famous for fresh seafood, traditional markets, great beaches, big festivals, movies, temples, and places to explore the coast. Beaches are popular places to visit in Busan, along with cliff-side walkways with views over the ocean. Central Busan is a lively spot with lots of entertainment and markets to enjoy, including a famous fish market where you can choose your own lunch and then eat it. Busan is spread out and deserves several days to explore it properly.

What To See In Busan

Here are 10 great places to visit in Busan:

1. Haeundae Beach & Beach Train
2. Jagalchi Fish Market
3. Gamcheon Culture Village
4. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
5. Songdo Beach & Cable Car
6. Huinnyeoul Culture Village
7. BIFF Square & Centum City Mall
8. Oryukdo Skywalk & Coastal Paths
9. Lotte World Busan
10. Busan X The Sky Observatory

Jeju Island: Natural Wonder

Jeju Island is a gorgeous island created from a volcano rising out of the ocean 2 million years ago. Today it’s one of the New 7 Natural Wonders of Nature and deservedly so. The lush island is packed with pine trees, tangerines, rolling hills and fields, cacti, and jet black volcanic rock tumbled all around. You can relax on a beach, go horse riding, explore ancient lava tubes, scuba dive, climb to the volcano’s peak, chill in a beach-side cafe, explore traditional markets, learn about local culture, and lots more. The island has two main cities, but the attractions are spread out along the coast.

What to See On Jeju Island

Here are 10 great places to visit on Jeju Island:

1. Hallasan Mountain (Volcano)
2. Seongsan Ilchulbong Sunrise Peak
3. Hyeopjae & Hamdeok Beaches
4. Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market
5. Jeju Folk Village
6. Udo Island
7. Yakcheonsa Coastal Buddhist Temple
8. Jungmun Beach & Jusangjeolli Cliff
9. O’Sulloc Green Tea Museum
10. Cheonjiyeon & Jeongbang Waterfalls

Gyeongju: Historic Capital

Gyeongju, the former capital of the Shilla Kingdom in ancient Korea, is a true treasure trove of UNESCO World Heritage sites, as well as local culture, history, and natural beauty. Described as an outdoor museum, you can see many of the big attractions in the Gyeongju Historic Area, including the 1,400 year Cheomseongdae Observatory. There’s so much to see in Gyeongju outside this area though, including the impressive Bulguksa Temple, one of the best Buddhist temples in Korea. There’s also the Bomun Lake Tourist District, a dreamy sight during cherry blossom season.

What To See In Gyeongju

Here are 10 great places to visit in Gyeongju:

1. Bulguksa Temple & Seokguram Shrine
2. Cheomseongdae Observatory
3. Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond
4. Yangdong Folk Village
5. Hwangnidangil Hanok Street
6. Daereungwon Tomb Complex
7. Bomun Lake Tourist Complex
8. Woljeonggyo Bridge
9. Gyeongju National Museum
10. Gyochon Traditional Hanok Village

Jeonju: Traditional Views & Food

Jeonju is the perfect destination for a day trip from Seoul and has most of its main attractions in one area of the city. What can you see in Jeonju? The main attraction is the gigantic Jeonju Hanok Village, featuring more than 700 traditional hanok houses. You can dress up in Korean hanbok, dine on Jeonju’s famous bibimbap in an old restaurant, and see how life in Korea used to be. There are plenty of other sights nearby, including a traditional market, pretty river, and the rather unusual Jaman Mural Village.

What To See In Jeonju

Here are 5 great places to visit in Jeonju:

1. Jeonju Hanok Village
2. Jeongdong Catholic Church
3. Gyeonggijeon Shrine
4. Nambu Traditional Market
5. Jaman Mural Village

Suwon: Fortress City

Suwon is another city close to Seoul that you can visit in a day and see many interesting and unique sights. The main draw of Suwon is the Hwaseong Fortress and the fortress walls, which are still intact and run for 6km around the city. Inside this fortress you’ll find lots of museums, historic buildings, parks, and activities, such as archery. There are often cultural festivals in this area, too. Surprisingly, Suwon is the best place to get KFC (Korean Fried Chicken). There’s a whole street dedicated to making it.

What to See In Suwon

Here are 5 great places to visit in Suwon:

1. Hwaseong Fortress & Fortress Walls
2. Hwaseong Haenggung & Haengridan Gil
3. Fried Chicken Street
4. Korean Folk Village
5. Gwanggyo Lake Park

Incheon: Modern City With Islands

Incheon is one of Korea’s largest cities, but is sadly ignored as it’s right next to Seoul and most people think it’s just there for the airport. That’s not true at all and there’s plenty to see and do in Incheon. Described as a futuristic city, Incheon is at the front of Korea’s push to become an ultra-modern country and nowhere shows that more than Songdo Central Park. The traditional side of Incheon is also worth exploring, including the Chinatown, which is home to Korea’s most popular student food – jajangmyeon. If you want to explore a lesser-seen side of Korea, check out the islands near Incheon to see ancient fortresses, temples, and charming sights.

What to See In Incheon

Here are 5 great places to visit in Incheon:

1. Songdo Central Park
2. Incheon Chinatown
3. Wolmido Island
4. Incheon Grand Park
5. Ganghwa Jeondeungsa Temple

Gapyeong County: Tourists Treats

Gapyeong County is a rural part of Korea just outside Seoul that is one of the most popular day trip destinations for visitors and locals alike. Inside Gapyeong County is the lovely Garden of Morning Calm, a beautiful sculpted garden that showcases traditional Korean buildings set amongst thousands of different plants and trees. There’s also Nami Island, an ever-popular attraction that has long tree-lined streets to explore, woodland animals, bike paths, and even a zip line to the island. You can also visit Petite France, a recreation of a French village, Gapyeong Rail Bike Park, and Cheongpyeong Lake, and many other attractions in Gapyeong.

What To See In Gapyeong

Here are 5 great places to visit in Gapyeong:

1. Nami Island
2. Garden of Morning Calm
3. Petite France
4. Gapyeong Rail Bike Park
5. Cheongpyeong Lake

North-East Coast: Amazing Beaches

The north-east coastal region of Korea, spreading between Sokcho and Gangneung, features some of Korea’s most popular summer seaside resorts and beaches. The wide, sandy beaches are perfect for water sports, working on your tan, and sitting at night listening to local musicians perform BTS covers and their own tunes. Sokcho deserves at least two days to explore, more if you plan to visit nearby Seoraksan National Park, one of Korea’s best places to see autumn foliage. Gangneung is where to see cherry blossoms in spring, sit and relax at a seaside cafe at Gangneung Coffee Street, and enjoy beach life.

What To See On The North-East

Here are 5 great places in north-east Korea:

1. Sokcho Beach
2. Gangneung Beach
3. Seoraksan National Park
4. Yangyang Surfyy Beach
5. Gangneung Coffee Street

East Coast: Harbour Cities

Ulsan and Pohang are two industrial cities that don’t get enough attention, but are ideal for a weekend visit once you’ve explored other top sights. These coastal cities both have good beaches, coastal walks, and green spots, including a pretty bamboo forest in Ulsan. In Pohang, you can see the dizzying Space Walk, which looks out over the city and ocean. There’s also a former Japanese district with old buildings, and the famous Homigot Sunrise Square where you can watch the first sunrise of the year. Ulsan is famous for whaling and visitors should check out the charming Jangsaengpo Whale Museum and Daewangam Park.

What To See On The East Coast

Here are 5 great places on Korea’s East Coast:

1. Yeongildae Beach & Space Walk
2. Ilsan Beach & Daewangam Park
3. Jangsaengpo Whale Museum
4. Homigot Sunrise Square
5. Taehwagang National Garden

South-West: Iconic Rural Destinations

South-west Korea is a long way from most travellers’ typical route, but this area is worth visiting if you have time. Gwangju, one of Korea’s largest cities, is hidden away down here and surrounded by natural beauty, including the Juknokwon Bamboo Forest, Boseong Green Tea Fields, and Suncheon Bay Nature Reserve. If you plan to hire a car, these spots will show you a completely different side to Korea. Gwangju, too, which is a fun city and the birthplace of Korean democracy. Hidden in the far corner of Korea is Mokpo, a lovely coastal city that has a new cable car carrying you over the ocean.

What to See In The South-West

Here are 5 great places in south-west Korea:

1. Damyang Juknokwon Bamboo Forest
2. Boseong Green Tea Fields
3. Gwangju Culture Park & Penguin Village
4. Suncheon Bay Nature Reserve
5. Mokpo Marine Cable Car

South Coast Islands: Summer Getaways

Best explored during the hot summer months and early autumn, the south coast islands in Korea, which span from Busan to Mokpo, are where Koreans spend their summer holidays. The most popular destinations here are Geoje, Tongyeong, Yeosu, Namhae, and Goheung and each offers winding coastal paths, beaches, natural beauty, and fun summer activities. The best way to see these islands is with a rented car or by bike, riding around the coast visiting a few different beaches and attractions. Don’t expect too many cultural sights, instead you’ll find luges, gardens, water sports, and lots of fun.

What to See On The South Coast

Here are 5 great places on Korea’s South Coast:

1. Dolsan Park & Cable Car
2. Namhae Geumsan Boriam Hermitage
3. Hallyeohaesang National Park
4. Oedo-Botania Botanical Garden
5. Skyline Luge Tongyeong

As you can see, there are many great places to visit in Korea. Korea is truly a country of undiscovered wonders that people aren’t aware of. Seoul is an incredible place to visit, but there’s so much more to see. That’s why I try to include lesser-known places in this South Korea travel guide.

The list above covers a lot of the most popular or tour-worthy destinations in Korea, but there are still more places I could recommend, such as Andong (home to the mask dance festival), Gunsan (port town with a retro vibe), Daegu (big city with historic sights), Daejeon, and many more.

Besides cities and towns in Korea, there are also 18 national parks to explore, thousands of mountains, Buddhist temples, beaches, bike routes, campsites, and so much more. I’ll include a few of each of these in the next few sections of this South Korea travel guide.

Best Day Tours From Seoul In 2024

Taking a day tour while you’re staying in Seoul is a great way to see more of Korea’s top attractions without the hassle of moving hotels to somewhere new. The 10 day tours from Seoul below can all be done in a day or less and can even be combined with other activities in the same day.

I don’t want to include every day tour available in this South Korea travel guide as there isn’t enough room to talk about them all. If you want to find more day tours, I recommend looking at the options available through tour providers such as Klook, Viator, and Get Your Guide.

Please note: There are many day tours from Seoul and they come with various prices. I recommend avoiding the very cheapest as these will often waste your time by taking you to some overpriced gift shop area and pressuring you to buy souvenirs or rushing you through too many attractions.

Here are 10 great day tours from Seoul:

Why Visit The DMZ

The DMZ, the demilitarised zone between North & South Korea is a truly unique place to visit when you’re in Korea. There are several different locations to see in this area, each reflecting the bitter struggle between the two Korea’s in the ongoing Korean War. Some of the highlights are the 3rd Tunnel, Dora Observatory, Dorasan Station, Gamaksan Suspension Bridge, and the Imjingak Park. There’s also the Panmunjom Truce Village where you can walk into North Korea, but this is currently closed. Tours are required to travel to certain parts of the DMZ.

DMZ Tour

Why Visit Gapyeong County

Gapyeong County is home to Nami Island, the Garden of Morning Calm, Petite France, Gapyeong Rail Bike Park, and several other fun attractions. Nami Island and the Garden of Morning Calm are the most popular and can both be visited in a day. You can witness beautiful scenes at these destinations, especially during cherry blossom season (April) and autumn foliage season (October). Tours from Seoul to Gapyeong County are convenient and can take you to multiple places in one day without the hassle of buses and finding your own way.

Gapyeong County Tour

Why Visit Hwaseong Fortress

Hwaseong Fortress and its fortress walls offer a unique chance to see what life was like in Korea 200 years ago. Not only can you walk the full length of the walls around the city, you can also try archery and other traditional activities in the fortress grounds. There are many museums, fortress buildings, and exhibitions showing how people lived in this period. You can also enjoy the beautiful ponds and streams that run through the palace with traditional Korean restaurants and cafes looking out over these areas.

Hwaseong Fortress TOur

Why Visit Korean Folk Village

Discover traditional Korean life at the Korean Folk Village in Yongin during a day trip from Seoul. Walk through dozens of recreated farm buildings, government offices, academies, shops, smiths, schools, and other traditional buildings from Korea’s past to get a feel for how people lived at this time. Actors dressed in traditional Joseon-era costumes bring the scenes to life. You can try fun activities, such as mask carving, horse riding, and archery. Witness exciting festivals and cultural performances, too.

Korean Folk Village Tour

Why Visit Jeonju Hanok Village

A day trip to the Jeonju Hanok Village in Jeonju is a great way to experience various traditional Korean cultural activities in a beautiful setting. This sprawling hanok village has over 700 traditional buildings for you to explore, dine in, or even stay in. Make sure you rent hanbok in Jeonju so you look like Korean royalty and make memorable photos during your trip. Whilst you’re in Jeonju Hanok Village, you can try local delights such as Jeonju bibimbap and PNB chocopies. Also check out the traditional Nambu Market and Jeongdong Catholic Church.

Jeonju Hanok Village Guide

Why Visit Alpaca World

When you travel to Korea, you may not think about seeing alpacas, which are from an entirely different continent. But Korea’s love of all things cute means that these furry friends have become very popular in Korea and have their own theme park a few hours from Seoul. There are dozens of cuddly alpacas to see, feed, and play with at Alpaca World, as well as hundreds of other cute critters such as ponies, rabbits, deer, goats, fennec foxes, and more. There are 17 separate areas to explore in Alpaca World and it’ll provide hours of fun for the whole family.

ALpaca World Tour

Why Visit Seoraksan

Seoraksan National Park on Korea’s east coast is a great day trip from Seoul for those who want to see mountain peaks, leafy valleys, stony rivers, and a gigantic Buddha. Even if you’re not a keen hiker, you can explore lots of the park’s valley pathways easily, or reach the top thanks to the convenient cable car. See the sights from the observatory and check out the small temple in the clouds. Make sure you try haemul pajeon (seafood pancake) and makgeolli (rice wine). It’s the traditional meal Koreans enjoy after hiking.

Seoraksan Tour

Why Visit Everland

Everland is Korea’s biggest theme park and is packed with attractions for everyone to enjoy. Thrill seekers will love the rollercoasters, such as T Express (the world’s 4th steepest rollercoaster) and many more exciting rides. Check out the Zootopia section to see wild animals and wild rides, or the Plantopia section for floral beauty, romantic walkways, and seasonal delights. There are plenty of attractions, cultural performances, entertainments, and seasonal events to keep you amused all day long.

Everland Theme Park Tour

Why Visit Danyang

A great way to see Korea’s countryside is with a day trip to Danyang to enjoy the rush of sailing over valleys and beside mountains while tandem paragliding. Feel the wind in your face and the sensation of riding the air currents as you pass over the many delightful views of Danyang. You can enjoy other activities in this area, such as the Mancheonha Skywalk, a clifftop lookout with incredible views, riding an alpine coaster, and zooming along a zip line. The perfect day tour from Seoul for thrill seekers.

Danyang Paragliding Tour

Why Visit Dae Jang Geum Park

Fans of Korean period dramas and movies will love a day trip to Dae Jang Geum Park in Yongin. This is the largest historical drama filming set in Korea and was used to film MBC productions such as ‘Wind in the Palace’ and ‘The Great Queen Seondeok’, as well as K-Pop videos including Daechwita by Suga from BTS. If you’re lucky, you may see filming going on here. But even if you don’t, it’s a fun place for those who want to learn more about Korea’s history and take some cool pictures in a real movie set.

Dae Jang Geum Park Tour

I’ve linked to tours provided by reliable tour companies in Korea. If you would rather book a tour through a local guide, contact Jerry Heng or Andrew Chung Hanbyul. They’re freelance guides with years of experience offering tours in Korea and both offer amazing service.

These places are accessible by public transport, but may take much longer than a tour would do, wasting your precious time. Check out my guide for getting to Nami Island to help you navigate Gapyeong County. For other destinations, I would recommend a tour – it’s more practical.

Best Sights To See In Korea In 2024

South Korea truly has something for everyone. There’s so much I want to include in this South Korea travel guide, which is why this section is full of different sights to see and explore. However, to keep things short and simple, I’ll just list them, not give full details about each one.

Whether you’re travelling to Korea to learn about Korean culture or history, to see Korea’s impressive landmarks, to enjoy family fun attractions, to hop from cafe to cafe, to immerse yourself in nature, or simply to eat and shop, then you’ll definitely find something for you in this section.

Famous Landmarks In Korea

Landmarks and iconic buildings are often top of a traveller’s bucket list for Korea as they provide great photo opportunities, showcase the best of the country, and offer fantastic views. Seoul has many top landmarks, but you can see plenty of other sights outside of the capital, too.

Here are 10 famous landmarks in Korea:

1. Lotte World Tower (Seoul)
2. N Seoul Tower (Seoul)
3. Dongdaemun Design Plaza (Seoul)
4. Cheonggyecheon Stream (Seoul)
5. DMZ Area (near Seoul)
6. Nami Island (Gapyeong County)
7. Gamcheon Culture Village (Busan)
8. Seongsan Ilchulbong (Jeju)
9. Homigot Sunrise Square (Pohang)
10. Banwol Purple Island (West Coast)

Historic Sights In Korea

Discover life in the Joseon period and before in Korea’s many captivating historic sights, including royal palaces, Buddhist temples, fortresses, and hanok villages. There are so many amazing historic sights to see in Korea, with each city having something to see.

Here are 10 historic sights in Korea:

1. Bukchon Hanok Village (Seoul)
2. Gyeongbokgung Palace (Seoul)
3. The Secret Garden (Seoul)
4. Seoul Fortress Walls (Seoul)
5. Hwaseong Fortress (Suwon)
6. Bulguksa Temple (Gyeongju)
7. Gyeongju Historic Area (Gyeongju)
8. Jeonju Hanok Village (Jeonju)
9. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple (Busan)
10. Andong Hahoe Village (Andong)

Korean Modern Cultural Sights

Fans of BTS, K-Dramas, Korean movies, and modern Korean culture in general have a lot to see and do in Korea. As well as famous filming locations across the country, these modern cultural sights will entertain, inform, and provide great destinations to visit.

Here are 10 modern cultural sights in Korea:

1. Hallyu K Star Road (Seoul)
2. K-Style Hub (Seoul)
3. Hongik Uni. Station Area (Seoul)
4. COEX Artium (Seoul)
5. Dongdaemun Design Plaza (Seoul)
6. Asia Culture Centre (Gwangju)
7. BIFF Square (Busan)
8. Dae Jang Geum Park (Yongin)
9. Sunshine Studio (Nonsan)
10. Kim Gwang-Seok Street (Daegu)

Family Fun Attractions In Korea

Families travelling to Korea have plenty of things to see and do and ways to enjoy spending time together. There’s no Disneyworld or Universal Studios in Korea, but there are plenty of great alternatives, as well as places for children to explore, learn, and discover.

Here are 10 family fun attractions in Korea:

1. Lotte World Adventure (Seoul)
2. Everland Theme Park (Yongin)
3. Seoul Grand Park & Zoo (Seoul)
4. Alive Museum & Dynamic Maze (Seoul)
5. Seoul Children’s Museum (Seoul)
6. Zoolung Zoolung (Seoul)
7. Sea Life Busan Aquarium (Busan)
8. Jeju Dinosaur Island (Jeju Island)
9. Alpaca World (Gangwon Province)
10. Skyline Luge & Lotte World (Busan)

Korean Museums & Galleries

Travellers to Korea who want to learn about Korea’s history, culture, and art will love Korea’s impressive museums and galleries. These are great places to visit when the weather is bad and you might be surprised at how much there is to learn about Korea’s past.

Here are 10 museums & galleries in Korea:

1. National Museum of Korea (Seoul)
2. War Memorial of Korea (Seoul)
3. Seoul Museum of Art (Seoul)
4. Seoul Museum of History (Seoul)
5. Seodaemun Prison Museum (Seoul)
6. Museum Kimchikan (Seoul)
7. National Folk Museum of Korea (Seoul)
8. Gyeongju National Museum (Gyeongju)
9. National Maritime Museum (Busan)
10. Daegu Art Museum (Daegu)

Cafe Areas In Korea

When you need a break from travelling in Korea, visit one of these cosy cafe areas and take time to relax and recharge. Although Korea was traditionally a tea drinking country, cafes are now everywhere and you’ll find photogenic cafes everywhere these days.

Here are 10 cafe areas to visit in Korea:

1. Ikseondong Hanok Village (Seoul)
2. Gyeongui Line Parks (Seoul)
3. Samcheondong Cafe Street (Seoul)
4. Sinsa-dong / Garosugil Road (Seoul)
5. Jukjeon Cafe Street (Seoul)
6. Jeonpo Cafe Street (Busan)
7. Haeridangil (Busan)
8. Hwangnidangil (Gyeongju)
9. Hwaseong Haenggung Area (Suwon)
10. Gangneung Coffee Street (Gangneung)

Korean Markets & Malls

If you want the best selection of street food, souvenirs, and bargain shopping options, be sure to visit Korea’s many traditional markets. It’s a cultural experience itself. Korea also has some of the world’s largest malls with a wide variety of Korean and international goods.

Here are 10 markets & malls in Korea:

1. Gwangjang Market (Seoul)
2. Dongaemun Market (Seoul)
3. Hongdae Shopping Street (Seoul)
4. Starfield COEX Mall (Seoul)
5. Jagalchi Fish Market (Busan)
6. Seomyeon Underground Mall (Busan)
7. Centum City Mall (Busan)
8. Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market (Jeju)
9. Nambu Market (Jeonju)
10. Paju Premium Outlets (Paju)

Korean Natural Wonders

Korea is a country covered in mountains, waterfalls, valleys, rice terraces, and beautiful natural sights. Make time to visit some of these natural wonders when you visit Korea and you’ll be amazed at the incredible views you can find. The national parks are truly breathtaking.

Here are 10 natural wonders to see in Korea:

1. Hallasan Mountain (Jeju)
2. Jirisan National Park (Southern Korea)
3. Seoraksan National Park (Gyeonggi)
4. Garden of Morning Calm (Gapyeong)
5. Juknokwon Bamboo Forest (Damyang)
6. Boseong Green Tea Fields (Boseong)
7. Udo Island (Jeju Island)
8. Seongsan Ilchulbong Sunrise Peak (Jeju)
9. Hyeopjae Beach (Jeju)
10. Suncheon Bay National Park (Suncheon)

These 100 ideas are just the tip of the iceberg for what you can enjoy when travelling to Korea. There’s so much more to discover and I recommend you add some time to your travel plans to explore without a plan. Sometimes the best travel memories come from unexpected discoveries.

Best Activities To Try In Korea In 2024

Often the most memorable moments when travelling come from the experiences we have, not just the places we visit. Visiting a palace is interesting, but visiting a palace while dressed in traditional Korean hanbok, pretending you’re Joseon-era royalty with your friends or family is much more fun.

This section of the South Korea travel guide offers 10 fun activities you can try when you visit Korea. These will give you a good introduction to Korean culture, food, history, and nature. If you want more ideas, check out my list of 50 unique Korean experiences you can only do in Korea.

One of the top experiences to try in Korea has to be wearing Korean hanbok. It is available for all members of the family (even pets) and you can rent hanbok near most palaces or hanok villages. The hanbok easily fit over your regular clothes and come in a variety of colourful or traditional designs. You can get hair styling, accessories, and even have a hanbok photoshoot. Rentals can be as short as one hour or up to a full day.

Travellers to Korea can’t say they’ve truly tried Korean cuisine until they’ve eaten Korean street food from a market stall or street vendor. There are many types of Korean street food to sample in Korea, such as savoury snacks like tteokbokki and eomuk, to sweet treats like hotteok and bungeo-ppang. Korean street food is cheap and delicious. It’s usually not that healthy, but always leaves you feeling great. Give it a try.

Experience life as a Korean would have in the Joseon-era with a night in a traditional hanok house. A hanok stay is very different from sleeping in a hotel and allows you to try a night on a futon (with underground heating keeping you warm in winter). Slide the doors aside in the morning and walk out onto the wooden decking to enjoy traditional Korean tea at a low table and the sight of the ornately decorated garden. Don’t forget to take your shoes off before you enter.

Seoul and other cities in Korea still have fortress walls you can walk or hike along that will offer incredible views of cities and mountains. As you walk along the fortress walls, you begin to imagine what life would have been like as a soldier keeping the city safe from invaders. Nowadays, you can enjoy exercise and sightseeing at the same time. Seoul’s fortress walls are a good place to start, but you can find fortress walls in many other places.

Visiting a Korean sauna might be a bit shocking for first-time travellers to Korea, but it’s a great way to relax and is especially good in winter. When you enter a Korean sauna, you should take off all your clothes, have a shower, and then enter one of the hot baths. Being naked in front of others can be scary for some, but you soon overcome that fear. Korean saunas sometimes have a communal resting area called a jjimjjilbang. These areas require pyjamas and offer snacks, drinks, and places to rest.

The Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism have set up a templestay program at dozens of temples across Korea where you spend a day or two at the temple and join in various activities. This is truly a unique experience that you should try in Korea as you get to see customs performed by the monks that aren’t normally shown to the public. You also get to stay overnight at the temple and experience a hanok stay at the same time. Guests can also eat healthy vegan temple food, learn a lot, and chat with the monks.

A noraebang is the Korean version of a karaoke room, but is more popular in Korea and is commonly visited by locals and tourists alike. This is a great place to visit in the evening after a big Korean bbq meal and a few drinks. Everyone can relax and belt out their favourite Korean or international tunes together (or alone), shake some tambourines in support, or just watch and enjoy the atmosphere with some drinks. You can find these in every town and city in Korea and they provide a cheap night of fun and drinks.

Open since 2020, the Sky Bridge at Lotte World Tower offers unbeatable views of Seoul and a nerve-racking trip above the city. Walk between the two towers at the top of the Lotte World Tower and peer down the 541 metre drop to the city streets below. It’s actually very safe and you’re strapped into a harness as you walk from one side to the other, but this definitely isn’t for the faint-hearted. If you’re not sure you can handle the height, check out the Seoul Sky Observatory on the 117th floor instead.

Koreans love to drink coffee and also love cute, unusual things, which is probably why theme cafes have become so popular in Korea. Besides the many cat cafes, there are theme cafes where you can stroke sheep, pet dogs, and see other animals. There’s more to Korea’s theme cafes than just drinking coffee with animals, you can also try drinking from a toilet at the Poop Cafe, paint pictures, build lego, go camping, practice being a wizard, and more. Hongdae in Seoul is the best place to find theme cafes.

Although cafes are replacing Korean tea houses, Korea still grows and drinks lots of tea, especially green tea. You can visit these tea fields in areas such as Boseong and on Jeju Island, both of which have visitor centres and attractions to teach you about the wonderful world of Korean tea. The Daehan Dawon Tea Plantation in Boseong has lush green fields all year round and has been used as a filming location for several Korean shows. The O’sulloc Tea Museum on Jeju Island also has lovely views.

I recommend trying at least a few of these unique activities, they’ll really make your trip to Korea more memorable and offer insights into Korean culture and life. My advice is to be brave when visiting Korea and try new things, even if they seem a bit unusual at first. The same applies to Korean foods.

Best Korean Festivals To Join In 2024

There are dozens of festivals held in Korea each year celebrating the seasons, local products, traditions, culture, and often just for the sake of having fun. Visiting a festival in Korea will offer you a glimpse of how locals celebrate life, culture, and nature and let you join in the fun.

Whenever you visit Korea, there’ll be festivals going on. However, the biggest festivals occur in spring or autumn. As mentioned previously in this South Korea travel guide, these are the best seasons to visit Korea as the weather is pleasant and people are celebrating the end of summer or winter.

Cherry Blossom Festivals

The cherry blossom festivals in Korea occur in late March and early April and are some of the biggest festivals in Korea. People flock to forests, lakes, and rivers to see the pretty blossoms. The Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival has over 2 million visitors each year, and even more people visit Seokchon Lake and Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul. There are many festivals and tours to see cherry blossoms in Korea so you should be able to find a quiet place to enjoy the view.

Winter Light Festivals

During the cold, dark days of winter, attractions such as Nami Island, the Garden of Morning Calm, and Herb Island transform into sparkling winter wonderlands with millions of bright lights illuminating them. There are also winter illumination festivals in Korean cities, such as the Haeundae Lighting Festival in Busan, Cheonggyecheon Stream Winter Lights in Seoul, and the Busan Christmas Tree Cultural Festival. When it snows in Korea, these festivals look even more magical.

Summer Music Festivals

Summer in Korea is hot, but that doesn’t stop people enjoying day-long music festivals across the country. From chilled jazz festivals like the Seoul Jazz Festival, to action-packed concerts like Psy’s Summer Swag, there are music festivals to suit everyone. This is a popular summer activity in Korea, so be sure to book in advance for ticketed events. If you can’t get tickets, just go to a popular beach in the evening and you’ll usually find musicians performing.

New Year Festivals

There are various festivals in Korea to celebrate the solar new year. New Year’s Eve festivals involve a bell-ringing ceremony where a giant bell is rung at midnight to welcome in the new year. Fireworks festivals are common events in cities across Korea, starting at midnight, too. Koreans celebrate the start of the new year by visiting the East Coast to see the first sunrise of the year at places like Homigot Sunrise Square or Seongsan Ilchulbong on Jeju Island.

Buddha’s Birthday Festivals

Buddha’s Birthday is like Christmas for the Buddhist world, but celebrated very differently. It also falls on changing dates each year as it follows the lunar calendar, just like Korean New Year. Korean Buddhist temples across Korea will celebrate by putting up colourful lanterns and decorations for at least a month before the actual date. The biggest festival celebrating Buddha’s Birthday is the Yeon Deung Hoe Lantern Festival, which features thousands of lanterns and a lantern parade through central Seoul.

Boryeong Mud Festival

The Boryeong Mud Festival is one of Korea’s largest festivals and attracts visitors from around the world. Running for 2 weeks during rainy season, this is the best way to see a Korean festival even when the weather is bad. There’s a lot to see and do at this festival, including getting dirty in the mud with mud sports, mud wrestling, mud tug-of-war, and other mud-filled events. Boryeong is famous for the high-quality mud found in nearby waters and, by joining this festival, you’re getting a free mud facial.

Jinju Lantern Festival

The visually stunning Jinju Lantern Festival is held in October each year in Jinju City and runs for several weeks. During the day, watch cultural performances and enjoy exploring the central fortress grounds of Jinju. Once it gets dark, see the city transform as thousands of lanterns, some as big as trees, come to life. There are so many weird and wonderful lanterns to discover at this festival. You can also set your own lanterns to float down the river with your wish inside.

Andong Mask Dance Festival

The Andong Mask Dance Festival in Andong, home of the Andong Hahoe Village, is a great opportunity to witness traditional Korean dance and music performances. Not only can you see traditional Korean performances during this 4 day festival, there are also international performers displaying their own culture’s dancing. Get hands-on with traditional Korean culture at this festival. Explore Andong and learn about its contributions to Korea’s cultural development.

Goyang Flower Festival

The Goyang International Flower Festival runs twice per year, once in spring and once in autumn. It’s a beautiful celebration of floral beauty mixed with Korean cuteness and creativity. At this flower festival you can stroll through a maze of different displays, with each section focusing on certain flowers and plants. There are indoor displays with vividly coloured roses, nature-based outdoor photo zones, and the lovely Ilsan Lake Park in the background.

Baekje Culture Festival

The Baekje Culture Festival probably isn’t one that first-time travellers to Korea would know about. Held in Gongju and Buyeo, the two former capitals of the ancient Baekje Kingdom, this 10-day long festival held around Chuseok (Korean mid-autumn harvest festival), is packed with unique events and sights and is set in historic locations in each city. There’s local food to try, musical & cultural performances, fun photo zones, lantern displays, and much more.

Knowing when you plan to visit Korea will help you research what festivals are on and what the weather will be like. There are certainly a lot more than just the ones mentioned above, including some others mentioned previously in the seasons part of this South Korea travel guide.

I recommend using a tour company to see out of the way festivals like the Jinju Lantern Festival and the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival. These are often far from typical tourist destinations and can take hours to get to by public transport. Tours are worth the cost to save you time and avoid hassle.

Recommended Itinerary For Korea In 2024

In this section of this South Korea travel guide is my recommended first-timer itinerary for South Korea. This introduces you to two of Korea’s biggest cities, as well as a couple of day trips to highly rated destinations in Korea. There’s a mix of history, culture, nature, sights, and experiences.

This itinerary starts in Seoul as that’s where most people arrive to Korea after flying into Incheon Airport. If you arrive in Busan, you can change the route to start and end there instead. For travellers to Korea with only 2 or 3 days, I recommend using the first few days of this itinerary instead.

The itinerary lasts for one week, which isn’t enough time to see all of Korea, but enough time to get a feel for the country. If you have more time, use this itinerary and add in or replace extra destinations as you like. Jeju Island is certainly worth visiting if you have an extra 2 or 3 days.

Classic Sights Of Korea Itinerary

This itinerary covers a few must-see sights in Korea, including the two largest cities, the history city of Gyeongju, and some popular day trip destinations from Seoul.

Day 1: Arrive in Seoul and explore Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong Art Street, Jogyesa Temple, and Cheonggyecheon Stream. Get dinner at the Jonggak Avenue of Youth for authentic Korean food that’s better than the touristy places in Myeongdong.

Day 2: Learn about Korean history at the War Memorial of Korea or National Museum of Korea, explore Seoul’s traditional Gwangjang market in Dongdaemun, take the cable car to the N Seoul Tower for sunset & night views, then head down to Itaewon or Myeongdong for dinner & drinks.

Day 3: Take a day trip to Gapyeong and visit Nami Island, the Garden of Morning Calm, and the Gapyeong Rail Bike Park. Return to Seoul for dinner and rooftop drinks in Myeongdong and then walk along the fortress walls from Dongdaemun Station if the weather is good.

Day 4: Take the KTX to Busan, drop your bags, and take the subway to Nampo-dong for Jagalchi Fish Market, Bosu-dong Book Alley, and traditional sights. Take a taxi to Huinnyeoul Culture Village. End the day in Haeundae for evening dinner & drinks and a walk along the beach at night.

Day 5: Take the bus to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, then a taxi to Songjeong Beach. Relax in a beachside cafe, then take the Haeundae Beach Train to Cheongsapo, change to the Sky Capsule, and end up in Haeundae. Take a bus to Gamcheon Culture Village and get dinner at Songdo Beach.

Day 6: Take a day trip from Busan to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Gyeongju. Visit the Gyeongju Historic Area, then Gyeongju Gyochon Traditional Village for traditional food and sights of Woljeonggyo Bridge. See tranquil night views of Wolji Pond before getting dinner at Hwangnidangil.

Day 7: Head back to Seoul on the KTX for a final day of shopping and sightseeing in Hongdae. Walk along the Gyeongui Line Forest Park or Book Street or visit a theme cafe. Take the subway directly to Incheon Airport from Hongdae or spend a night here and check out the lively night scene.

Please note: I recommend trying not to cram too much into your itinerary. You may want to see as much as possible, but people often end up rushing past sights and not appreciating them. Plan for less and see more if you have time. It gives you a chance to be spontaneous.

To plan a realistic itinerary for South Korea, it is important to factor in transportation, meal breaks, and rest times. Use Naver Maps to plan your route and work out travel times. A short journey on the map might take much longer if there’s no direct route. Also consider breaks if you plan to walk a lot.

Cultural Issues When Visiting Korea

The next few sections of this South Korea travel guide will provide answers to some of the most common questions first-time travellers to Korea have in regards to cultural, language, and safety issues. Korea is a culturally unique country with customs and traditions you might not be aware of.

Korea is a society that places a strong emphasis on social image, respect for others, and social harmony. This means Koreans will often try to avoid conflict, especially in public. To show respect for Korean culture and to avoid being rude, try to respect social harmony and always avoid conflict.

If you follow these tips, you’ll find it easier to avoid accidentally upsetting someone in Korea. There’s far too much to cover in this South Korea travel guide, so if you’d like to know more, check out my detailed guide to Korean etiquette and culture, it’s packed with tips and insights to understand Korea.

What is considered rude in Korea? It is considered rude to point with one finger or with chopsticks, give and receive with one hand, cross your legs when sitting, and to walk inside with your shoes on. Things considered rude in other countries such as swearing and spitting are also rude in Korea.

What is considered unlucky in Korea? It is considered unlucky to write someone’s name in red ink and to stand chopsticks upright in rice. Both are used in rituals for deceased people. The number 4 is also unlucky as the word is the same as the word for ‘death’.

Do you need to tip in Korea? It’s not necessary to tip in Korea and most restaurants and cafes won’t expect or allow you to tip. There is no service charge added to bills in Korea, with the exception of some upmarket restaurants, bars, and hotels in touristy areas of Seoul. Tipping guides is okay.

Do you need to take off shoes when going inside? If you enter someone’s house in Korea, you should take off your shoes. This rule also applies to temples, traditional restaurants, and other places in traditional buildings. Most cafes, shops, and restaurants won’t ask you to take off your shoes.

When should you use two hands in Korea? You should use two hands when giving and receiving things in Korea, such as money, a gift, a business card, or food. When you shake hands, use both hands, not just one. The same applies to pouring drinks, both pouring and holding a glass.

Do I have to act like a Korean in Korea? You don’t have to follow Korean customs and traditions when you visit Korea. You are a guest in the country and Koreans won’t expect you to know every rule. However, showing cultural awareness in Korea will help you make friends and impress locals.

The best tip for being culturally sensitive in Korea is to first consider all the things that you’d consider rude in your own country – spitting, swearing, shouting, physical violence, etc. Show the same acts of kindness you’d show at home – help others, give up your seat for those in need, be polite, etc.

Furthermore, remember that social harmony is really important in Korea and try not to cause a scene. Keep your voice down in public, don’t talk or act aggressively, be polite, and don’t force things when people are reluctant. Koreans may feel obliged to do things, even when they don’t want to.

Language Issues When Travelling Korea

Language issues can be a big concern for first-time travellers to Korea as Korean is a very different language from English and has a unique alphabet. Korean is also one of the most difficult languages to learn for English speakers, ranked alongside Japanese, Chinese, and Arabic.

However, as a tourist to Korea, you don’t need to worry about mastering the language. English is used for signs and announcements in most places that you’ll need it, such as on public transport, at the airport, at attractions & tourist sites, on menus, and most other places. It’s common across Korea.

If there is a sign or notice that isn’t in Korean, I recommend using the Papago app to take translate it. Use the image translation function in the app to scan the sign and Papago will translate it into English for you. It’s really convenient and the way I translate things I can’t read in Korean.

Do Korean People Speak English?

Speaking in English to Korean people is different from being able to read and translate signs. English is taught from elementary school until the end of high school. That doesn’t mean everyone will remember it, but there’s a good chance some people will know English, especially younger Koreans.

It is best to ask if someone speaks English before trying to have a conversation. You can do this in Korean by asking “영어 할 수 있어요?” (Yong-oh hal su iss-o-yo?) or just ask it in English. Tour guides and people in the tourism industry will probably be able to speak English, but it’s not guaranteed.

Shyness is an issue in Korea and locals may be reluctant to speak English at first for fear of making a mistake. As an English teacher in Korea, I know that Korean students are usually quite competent in English, but lack confidence to use it. Be patient and encouraging when talking in English.

Although some Koreans may be too shy to use English, other people may be enthusiastic about speaking English to you and want to practice it. I’ve been asked random questions in English by strangers in the street in Korea who want to practice English and find out about my life.

Should You Learn Korean Before Visiting Korea?

If you do want to learn some Korean before you travel, I recommend you start by learning the Korean alphabet, or at least learning some basic Korean travel phrases. Knowing how to introduce yourself, discuss prices, ask for directions, and ask for help will make your trip to Korea a lot easier.

You can learn Korean online through courses such as 90 Day Korean and Korean Class 101, or with self-study textbooks like the excellent Talk To Me In Korean series. There are lots of resources on YouTube, too. I particularly like Learn Korean with GO! Korean Billy as he explains things clearly.

Another way to prepare to move to Korea is to read some Korean novels in English. Although these books won’t teach you any Korean, they’ll offer up valuable insights into Korean culture, both traditional and hidden under the surface. Literature is a good way to gain an understanding of a culture.

A warning about Konglish: Although Korea uses English in many useful ways, there’s also a lot of Konglish. The sign above is a good example of random English words being used to look cool, but ending up being confusing. There’s a lot of this in Korea and it’s mostly harmless, so don’t worry.

Health And Safety Issues In Korea

First-time travellers to Korea may be worried about health and hygiene issues, such as if certain foods are available and if they’re safe to eat. Other issues include vaccinations, personal safety, and how easy it is to contact emergency services. These issues are addressed below.

Is Korean Street Food Safe To Eat?

Korean street food is generally safe to eat and won’t give you any health issues unless you have an intolerance to the food. Korean street food can be spicy or contain a lot of salt, be aware of your own personal tolerances and dietary requirements before trying it.

Also be careful when ordering food with meat or seafood and check that it is cooked thoroughly. Korean street food that has been left out for a long time is more likely to cause food poisoning problems, so ask for freshly cooked food if you’re concerned.

Is It Easy To Find Vegan-Friendly Food In Korea?

There are many vegan-friendly Korean dishes, such as gimbap, japchae, pajeon, bibimbap, ramyeon, and tteokbokki. However, some restaurants may use non vegan-friendly ingredients when preparing these foods, so be careful. Kimchi isn’t vegan-friendly due to its seafood ingredients & sauces.

Vegetarianism and veganism aren’t common in Korea with fewer people following these diets than in countries such as the USA or UK. Vegetarians in Korea account for 3% of the population, while vegans in Korea are only 0.2% of the population as of 2022. The UK is 10% and 2% respectively.

However, the number of vegan-friendly restaurants and bakeries is increasing each year in Korea, especially in areas such as Hongdae and Itaewon. Korean Buddhist temple food is vegan-friendly and a good option for vegans who want to enjoy vegan food while learning about local Korean culture.

If you’re concerned about accidentally ordering non vegan-friendly food, or want to know how to tell someone about food allergies or requirements, check out my guide to Korean phrases for ordering food. This has a whole section about special requests when ordering food in Korean.

Is It Safe To Drink Tap Water In Korea?

Korean tap water is potable and safe to drink. Korea ranks 23rd for water hygiene, which is above the USA, Canada, and Australia. However, many Koreans don’t drink tap water, preferring to use water purifiers and bottled water instead, claiming that tap water smells strange or water pipes are bad.

Personally, I don’t like drinking tap water in Korea as it tastes a bit stale, but it’s perfectly fine to drink and doesn’t cause any problems. Bottled water is very cheap in Korea and costs 600 KRW for a 500ml bottle from a convenience store. Buying water from a supermarket is a cheaper option though.

Do You Need Any Vaccinations To Travel To South Korea?

There are no mandatory vaccinations required to travel to Korea, but it is suggested you should have at least routine vaccinations such as tetanus, MMR, and polio. Hepatitis A & B, typhoid, and Japanese encephalitis vaccinations are also recommended.

Is Korea Friendly To Tourists?

Korea is generally friendly and welcoming to tourists. The Korean government spends a lot of money and effort to promote Korean tourism to the world and there are many incentives to bring people to the country. Korean people are also mostly polite and welcoming, especially in the tourism sector.

Is Korea A Dangerous Country To Travel In?

South Korea is a safe country to travel in and the crime rate in Korea is low, comparable to Norway or the Netherlands. Public crimes, such as theft and assault, are rare. Pickpocketing and purse snatching aren’t common and unattended goods are generally left alone or reported to the police.

How safe is Korea? I regularly see people leave their phone or handbag on a cafe table to reserve it before going up to order a drink. People even leave their laptops open while they pop out for lunch or go to the toilet. Stealing disturbs social harmony and is one of the reasons it’s rare in Korea.

Physical violence is also rare, but still occurs in Korea, as it does in all countries. This is most often found in areas with lots of bars and when people are drunk. However, visiting bars in Korea is a lot safer than I’ve experienced in other countries and trouble is not common, even in busy places.

How Do You Contact Tourist Information Services In Korea?

Call 1330 in Korea to contact the Travel Helpline. The Korean Travel Helpline provides the following services free of charge to tourists in Korea.

• Tourist Information: Find out about attractions, opening hours, prices, and other information.
• Tourist Interpretation: Access travel information in several languages.
• Tourist Complaints: Report rip-offs and problems you encounter when travelling in Korea.
• Tourist Police: Report minor crimes in English and other languanges.

There are tourist police patrolling the streets of Seoul, dressed in purple uniforms as shown in the picture above. In popular tourist locations like Myeongdong and Bukchon Hanok Village, you’ll also find friendly tourist information staff dressed in red shirts with matching red cowboy hats.

What Should You Do If You Have An Emergency In Korea?

If you need to report a fire or medical emergency in Korea, you should call 119 from any phone. To contact the police in Korea, call 112. You will need to select an option to report an emergency in English or another language. It may take some time to be redirected to an English speaker.

• 119 – Medical Emergency & Fire Rescue
• 112 – Police

When you use medical services in Korea, you have to pay the cost of treatment, but there is no fee for the ambulance ride as this is covered by the Korean government. Travel insurance should cover the cost of medical bills, so if you’re worried about a large medical bill, insurance is recommended.

Fortunately, the cost of treatment in Korea is quite reasonable and Korea has advanced medical facilities, which is why it’s a popular medical tourism destination. Many people travel to Korea for minor and major surgery, including laser eye surgery, cosmetic surgery, and internal medicine.

Is Air Pollution A Problem In Korea?

Air pollution is an issue in Korea, especially in spring & summer. Winds blow yellow dust from Central Asia, field burning spreads fumes across Asia, and fossil-fuel burning contributes to higher levels of air pollution. Some days there’ll be very low visibility and health risks for people with lung problems.

My Personal Travel Tips For Korea

This South Korea travel guide is a collection of information I’ve researched and learned since moving to Korea in 2015 and blogging about Korean travel since 2019. I hope the provided information and insights are useful and assist you plan your dream first-time, or even tenth-time, trip to Korea.

This section includes my personal tips that didn’t really fit anywhere else and reflections built from travelling all over Korea in all seasons. These are tips I would offer to first-time travellers to Korea and people who might have some worries about visiting the Land of Morning Calm. I hope they help.

The Real Korea Isn’t What You See On TV

Korea is a developed country that went from being a 3rd world country in the mid 20th Century to a high-tech country in a short time. Despite the many high-rises and modern K-Pop stars, there are still shadows of the former Korea seen in both run-down slums and people with ‘traditional’ values.

The image created by selective K-Culture can distort people’s reality when dreaming of a trip to Korea in the same way Korean people can suffer from Paris Syndrome when visiting France. There are many wonderful things about Korea, but don’t travel thinking that everything is as shown on TV.

Be Prepared For Culture Shock

One of the best things about travelling is seeing a country and people that act and behave differently to how you do in your own country. This is known as culture shock and can be both a blessing and a challenge for first-time travellers to Korea. Things you might be used to can be different in Korea.

Some examples of culture shock in Korea include the way age determines hierarchy in Korea and how older people can be rather pushy, especially on the subway. Younger people also typically don’t question the decisions of older people in Korea as it is considered rude and disrespectful.

Less extreme cultural differences that might confuse some first-time visitors to Korea include having to shout to call someone to take your order in a Korean restaurant or not giving a tip. Koreans might similarly look at you strangely if you do something culturally different, such as walking while drinking.

Don’t Overpack When You Travel To Korea

First-time travellers to Korea may be worried about visiting a country like Korea without taking everything they need from home, even the kitchen sink. My advice is to pack as light as possible and leave yourself some space in your suitcase. There are two reasons for this.

1. You can buy most things you need in Korea. This includes sun cream, heat packs, clothes, shoes, cosmetics, travel accessories, etc. They’re also probably cheaper in Korea, too.
2. You will want to take home lots of things. From weird Korean snacks to beautiful hand-crafted pottery and woodwork, there are so many things to buy in Korea.

(1) The only exception is if you might have a problem finding correct-fitting items. Korean shoes and clothes are slightly smaller than what you’d find in Western countries and the sizes are also differently labelled. I’m a medium in the UK but a large (sometimes XL!) in Korea. Be careful when shopping.

(2) It’s hard to fit everything you buy in Korea into an already full suitcase. Fortunately, you can buy extra suitcases at low prices. Check out Namdaemun Market for cheap luggage options, as well as shops like the one pictured below (this is in Busan) in places like Hongdae and Dongdaemun.

Electricity In South Korea

Be careful with electric items when travelling to Korea. Korea uses type C and F plugs, which are used in Europe, Russia, and other parts of Asia. The standard voltage is 220V with 60Hz frequency. Anything designed for a standard voltage between 220V and 240V should be fine in Korea.

Laptops, mobile phones, and other portable devices will be fine when you travel in Korea as long as you use a travel adapter with a USB or socket connection. Hairdryers, shavers, curlers, and similar devices might have problems charging in Korea and run out of power very soon. My shaver did.

Go With The Flow And Go Quickly

Korea is a very busy country and you might hear people mutter ‘빨리빨리’ (ppalli ppalli) if you walk slowly, especially in the subway. Koreans work long hours and are eager to get home or go out for dinner. Don’t take it personally if people push past you and don’t feel like you have to rush.

Know Where To Throw Away Rubbish

It can be difficult to find a bin to throw away rubbish in Korea, even in urban areas. The best place to dispose of rubbish in Korea is at a convenience store. You can find recycling and trash bins in these shops. If you go hiking or explore the countryside, expect to carry your rubbish home with you.

South Korea Travel Guide FAQs

Finally, here’s a few FAQs about this South Korea travel guide, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you.

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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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Whatever you’re interested in, these insights to Korean etiquette will show you what’s considered rude in Korea, how to make friends and socialise, what manners are expected when dining out, special rules for the Korean workplace, and lots more.

There are dozens of insights and my personal comments about Korean culture, including how strictly rules are followed, how Korean society is changing, how to avoid offending people, and how to make a great first impression in Korea.

Find out all you need to know about Korean etiquette and gain a deeper understanding of Korean culture. It will open your eyes to the many cultural differences that make Korea such a unique and interesting place to explore and learn about.

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

Why Learn About Korean Etiquette?

Korean etiquette rules, customs, and manners have developed over centuries, influenced various cultural factors. These factors include a strong hierarchy, Confucian ideals, and a sense of Han Spirit – a uniquely Korean emotion that embodies grief and resentment from centuries of suffering.

Not knowing about these uniquely Korean cultural rules can leave people feeling confused or upset when they travel to Korea or talk with Korean friends and encounter a situation or action they don’t understand.

This guide will stop you making embarrassing mistakes and cultural faux pas. It will also shine a light into the behaviour (hidden or open) of Korean people & society in general and help you understand why things happen the way they do.

This article covers a wide range of the most common Korean etiquette rules, customs, beliefs, and superstitions. It shows you how to display good manners and follow etiquette rules in various situations, such as when eating out, socialising, or at work.

In some sections there are Korean cultural insights and ‘reality checks‘ that show my opinion on these rules and how strictly they’re followed. I hope you’ll find them useful.

Now, here are the 35 tips that will teach you how to avoid being rude, how to follow Korean etiquette rules, how to show good manners, and how to make a good impression in Korea. Afterwards, there’s a guide to Korean culture and how it has shaped Korean etiquette. Be sure to read to the end.

What Is Considered Rude In Korea?

One of the most important things to know when travelling to a culturally distinctive place like Korea is how to avoid being rude. Knowing what is considered rude in Korea is not only useful to avoid difficult situations, but also to show Koreans that you’ve taken time to learn about their culture.

If it’s considered rude in your country, it’s probably considered rude in Korea. Things such as spitting, shouting, hitting people, swearing, and generally being obnoxious are definitely rude in Korea. I haven’t added them to this list as they should be obvious.

If you follow these rules and avoid these taboos, you will not only avoid cultural faux pas, you can start to make friends in Korea and show respect when you travel and engage with Koreans, at home or abroad.

1: Writing Someone’s Name In Red Ink

Koreans used to write the names of deceased people in red ink. Doing the same to a living person indicates that you either wish they were dead, or else want to do them harm.

This is a pretty serious etiquette mistake and I’ve been in trouble for doing it in the past. If you’re going to be writing in front of Korean people, be safe and stick to black or blue ink.

2: Wearing Shoes Inside Someone’s House

Every Korean house is a shoe-free area and it is considered rude to wear shoes inside someone’s house. It’s not only rude to wear your shoes into a Korean house, it’s also unlucky and dirty. Show good manners by removing your shoes when you enter.

Korean houses have a small area when you first enter that is for removing shoes. You can tell it because it’s lower than the rest of the floor. If you step up into someone’s house, that means you’re entering into a no-shoe area and you should take off your shoes immediately. There may be guest slippers you can wear, although that depends on the house you’re visiting.

3: Crossing Your Legs When Talking To Someone

In Korea, it is considered rude to cross your legs in the presence of someone ‘superior’. In Korea, that means higher in society, either through their job or their age. It isn’t considered rude to cross your legs in front of friends and people of a similar (or lower) social standing as you.

It’s more acceptable to sit with your legs straight or open a bit. Crossing your legs is seen as being lazy or disrespectful to the other person. Therefore, you should sit up straight and keep your hands on your lap. Open body language shows honesty and attentiveness.

4: Shaking Hands With One Hand And Not Two

A one-handed handshake is certainly bad etiquette in Korea and you should instead shake with two hands. Why is it considered rude? This most likely goes back to times of court intrigue, where people showed both hands to prove they weren’t hiding any concealed dangers, such as a knife or poison.

There are several acceptable ways to shake hands in Korea, all of which include both hands. First, shake holding both hands. If that’s not appropriate, the left hand should be placed on the right wrist or between the wrist and elbow. Alternatively, tuck the left arm around the waist under the right arm.

5: Standing Chopsticks Upright In Rice

A definite Korean cultural taboo is sticking chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice. This action looks similar to incense sticks in funeral ceremonies and symbolises death. As with writing in red ink, this makes people think of death and is considered bad luck.

This applies to other countries where Buddhism is prevalent as it’s a Buddhist ceremony. Although Korea isn’t a predominantly Buddhist country, it’s still a superstitious one and upholds these beliefs. To avoid disrespect when eating, rest chopsticks on a napkin or bowl.

6: Pointing With A Finger

When gesturing in Korea, it is considered bad manners to point with one finger, especially the index finger. Instead, Koreans tend to use the whole hand when gesturing or motioning towards something.

To call someone’s attention in Korea, use the whole hand, palm face up. Bring the whole hand up as if clapping. Don’t use one finger. This is the opposite of what’s usual in Western countries where the palm is face down.

The middle finger is seen as rude, especially when stuck straight up at someone, just as it is in other countries such as the USA and UK.

7: The Number 4 Is Considered Bad Luck

The number 4 is an unlucky number in Korea, just as 13 is in English speaking countries. Known as tetraphobia, the issue is serious in Korea. Koreans will go out of their way to avoid using the number, including removing the number 4 from elevators, restaurant tables, and even whole apartment blocks.

The Korean superstition surrounding the number 4 originates from the sound made when saying ‘four’. This word sounds the same as the word for ‘death’. In Korean they are both pronounced as ‘sa‘.

This is an issue in several countries, including China and Japan, as they use the same Chinese characters for these two words.

8: Saying No When Asked To Do Something

When someone in Korea asks you to do something, it is considered rude to say no. For example, if a friend invites you to their house, or to go to an event, it’s bad manners to refuse. This doesn’t mean that it is necessary to agree to do everything that someone asks, but consideration should be made about how to turn down an offer. An excuse or false agreement is better than a straight up refusal.

This issue is rooted in a subtle aspect of Korean culture known as kibun, which has no English translation, but generally refers to someone’s sense of pride or face. By refusing to agree to something, you damage their kibun and damage the group harmony. Korean people want to avoid that, so they try to agree or find ways to get out of a difficult situation without saying no directly.

There are Korean cultural insights that will help explain this issue later on, including the concept of kibun and how Korean society operates harmoniously. Keep reading to find out more about these and other Korean etiquette rules, customs, and manners.

Korean Etiquette Rules When Dining Out

This next section introduces some important Korean etiquette rules when dining out that will help you if you plan to eat out with Korean friends both in your own country and in Korea.

Several of these rules are common sense or manners, such as not pointing with cutlery, others might seem a bit strange or confusing. Understanding the cultural reasons behind these rules can help make your Korean dining experience more comfortable.

When you’re travelling and eating out with other foreigners, don’t worry too much about these rules. These are guidelines for eating with Koreans and not being rude.If you’re worried about what to say when dining, check out my guide to Korean phrases for eating out. You can find out how to order food, how to talk about what you like and don’t like, how to pay, and lots more.

9: Take Your Shoes Off In Restaurants

It’s bad Korean etiquette to enter a Korean restaurant and walk around with shoes on. It is required to remove them when entering a restaurant and then either walk around in socks, or else slippers will be provided.

The main reason to remove shoes is because traditional restaurants have low tables and people sit on the floor. As everyone sits close together with their feet under the table, this will be uncomfortable and bother others. The other reason to remove shoes is to avoid getting dirt everywhere.

When someone needs to use the bathroom in Korea, there will be a special pair of bathroom slippers they can use so they don’t need to put on their shoes again. Don’t forget to take off the bathroom slippers when leaving the toilet or it’ll certainly cause an unforgettable scene in the restaurant.

10: Help Others Before You Help Yourself

This Korean etiquette rule applies to a couple of things when eating out. First, one person at the table will give out the cutlery (chopsticks and spoon) to other people at the table, serving themselves last. This is usually the youngest person at a work dinner.

The cutlery in Korean restaurants is placed in a box on the table, or in a draw on the side of the table, along with napkins and wet tissues. Place a napkin on the table and then place the cutlery on top to keep the cutlery clean.

The second meaning of this rule is when serving food and drinks. Offer other people food and drinks before yourself. This is especially important in a work setting when dining with senior members of a company or with older relatives.

11: Wait For Elders To Be Seated First

Similar to the previous Korean etiquette rule, it is considered rude to sit down before the more senior or elderly members of the group have been seated.

The senior people will typically take the central area of a table, with less senior members spreading out to the sides. When foreigners join Korean work parties, they may be offered a place in the centre alongside the senior members. This is a sign of respect.

At work events, this means standing near the table and waiting for the senior members of the team to arrive before sitting. Once they arrive, everyone will take their seats.

Korean employees may attend meals early so they can show their enthusiasm by waiting for the boss. This is generally better than turning up late, which could be considered rude.

12: Don’t Eat With Your Fingers Or Lick Them

Using fingers to eat in Korea is bad manners and chopsticks or other cutlery should be used whenever possible. This applies for difficult to eat foods such as chicken wings, ribs, and pork cutlets. This also applies to Korean side dishes, which are called banchan. They’re not finger food.

These foods should be cut up or taken apart when possible, which is a difficult task for people not used to using chopsticks to eat. Fortunately, most Korean meals involve small portions that can be picked up and eaten using chopsticks, as well as sticky rice.

Licking fingers is considered bad manners in Korea and it should be avoided when possible, especially when eating in public. There are wet or dry tissues for cleaning dirty hands and fingers. Tissues can also be used to hide leftover bones, which is politer than leaving them on a plate or table.

13: Don’t Point With Your Chopsticks

Chopsticks are very flexible and can be used to eat a wide range of food with a bit of practice. However, there are some things definitely shouldn’t be done with chopsticks, including the aforementioned taboo of sticking them upright in rice.

Using chopsticks to point at other people is considered rude in Korea and should be avoided. When eating with chopsticks, try to keep them pointed downwards or place them on a plate, bowl, or napkin on the table.

Try to avoid gesticulating wildly with chopsticks when eating. The same rule applies when talking closely with someone else, don’t wave your arms around too much as this is considered rude and disrespecting someone’s personal space.

14: Use Two Hands When Pouring Drinks For Others

When pouring drinks for others, pour with two hands. As with shaking hands, the second hand can be placed on the pouring hand, wrist, arm, or under the arm on the waist.

This is another uniquely Korean etiquette rule that probably originated at the same time as the rule for shaking with two hands. If both hands are visible, one can’t be used to conceal anything dangerous.

15: Don’t Pour Your Own Drinks

As well as pouring drinks with two hands, Korean etiquette states that you shouldn’t pour drinks for yourself. When out with other people, pour their drinks first and then they will return the favour.

Korean work meals typically involve beer and soju. This involves a lot of pouring during the evening and it is common for people to move around the room pouring drinks (usually soju) for other people. The other person will pour a shot of soju for them in return.

This causes a socially harmonious situation where everyone is offering and accepting drinks from each other and is a key part of a Korean work dinner. This can also happen in social occasions, but with less pressure to impress others.

16: Look Away When Drinking A Shot

During work and social events, it is common to make a toast and drink a shot of soju or glass of beer. It is bad manners in Korea to look at other people as you down your shot or beer. The polite way to drink a shot is to turn your face away and drink, then turn back to look at everyone. Staring at someone when drinking is bad manners.

Covering your mouth when drinking in Korea is also considered polite, although it is not as commonly practised as turning away. Drinking from a bottle without it touching your lips, letting it drop into your mouth, is also common in Korea to avoid germs.

17: Clean Up Your Own Mess

At restaurants and cafes in Korea, it is common to clear away your own cups and plates when finished. There is usually a ‘return’ area near the main counter or food delivery area, or a separate counter with recycling and trash.

In cafes, it is normal to return used cups and empty any remaining liquids into a special bin, as well as split different items by material type (plastic / paper). Mugs and glasses can be left in the same area.

If a Korean restaurant offers table service, you don’t need to clean away your own plates. If you have to go up to a counter to order and pay, you might be expected to clean up.

Having to clear your plates away is one of the reasons you shouldn’t tip in Korea, which is the topic of the next part of this Korean etiquette guide.

Should You Tip In Korea?

One question many people ask when travelling to Korea is should you tip? In some countries it’s quite common, but in Korea tipping is not customary at all. Tipping in Korean restaurants and cafes doesn’t happen and there are usually no options to leave a tip.

The price on a menu is the price you’re expected to pay. Tax is included and won’t be added later. It’s not common to see tip jars in Korea, although some bars and independent cafes may have them near the till.

Why don’t people tip in Korea? There are a few cultural reasons why tipping isn’t common. Firstly, it never entered into society and people aren’t used to paying more than the price stated. Prices include staffing costs and therefore tips aren’t necessary.

Providing good service is part of maintaining social harmony and being rude to customers would result in people losing face and society not following its core Confucian ideals. Therefore, there should be no need to tip for good service as it’s always provided.

Indeed, tipping one person would require tipping others, or else societal disharmony may occur. Tipping everyone isn’t practical, so the best option is not to tip at all.

Should you tip in Korea? No.

Leaving a tip in a Korean restaurant can result in the money being returned or awkwardness for the person receiving the tip. Avoiding awkwardness in Korean society is going to be more valuable than a tip.

If you live in Korea and want to thank someone for providing a service, like installing a washing machine or fixing your computer at work, small gifts are usually given. Small gifts include a baked good, a bottle of juice, and things like that.

When Can You Tip In Korea?

Despite tipping generally being avoided in Korea, there are times when tipping is allowed. Upmarket restaurants and hotels will sometimes add a service charge when dining or drinking there. This is a mandatory ‘tip’ rather than an accepted gratuity.

The other time when tipping is acceptable in Korea is when someone provides a personal service, such as a tour guide. Tour guides, who are used to working with foreigners, are often happy to accept tips and giving them a tip can really help them.

If you’re not sure if a tour guide accepts tips, you can ask them. Try to be discrete and wait until the end of the tour before approaching the subject of tipping.

Socialising Culture & Etiquette In Korea

Want to feel comfortable when socialising with friends in Korea? Want to avoid making other people embarrassed and uncomfortable when you go out together or visit their home?

These Korean etiquette rules for socialising will show you how to make friends in Korea and avoid upsetting others. A good first impression will certainly go a long way to breaking down cultural barriers and showing the other person you understand their culture.

These rules are a bit more relaxed than what you’d expect to find in a professional setting, such as an office, or when meeting someone’s family. In reality, these rules could be completely ignored by some Korean people, typically the younger generations, but it never hurts to be prepared and err on the side of caution when in a new culture.

18: Avoid Personal Names Until Introduced

When meeting someone for the first time, it’s best to refer to them by their title (doctor, teacher, etc.) or their family name (Mr. Kim, Mrs. Song, etc.) Using someone’s first name shows a familiarity with that person that could be considered rude.

Using a professional title is a sign of respect and, traditionally, professionals such as teachers and doctors were well respected members of society. This isn’t so applicable when greeting a tour guide or hotel employee, or even a friend you met online.

The safest option when meeting someone in Korea is to use their formal title or full name until they’ve used your personal name or you feel it’s safe to call them by their first name. When you’ve been introduced, you should be familiar enough to use first names.

19: Bow Or Shake Hands To Greet People

To make a good first impression in Korea, give a two-handed hand shake or a small bow. A bow is a safe option for greeting strangers and is practical when greeting lots of people at once. A deep bow is not necessary when greeting people, a small tip forward is enough.

When socialising with Korean friends, a hand shake is a more comfortable option and shows friendliness. A bow is also fine, especially when holding things. If in doubt, let the Korean person make the first move so you know what they’re comfortable with.

20: Avoid Close Physical Contact

Handshakes and bows are acceptable greetings, but greeting someone with close physical contact, such as hugging or grabbing hands or arms, is bad Korean etiquette.

Hugging strangers is certainly bad manners in Korea and will most likely make the other person extremely uncomfortable, especially when in public. Close physical contact is generally reserved for friends and family.

Once you’ve become friends with someone in Korea, you can set your own boundaries. If you’re both comfortable hugging or other close physical contact, then it’s fine. Close physical contact between couples is a bit different and will be discussed later.

21: Respect Other People’s Personal Space

Similar to avoiding close physical contact when in Korea, it’s also good manners to respect other people’s personal space. This means not standing too close to them, waving your arms around near others, or generally moving your body in a way that could make others uncomfortable.

For example, if you’re socialising with Korean friends, don’t keep touching someone’s shoulder or waving your arms around in front of them. Korean people generally wouldn’t do it unless very close to another person as it could cause them to lose face.

Due to traditional Korean societal norms, which will be explained in more detail later, invading someone’s personal space not only embarrasses that person, it could also cause disharmony in the group and result in an uncomfortable situation.

22: Bring A Gift When Invited To Someone’s House

When someone is invited to a Korean person’s home, it’s good manners to bring a gift for the host. This is a sign of respect and gratitude to the person for being invited to their personal place. Bringing a gift will help you make friends and will please the host.

Good gifts for visiting someone’s house in Korea include baked goods, sweet treats, or a small bouquet of flowers. Something that can be used at that time is generally acceptable. Don’t spend too much, however, as this places a social burden on the other person. Wrapping is always welcome.

Check out the gift giving section at the end of this article to learn customs and etiquette rules that will help you choose the right gift and give it correctly.

23: Give And Receive With Two Hands

Giving and receiving gifts in Korea should be done with two hands. Present the gift to the other person, extending it forward and wait for the other person to accept it.

In Korea, it’s considered impolite to open the gift in front of the gift giver, so don’t be surprised if they place it somewhere out of sight or take it to another room to open. If the gift is something to be eaten right away, it’ll probably be taken to the kitchen so it can be served on a plate.

24: Remember To Return The Favour

A key concept of Korean culture is societal harmony. This is seen in many parts of Korean culture, including gift giving. If a Korean person receives a gift, especially in public, they feel obliged to return the favour.

If you want to show you understand Korean customs, return the favour and give a gift after someone gives you a gift. However, try not to spend more than they did, otherwise this places the burden back on the other person to buy yet another, more expensive gift.

Etiquette Rules When In Public

Worried about making cultural faux pas while out and about in the busy streets of Seoul? Want to know how to ride on public transport without upsetting anyone?

This next set of Korean etiquette rules will help you behave like a model member of Korean society when travelling and exploring in public. From public transport to public displays of affection, there are many areas where you’ll need to be careful in Korea.

As a foreigner, you won’t be expected to know these rules and Korean people will probably tolerate must culturally insensitive actions you take. But wouldn’t it be great to show that you understand and appreciate Korean culture by following these etiquette rules?

25: Don’t Take Reserved Seats On Public Transport

Korean subways and buses have reserved seats for people in need. It’s good manners to let people who need these seats take them. This includes the elderly, sick, young children, and pregnant women.

The end sections of subway carriages are reserved for travellers in need, while the seats closest to the door, as shown in the picture above, are reserved for pregnant women. On Korean buses, the reserved seats are usually brightly coloured.

Be respectful when you travel in Korea and avoid using these seats.

26: Be Careful With Food And Drinks

When eating and drinking outdoors in Korea, be mindful of your actions. There are not many public bins in Korea and people are expected to carry their trash home with them.

You shouldn’t leave litter on the ground just because you can’t find a bin. This is true when hiking in Korea as there are no bins on the mountain paths. One of my top Korean Hiking Tips is to bring a small plastic bag for food trash. This tip applies when out in Korea, too.

Another important consideration when eating and drinking is to be careful when using public transport. Seoul recently made it illegal to eat and drink on public buses. It’s still legal on trains, but try to be courteous and avoid smelly foods and take your trash with you.

27: Don’t Walk While Eating Or Drinking

Another way to cause offence when in public in Korea is to eat or drink whilst walking. It is considered rude and people are advised to stay still or sit down when eating or drinking.

This makes sense when you consider the danger of doing multiple things at once in a busy country where people move around quickly. It’s easy to bump into people or make a mess when moving and eating.

28: Avoid Public Displays Of Affection

One of the Dangers Of Dating In Korea is that you can easily offend people by showing public displays of affection (PDA). Although not as strictly enforced as in some countries, public displays of affection such as kissing and hugging are frowned upon in Korea.

Korea is a conservative society and such displays will offend some people, older generations in particular. One way that couples get around this is by wearing couples clothing, showing that two people are in love enough to coordinate their clothing choices.

To avoid being rude in Korea, it is useful to know that public displays of affection can cause offence and upset some people. To show respect, try not to be too public with your shows of affection. Get some matching clothes for you and your partner instead.

29: Don’t Blow Your Nose

Blowing your nose is considered rude in Korea, especially when done loudly and in public. Korean people tend to sniff a blocked nose instead of blowing it, even if that doesn’t actually solve the problem.

I’m not sure how this etiquette issue started, whether it is seen as unhygienic to blow your nose or if people never thought to carry a handkerchief with them for such emergencies and just got used to sniffing. It’s confusing as pocket tissues are sold in many places.

Whatever the case, from my experience, Korean people seem to be more comfortable sniffing instead of blowing and will look in disgust if you blow your nose, especially in a public place such as a restaurant or on public transport.

30: Patience Is A Virtue And Queueing Is The Way

Korea is a polite society where pushing and shoving for your own benefit is considered rude and damages the harmony of society. Quietly queueing and waiting your turn is the norm in Korea and it is common to see organised lines waiting at subway, bus, and train stations, as well as in shops.

Trying to push ahead in a queue, or not waiting your turn is frowned upon in Korea. If you’re visiting Korea, it’s best to follow the example set by locals and be patient.

However, there is one big exception to this rule, which I’ll talk about next.

Ajummas: The Exception To The Etiquette Rules

You may have read these Korean etiquette rules and come to the conclusion that Korea is a wonderfully harmonious place where everyone is kind and polite in public.

While this is mostly the case for normal Koreans, there is one exception – the ajumma. Ajumma is the name given to middle-aged and above Korean women (typically over 50) who are the queens of Korean society.

After years of following strict etiquette rules and putting up with society, ajummas have earned the right to ignore the rules that keep society civilised and will instead push their way onto buses, shove you out of the way in a queue, talk loudly in public, and wear offensively bright clothing.

If you’re a fan of Korean dramas, you’ve no doubt seen plenty of ajummas before. Jean Yoon’s character in Kim’s Convenience is an ajumma (her name was Umma), albeit a bit more civilised than you might find in the wild.

Korea is definitely one of the safest and nicest places to be in public, but remember to beware the ajumma. Watch out for her colourful garb and keep a wide berth when possible. See the picture above for the identifying features of a Korean ajumma.

Korean Work Culture & Etiquette

These final Korean etiquette rules and cultural insights are especially important if you’re travelling to Korea for business, or if you’re an expat in Korea like myself.

Understanding Korean etiquette and manners is perhaps more important in a business environment than when travelling as a tourist as the Korean business world is built on respect, hierarchy, and honesty. If you want to get ahead working or doing business in Korea, remember to show deference, especially to your seniors, and be friendly and honest to others.

Socialising outside of the office is a big part of work life, and many of the rules covered in the socialising section of this guide apply to business socialising, too. Often more strictly than in a purely social setting.

Read on to find out how to make a good impression at work in Korea and show you understand Korean work culture and etiquette.

31: Accept & Give Business Cards With Two Hands

As mentioned several times before, it is best to give and receive with two hands in Korea, either with two hands at once, or with one hand resting on or under your arm.

With business cards in Korea, hold or receive the business card with both hands at the edge or the card and leave room for the other person to touch the other half of the card.

When given a business card, be sure to show respect to the card by looking at it and then treating it carefully. Don’t bend or dirty the card. Leave it on the table or place it in your wallet for safekeeping.

32: Use Formal Titles

Korean work places are traditionally very formal places where proper titles should be used, especially with senior members. Try to avoid using first names until someone has used yours, and even then stick to formal titles if the other person is your senior.

Full names, with the surname first, is the safest option if you don’t know someone’s formal title in a company. If you’re travelling to Korea for business, it might be worth learning a few titles for the people you are likely to deal with, such as ‘director’ or ‘manager’.

When sending emails, write your full name and refer to the other person by their full name, too. Try to avoid using just your first name as this might be seen as too casual.

33: Wait For The Boss To Eat Or Drink

Hierarchy is important and Koreans expect respect to be shown to senior members. This can be done by waiting for them to take their seat first, as well as by waiting for them to eat and drink first.

At a Korean work meal or social event, the most senior member of the company will make a toast at the start and then take a drink. Other members should then also take a drink. Drinking before this is considered rude in Korea and can be disrespectful to the boss.

It is also expected that the most senior member will start eating first, and then other people can start eating. Similarly, when that person finishes the meal and is ready to leave, the whole team may be expected to leave, even if they haven’t finished eating.

34: Be Prepared To Sing Or Make A Speech

When invited out for a formal work event, such as a dinner or team bonding session (known in Korea as ‘membership training’), it is common for people to be asked to give a speech during a meal. Several speeches are usually made during the course of a meal.

As a foreigner in Korea, it’s likely that you’ll be invited to make a speech. Embrace the chance to practice a bit of Korean and the respect that is shown to you when asked. It’s a good chance to impress others and to create a good image in the company.

After-work parties often end up at a noraebang (Korean singing room) and you’ll almost certainly be expected to sing. Give it a go, even if you’re not a good singer. People will appreciate you willingness to join in and be part of the team.

Or your singing will be so bad that your boss will tell you never to sing in public again, which happened to me one time.

35: Group Harmony Is Number 1

Group harmony in a Korean work environment is very important and is the key to understanding a lot of the cultural differences between working in Korea vs. other countries.

Achieving group harmony involves following strict hierarchy rules and avoiding problematic situations, such as speaking against your superiors, not following orders, or being dishonest.

This aspect of Korean business culture can be difficult for non-Koreans to understand as it can go against what may be seen as common sense. For example, disagreeing with someone’s idea in a team meeting (especially the bosses) is seen as causing disharmony, even when it may be a better option.

If you want to know more about group harmony in Korean culture, this is discussed in more detail later on in this article.

How To Show Respect In Korea

Showing respect is the key to creating and maintaining a harmonious society, especially one where hierarchy is so important and individualism is surreptitiously frowned upon.

Here are three ways to show respect in Korea, including shaking hands correctly, bowing, and giving gifts. There are set rules that should be followed in each circumstance to avoid causing disrespect.

Learning these three simple ways to show respect will demonstrate that you’re sensitive to Korean cultural values and can help you fit into Korean society.

Korean Handshake Etiquette

Here are a few simple steps to help you master perfect Korean handshake etiquette.

• When greeting people in Korea, shake hands with both hands.
• Shake with your right hand.
• Place your left hand on the top of the wrist of your right arm or on the elbow.
• If the other person places their left hand on your hand, do the same.
• Bow forward slightly during the handshake with your head pointed downwards.
• Avoid direct eye contact if shaking hands with a senior work colleague or in a professional environment.
• Don’t squeeze too hard.

To avoid being rude when shaking hands, don’t put your non-shaking hand in your pocket. Leaving it by your side won’t be considered offensive, but it’s politer to shake with both hands.

Bowing Etiquette In Korea

Bowing is a common way to greet people in Korea and to show respect in formal situations. Here are some simple steps to help you master a respectful Korean bow.

• Place your hands clasped together in front of you.
• Keep your head down to avoid eye contact.
• Bow forwards to about 45 degrees.
• Hold the bow for a few seconds.

When bowing to someone in a higher position, increase the bow a bit.

Bows typically don’t go more than 90 degrees in Korea and a deep bow like that is reserved for very formal occasions, such as when Moon Jae In met Kim Jong Un in North Korea.

Bowing At Korean Weddings

Traditional Korean wedding ceremonies involve lots of bowing, especially between the bride and groom as they complete various rituals, such as ‘hapgeunrye‘, which involves the couple drinking from a copper cup and represents the mixing of the two families.

There is also a section of the wedding called ‘paebaek‘, where the bride and groom will sit on their knees and bow down with their head touching the floor (grand bow) and then bow with their head slightly above their arms (half bow). This is to show the importance of family to the couple.

Japanese And Korean bowing Are Not The Same

Bowing is common in both Japan and Korea, but the methods of bowing are not the same and can actually cause offence for some sensitive people in either country.

A famous example of this is from a Japanese McDonald’s advert that showed ‘Korean bowing’ instead of typical Japanese bowing. Some Japanese viewers were outraged about the bowing technique used.

Japanese bowing, known as ‘ojigi‘ in Japanese, involves bowing with your hands at your sides. Korean bowing, known as ‘jeol‘ in Korean, involves placing your hands together in front of your stomach.

Deep bowing up to 180 degrees, which is typically reserved for public apologies in Japan, is not so common in Korea. If you bow too deeply, Korean people may think you’re ‘acting Japanese’.

Be careful bowing when travelling East Asia.

Korean Gift Giving Culture

Gifts are exchanged in Korea for various social and work situations, such as when visiting someone’s house, for birthdays and holidays, and when starting a new job.

Here are some simple steps to help you respectfully give and receive gifts in Korea.

• Use two hands to give & receive gifts.
• Wrap the gift to make it look nice – visuals are important.
• Use light colours for wrapping, avoid red and dark colours.
• Don’t spend too much as you oblige the other person to spend as much.
• Don’t open the gift immediately unless encouraged to by the giver.
• Show your appreciation by commenting on the nice wrapping.

The rules will differ depending on the person giving or receiving the gift and some people, especially younger generations, may not care about any of these rules.

What Gifts Should You Give In Korea?

Good gifts to give in Korea include baked goods, sweets, and flowers. Bakeries in Korea usually have gift sets that are perfect for visiting someone’s house. Department stores are also a good place to buy gifts in Korea.

Suitable gifts from your own country can include local foods and snacks that aren’t available in Korea. However, be sure that you don’t bring in any ‘live’ food such as fruit or veg as it’s illegal to bring them into Korea. Chocolates, sweets, and teas are fine to bring into Korea.

If you’re working in Korea and want to make a good impression, bring in some traditional Korean rice cakes for your coworkers to share. However, they may prefer something from your own country or something sweet to eat instead.

When gifting to multiple people, such as in an office, individually wrapped, separate items are the best. Not only is it more hygienic, it also allows you to place a gift on each person’s desk, which is a common way to share gifts at work in Korea.

On November 11th, be sure to give a box of Pepero to your coworkers and friends as it’s Pepero Day In Korea. These cheap gifts are a great way to impress others and a delicious snack that can be enjoyed with coffee.

What Gifts Should You Avoid In Korea?

There are some gifts that are culturally sensitive and may make Korean people uncomfortable These include sharp objects, such as knives, because these items symbolise ‘cutting ties’ and this is the opposite of what you want to do when giving a gift.

Gifts in sets of four and cards written in red ink are also inappropriate in Korea because the number 4 and red ink both symbolise death. Red wrapping paper isn’t a good idea.

Don’t spend too much on a gift. Expensive gifts place a burden on the receiver to gift back a similarly expensive gift and might make them feel bad if they can’t match the cost of the gift.

Manners When Speaking Korean

This final Korean cultural consideration is one that will become apparent when you start to learn Korean or live in Korea – how to speak Korean without being rude.

The Korean language has been heavily influenced by Confucian values and social hierarchies, resulting in different forms of speech for different people within society.

The Korean language has 3 different forms – informal, formal, and respectful.

Informal and formal Korean, are mostly the same, with different conjugations to show varying levels of respect. Usually, the shorter the word ending, the less formal it is.

The respectful form is reserved for elders and superiors at work or in society. It’s also used by businesses and shops to show respect towards customers.

The respectful form of the language has unique vocabulary that you’ll need to learn. For example, the word ‘name’ is 이름 (i-reum) in informal and formal Korean, but is 성함 (seong-ham) in respectful Korean.

Here are the two forms of the verb ‘eat’ in informal, formal, and respectful Korean:

• Informal – 먹어 (meog-eo)
• Formal – 먹어요 (meog-eo-yo)
• Respectful – 드세요 (deu-se-yo)

As a tourist who might only know a few basic Korean travel phrases, you don’t need to worry too much about which form you use. However, if you want to learn Korean to live in Korea, you’ll definitely need to be aware that using the informal form of Korean with elders or superiors will be considered rude. If in doubt, use the most polite form you know.

Two Korean honorific titles that can help you show respect to strangers are -님 (-nim) and -씨 (-sshi). Nim is added to someone’s job title. Sshi is added to someone’s name and works like Mr. or Mrs. in English. You can add sshi to the first or last name.

If you’re interested in learning Korean and knowing more about the difference between the 3 types of language, I would recommend the Inner Circle Course With 90 Day Korean. You can get personalised feedback from tutors and lots of support and materials to help you learn Korean more efficiently.

Essential Korean Culture Insights

To appreciate these Korean etiquette rules, it is necessary to understand some basic principles about Korean culture and how it is different from other cultures.

There are 4 main aspects of Korean culture that have helped to shape and define etiquette, customs, and manners in Korea:

• Group Harmony
• Respect for Elders
• The Concept of Face
• Nationalism

These 4 key points only touch the surface of Korean culture, but should give you a basic introduction into what makes Korea so unique.

If you’d like a deeper insight into life in Korea, and some of the challenges and benefits you can experience, check out my article about Expat Life In Korea.

Group Harmony Vs. Individual Needs

The teachings of Confucius, a Chinese philosopher who lived around 2,500 years ago, have had a noticeable effect on Korean society since his descendants moved to Korea in the 14th Century.

Today, many morals and values in Korean society have the mark of Confucius, who promoted societal harmony, compassion, and empathy above individual needs and wants. So much so that Korea is known as the most Confucian country in the world.

I won’t give a detailed explanation of Confucian values, but it’s important to know that he believed people should put others before themselves. You can see this in the kindness towards friends and strangers in Korea, as well as in work environments where conflict is avoided at all costs.

People who disrupt the group harmony with their individual issues might be frowned upon. There is a saying that the nail that stands up gets hammered down. This helps create a harmonious society, but it can also cause problems for individualistic personalities.

As a traveller, this shouldn’t be an issue for you, but it’s important to know about so you can understand these Korean etiquette rules.

Respect For Your Elders

As with many cultures, respect goes upwards in age. This means that older people are respected more than younger ones. Due to Confucian teachings, age is even more important in Korean society.

Age in Korea can dictate the way you act or behave to someone, who gets to get on the subway first, who eats dinner first, and even who pays for meals when you’re out.

You might be asked your age so that people can figure out where you fit in the hierarchy. People will want to know what they can call you and if they should use certain language when talking to you. Therefore, you shouldn’t be surprised if this question comes up a few times. It can be shocking to be asked your age, especially if this is considered rude in your own country.

Although age and respect for the elderly are still an important part of Korean culture, there are also issues related to elderly poverty and the neglect of elderly parents by their children. If you’ve watched Squid Game, you might know what I’m talking about.

When you visit Korea, try to treat elders with respect, as I hope you would do anyway.

Kibun, Nunchi & Face

If you want to understand some of the more subtle aspects of Korean culture and etiquette, it’s useful to know a bit about kibun and nunchi. These will really help you avoid upsetting people unintentionally.

Kibun has no direct translation in English, but is a mixture of someone’s pride, face, dignity mood, feelings, and state of mind. When you attack or hurt someone’s kibun, you cause them to lose face. This reflects badly on that person within Korean society.

As mentioned, Korean society is based on group harmony, which involves mutual trust and respect. In order to protect this harmony, you should be aware of other people’s kibun, even if that means telling a small lie or doing something you’re not comfortable with.

Nunchi is the ability to determine someone’s mood and to know what needs to be done in order to avoid damaging their kibun. This is basically the ability to maintain peace within society. You can achieve nunchi by looking at other people’s body language and listening to how they speak. Even if someone doesn’t directly tell you something, they could be subtly suggesting it.

Kibun and nunchi are hard concepts to grasp and if you’re visiting Korea, don’t worry about them much. It’s useful to consider that people may agree to do things they’re uncomfortable with for the sake of maintaining kibun, or they may try to avoid conflicts at any cost.

Nationalism Is Strong In South Korea

Korea has a high level of nationalism and people take pride in their country and national symbols, such as the Taegugki (national flag). Part of the reason for this stems from a history of battling between stronger, larger neighbours (Japan and China), as well as the ongoing conflict with North Korea.

Without covering the whole of Korean history, nationalism has been promoted to reinforce Korea’s national pride and unique identity. Having been occupied by Japan until 1945, the consequences of which were quite severe, Korea has worked hard to make its place in the world and to regain national pride.

Now, Koreans can be proud of their growing economic, cultural, and sporting achievements on the world stage. If you want to make friends in Korea, it’s always good to point out these achievements

Learn More About Korean Culture

If you’ve enjoyed this article about Korean etiquette, culture, and manners and want to know more about Korean culture, then check out some of my other articles.

South Korean Cultural Facts: Discover 50 amazing facts about Korean culture, offering insights into the history or Korea, Korean people, Korean nature, and more.

Unique Korean Experiences: Create an unforgettable Korean bucket list with these 50 uniquely Korean experiences and activities.

I strongly encourage you to check out some translated Korean novels, too. These are excellent ways to not only learn about Korean culture in an interesting way, but to also discover more subtle, hidden aspects of life in Korea. Try applying the etiquette tips covered in this article when you read them, too.

Korean Etiquette FAQs

Finally, here are a few FAQs about Korean etiquette, culture, and manners, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you.

Support In My Korea

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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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One of the joys of living in Korea is spotting the strange, unusual, and often confusing images and words that are meant to entice people in, but might actually put you off.

From sexy eels, to befuddling ‘Konglish’ phrases, these funny Korean pictures, signs, and images will show you a different side to Korea.

Take a look at the best of the Konglish and bad Korean translations that I’ve collected since 2015 and let me know which one you liked the most.

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

About Konglish And These Funny Korean Signs

Before looking at these 70 funny Korean signs, I want to very quickly explain what Konglish is.

Konglish is a portmanteau of Korean and English. It describes English words with funny spelling mistakes, translations, or sometimes completely new words in English.

The picture above is a good example of Konglish. Narcotics are something we’d associate with drug use and wouldn’t be something you’d add to your hotdogs (I’d hope!).

In Korea, the expression is meant to suggest that it’s addictive, something you can’t resist. Therefore, narcotic hotdogs are irresistible, addictive hotdogs.

Skinship is another example. It’s a combination of skin (touching) and friendship that describes friendly, close physical contact between two people.

Konglish is also used to describe nonsense sentences that have been really badly translated. You’ll definitely find a lot of these funny Korean signs with this form of Konglish.

In fact, some of these pictures you probably won’t understand at all.

Warning: Some of these pictures might not be safe for work / children.

There are lots of different types of funny Korean signs, so I’ll break these down into different categories, such as warning signs, Korean shop signs, Korean translation mistakes, Konglish fashion, and suchlike.

Korean Safety Signs You Should Avoid

Korea is a very safe country, but there are times when emergencies happen and you need to know what to do. Unfortunately, these funny Korean signs show that you can’t always trust the advice you see.

Of course, some of the advice is very helpful, especially the one about how to use a toilet. I was struggling a lot before I saw that…

1: How To Use A Toilet In Korea

You can find these signs in many parts of East Asia where squat toilets were traditionally used instead of seated toilets. I wonder how many people were actually using them as you see in the picture above?

2: Clothes Cause COVID?

I’m not sure how being naked will stop the spread of COVID-19, but whatever you say, Korean sign. Got to follow the rules for public safety!

3: Panic At The Disco

This is a sign demonstrating safety measures during an earthquake. Something you definitely don’t want to do would be to calm down. It’s better to rush around and panic, right?

4: The Toilet Is Painful!

Toilets are a tricky issue in Korea, something that might confuse some and cause problems for all. And sometimes the toilet will hurt you if you don’t put the tissues and wet towels in the bin. You’ve been warned!

5: Hurry Up And Flush

There’s no time to waste in balli-balli (hurry, hurry) Korean society. You’ve got to rush that toilet paper as it is. Don’t waste your toilet time folding it up nicely.

6: Pregnancy Is Not Allowed!

No wonder the birth rate in Korea is so low with signs like this claiming that women aren’t allowed to be pregnant! Actually, this was a warning sign to forbid pregnant women from travelling on a certain train, but the English translation from Korean doesn’t quite work.

7: Only Leave Your Troubles In The Toilet

I’ll talk about the No! Smoking! sign soon, but more worrying than the extra punctuation is why (and how) you’d leave your troubles in the toilet. You’re meant to drown your sorrows… but I’m not sure a toilet is the right place for that!

8: Trouser Elephant?

Saw this in a men’s toilet at a hotel on Jeju Island. I’m not sure what they were asking or reminding me to do with this sign. Make sure I don’t leave the toilet naked? Don’t worry, there were no elephants (or snakes) on display that day.

9: Do Not Use Outsiders

Expats in Korea (like myself) don’t like to be used, and I’m glad to see someone has made a nice sign to tell others not to. If you want to use outsiders, you’ll have to go somewhere else.

10: God Won’t Let Me Poop!

This is a sign in Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan. I’m not sure what kind of culture this funny Korean sign is trying to introduce, but it looks like a sad story for whoever can’t poop.

11: No Smorking!

I’m sure you can guess what this Konglish sign is trying to tell you not to do, but the added ‘r’ makes it sound like there might be something else that you can ‘smork’. Maybe it’s the name of a Scandinavian rock group?

12: No! Do That!?

A common confusing Korean translation mistake that you’ll see a lot comes from using English punctuation. This Korean sign should be very clear, but the ! after no makes it sound like this is a smoking area…

13: No! Let’s Have A Drink!

The wild punctuation is back again in this anti-drinking Korean sign. Again, stop what you’re doing and start drinking! That’s an order.

14: Watch Out For The Headman!

One thing I love about Konglish signs is that they often have some very strange word choices. This is usually because they’ve used Google to translate their signs or they learnt English from classic English novels. Either way, be sure not to trifle on the bridge with the children or the headman will be after you!

15: Cable Car Safety Advice – Don’t Scream!

These two safety signs are from the N Seoul Tower Cable Cara nd are packed with unusual Korean translations and Konglish. I love the use of terms such as ‘befuddlers’, you don’t hear that word enough. Also, please refrain from screaming, singing, or ‘clamping’ in the cable car. How many times did this happen that they had to make a sign?

16: Watch Out For Cliff!

I don’t know if this Konglish sign is meant to be a warning or a challenge. Should you approach the cliff, slide over the edge, and then let go? Whatever you do, make sure you walk slowly (or fall slowly?).

17: Warning – Do This?

You can see this sign at Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in Busan. It’s surprising to see such Konglish at a popular tourist destination. I assume leaning is not recommended, but the double negative instructions seem to imply you should give it a go.

Funny Konglish Fashion Fails

One of the most common places to find random English words is in a clothes shop. Whether you’re in a department store, or browsing one of the many fun traditional markets in Korea, you’ll probably find one or two examples of Konglish.

There are a lot of other hilarious slogans and messages on Korean clothing that I wish I’d been able to take pictures of.

Sadly, it would have seemed very strange to walk up to random Koreans to ask for a picture of their Konglish clothing…

Still, I managed to get a few, and here they are.

Warning: Some of these are not safe for work / children. Korean fashion has no limits and there can be some rude words used.

18: Are You Feeling Thoughful?

Even though I use though a lot, can I really be said to be thoughful? Full of though? There are countless Konglish slogans like this on jumpers and t-shirts in Korea – some random word pairings, others made up words that were probably meant to be others.

19: Don’t Hide Your Feelings!

I wonder what goes on in the mind of Korean fashion designers. Was this intentional, or did they simply take some random words from English without considering their meaning (which often happens). Not the rudest Korean fashion fail I’ve seen, but one you might not want to wear to a family dinner.

20: What’s That Smell?

This isn’t so a Konglish mistake, but it’s certainly a very weird expression to have on a jumper. I don’t know if it’s a reference to the 2019 Brockhampton song, but fans might want to pick up one of these bright tops.

21: The Worst Kind Of Story

Having a bad spot day and don’t want to talk about it? Then wear this lovely jumper and it’ll explain it all. The word ‘story’ is used so much in Korean shop signs as a way to create some kind of persona to whatever it is they’re selling. I assume. In my apartment there’s a ‘tax and coffee story’… which doesn’t sound like a fun story!

22: Only For Maniacs!

Another word that’s misinterpreted a lot in Konglish is ‘maniac’ (as well as ‘holic’). I think Koreans translate it as someone who is enthusiastic about something, but in English we’d see it as someone who’s a bit too mad for something! No idea what the rest of this Konglish fashion fail means though…

23: Hats Off For These Korean Fashion Fails

It’s so easy to sell baseball caps in Korea. Make a hat, write something weird in English on it and people will snap it up. It doesn’t matter that Korean kids are going around with swearwords on top of their head at all…

24: Not A Child-Friendly Activity

This is the name of a clothing brand in Korea, not a suggestion for what to do with naughty children. I hope.

25: Only For Porkies?

I’ve no idea who chose the name for this large chain of children’s clothing and whether they thought about the meaning behind the word porky. Porky, as you’d imagine, usually suggests someone is a bit of a pig, or greedy. Is this their target market?

26: What a Knobskin!

I spotted this sign years ago in Hongdae in Seoul and I think it was a streetwear shop. Which doesn’t explain the name at all! Knobskin translates to ‘an annoying or frustrating person, somebody who is useless.’ on Urban Dictionary. However, the literal meaning is the skin of… something an eel might help you grow. Want to buy clothes there?

27: Man Chesta United?

This shop owner seems to be embracing foreign culture and decided to name their shop after the famous English city. Perhaps it was in tribute to Park Ji-Sung‘s time at Manchester United? Unfortunately, it looks like the owner didn’t actually own an official shirt with the correct spelling of Manchester on it.

28: A Story Of Youth

Another example of a Korean fashion store using ‘story’. This time, it’s for emos and goths? Yes! It’s a young emotional story that makes you feel the Konglish. Also, no idea why there’s a random apostrophe at the end.

29: Millenium Spirit From Hazzy’s

I don’t know if any other Brit’s have seen Hazzy’s clothes around before, but their signs don’t have the dignity and formality they think they do. This funny Konglish sign is what you’ll see when you enter their store.

30: Do You Need An Old People Stick?

Found this hiking in Seoraksan National Park. The mountains can be tough so be sure to take an old people stick with you! A walking stick, but only for old people, I assume?

31: Cream For The Ladies Only

Seen in Gunsan, this (I assume) is a ladies fashion store that doesn’t sell men’s clothing. It’s a story. A story of cream that’s for the ladies only. Unfortunately, my dirty mind finds this amusing for the wrong reasons.

Konglish Food Signs & Menus

The next selection of Konglish signs can be found on food packets, restaurant signs, and on descriptions which may put you off eating what it’s describing.

Literal translations of Korean dishes are often funny, and you’ll see them on menus all the time. Sometimes the mistake when choosing between certain letters (such as r/l) can leave you very confused, too.

These funny Korean pictures are from across Korea and will show you there’s some very strange translating going on.

32: Cold-Hearted Wife?

The first part of this Korean sign seems quite harmless for an ice cream shop. However, when you add in a bride, things get weird. I saw this in Gyeongju recently and no one seemed to think it strange. In fact, there’s a picture zone to have your photo taken next to their sign and the frozen wife-to-be.

33: Have A What Meal?

I’m glad to see that this restaurant is trying to use English in its menu, but they might want to check for Konglish mistakes. Enjoying your meal is better than having a nice meal. Perhaps they want to make your dining experience even more special.

34: Let’s Adverb Each Other!

This is a mess of English found on a cafe in Haeundae in Busan. How do you adverb someone? Why would you want to adverb each other? At least they want us to do it together. Our!

35: Embracing Konglish Fails

One common error when translating English to Korean is using the wrong vowels. The Korean word for hotdog sounds more like hatdog. And it looks like this shop in Cheongju has embraced this to make a great Konglish sign by putting hats on the hotdog sausages. I really appreciate this type of Konglish humour. If only they were dogs though…

36: All You Need To Do Is Stay Clam!

Embracing British style at this rock bar in Cheongju is great. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like they want you to stay calm. Instead, you should stay clam… which might not be a good thing for a bar as it would be difficult for you to have a drink.

37: I’m Pine Thank You!

This is actually a great pun and a good way to use Konglish to sell ice creams and practice English. The Korean at the top says ‘I’m pine’ instead of ‘I’m fine’. That’s because it’s a pineapple flavoured ice cream.

38: What Is Love?

Unlike the previous funny Korean sign, the writer of this sign doesn’t seem to have an inkling of how to write English. In Korean this sign would make sense, as L and R are represented by the same letter. The Korean spelling of burger is buh-guh, so you can see why they’d miss the first ‘r’. Still, no love for this sign.

39: Thank You Berry Nuts

Another great Konglish pun that actually works well as it’s for a box of nuts that you can gift to other people. Saw this before Chuseok, one of Korea’s biggest holidays where harvest goods, such as nuts, are often given.

40: Trust Me, I’m A Bartender

This must be a safe place to have a drink in Seoul for those who enjoy alcohol a bit too much. Trust your bartender, they’ll look after you and give you your favourite drinks.

41: What A Load Of Crap!

A classic example of Korean translation fails here where a single wrong letter completely changes the meaning of the word. The letters P and B are often confused in Korean as they’re very similar. Unfortunately, a crap salad sounds a lot less appetising than a crab salad!

42: Aggressive Cabbage

It looks like this supermarket used a translation app for this red cabbage and ended up with another funny Korean translation fail. I tried entering it into Google translate and it came up with ‘red sheep cabbage’. Be careful relying on translation apps…

43: Unappealing Combination

I can see what they’re trying to do here. It’s a waffle that’s awesome. Great! But mixing those words together is just… awful!

44: Deep Pain Pizza?

I’ve lived in Korea long enough to accept squid ink in doughy goods, but pain is something I’m not down with. Is this a Konglish translation from pain, the French word for bread?

45: No Time To Waste!

Can you imagine casual swearing on shop signs in English speaking countries? Maybe it’s something that should be embraced. It certainly attracts attention.

46: What’s A Soft Potato?

Located in Daejeon, this place seems to be a bar but is selling ‘soft potato’, too. Is this a way to introduce mashed potato into the Korean bar scene? Are they a new kind of potato? Who knows?

47: Are You A Spicy Taste Maniac?

Another example of maniac being used instead of an enthusiast. Although, these wasabi flavoured green peas were very spicy, so you would probably have to be a maniac to eat them!

48: How Are You, Sandwich?

This was actually a special sandwich offered in Starbucks, who appreciate the Korean love of English and Konglish. There seems to be no reason why this sandwich would be named like this except for the image of ‘foreignness’ that it brings. Weird.

49: Don’t Touch My Sack!

I’ve never seen anyone so possessive about their sack. Perhaps the snack food is there to tempt you away from their sack? Or perhaps they meant to write ‘saek’ (색) but didn’t translate it properly? Whatever happened, it’s probably best not to ask to borrow their sack.

50: I Really Lobe You!

Just one simple letter really changes the meaning of a sentence. This is a common mistake in Korean signs due to the fact that there is no ‘v’ in the Korean alphabet. Unfortunately, this means that you might end up putting beer in your ear lobes… which is a very wasteful way to enjoy beer! I found this funny Korean sign at a bar in Daejeon.

51: Eely Good For Something

This sign made me do a double take when I first saw it. I thought the eel was lifting weights with his hands… until I looked more closely. If you’re not aware, eating eel is meant to be good for boosting your ‘sexual energy‘ (like oysters). You can probably work out just how effective it is from the picture.

52: Doing It On The Table

I think this shop is trying to imply that they are making something lovely just for you, but instead we end up with a great Konglish fail where a very different meaning is presented. Or maybe it’s a very naughty cafe?

53: Good Job!

It’s nice to see an encouraging Korean sign in English for once. It was indeed a rough day and I did a good job. Thanks!

54: What Kind Of Chicken Is This?

I was surprised by this place when I first visited Korea in 2012. Ho Chicken (and Ho bar) are a popular chain of chicken shops that, for some dirty-minded westerners, seems to be rather suggestive. Maybe they want it to seem merry, like Christmas?

55: I Will Find You…

This Korean sign, from a food truck near Cheonggyecheon Stream, gets on the list because it made me giggle for a different reason. Liam Neeson fans will probably recognise the mis-TAKEN quote here. It makes me wonder, though. Who will be doing the finding and eating? That bull looks pretty angry!

56: Extra Ink, Hold The Cream Cheese

This is from California (my local bakery, not the state) and is one of many examples of very ‘creative’ English that they use to describe their baked goods. I’m really happy they’re trying to make it easier for foreigners to buy delicious foods, but this Konglish sign left me confused.

The ink in this bread is squid ink, which you can find in bread, pizza dough, and other places where you need to make something black. Squid ink is okay, but with cream cheese bread? Are they serious? I wonder what the other version without cream cheese bread is like?

Funny Korean Translations & Other Signs

Finally, this last collection of Konglish signs, pictures, and other images shows how confusing and humorous life in Korea can be as an English speaker.

From random Korean street signs, to Konglish textbooks, shop names, and badly designed adverts, there are so many great examples of Konglish fails to enjoy.

57: Only A Bitch For Summer

Even large corporations like Lotte can make massive Konglish fails when trying to spell English words. This advert for a summer ‘beach’ festival had a lot of foreigners laughing and hopefully taught Lotte about the problems of Korean translation mistakes!

58: What Are You Suggesting?

This innocent looking arcade machine with children’s toys has an interesting collection of English words that used together become quite suggestive…

59: Fun Time With Maths?

These next two Konglish fails come from Daiso, a discount store that offers so many hilarious Korean translation fails. This is a very unusual passage to include when trying to encourage your children to learn maths. And who thinks studying maths is a fun time? Haha.

60: The Struggles Of An English Teacher

I spent 5 years teaching English in Korea with EPIK and I’ve seen some inspiring and wonderful uses of the English language. Learning a language is an uphill struggle and seeing ‘English’ exercise books like this just makes me want to face palm. Hellow?

61: Opne Your Hearts & Make Korea Great Again

I actually bought the ‘Make Korea Great Again’ notepad for a laugh, but it’s the other common Korean misspelling that confuses me. ‘Open’ is a word you’ll find on every shop or cafe in Korea, and yet it’s sometimes written as ‘opne’ by mistake.

The designers managed to get so many other words right, but how come Korea struggles with open? Come on! Make Korea great again by fighting against these Konglish mistakes.

62: Just Give Up…

This massage shop in Myeongdong is probably not too worried about using English, but they could have asked one of the many foreigners in the area to check if this sign was right.

63: What’s That Smell?

What’s the worst image you want to give people when going to a hair stylist? People with hair on fire? Probably. I wouldn’t know as I shave my head. But choosing a name like this is a massive fail for this chain of hair stylists. They’re not on fire with this Konglish.

64: Football Club Korea It!

Firstly, I’m happy that Koreans are calling football by its proper name (not soccer, not sorry), but why choose this acronym to describe your team? I wonder how many fans have that tattooed on their arm? Maybe they should refer to themselves as the Korean Football Club.

Talking of dodgy TLA (three-letter acronym) choices, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) changed its name a few years ago. No idea why.

65: Your Days Are Numbered, English!

I find it deliciously ironic that this sign for an after school academy teaching English should provide an example of a Konglish fail. This is close to where I live in Daejeon and I’m always worried that someone is looking down as I pass, waiting to terminate me!

66: The Happy Zelkova

Zelkova trees are lovely and you can see them when you’re out hiking in Korea, but I’m not sure that I’ve ever heard them hum. I’ve certainly never seen one smiling at me, either. But that doesn’t matter. This is another example of random English words and expressions that get added to Korean signs for no apparent reason.

67: We Are Still Making Mistakes!

Ubuntu is a nice philosophy, one that’s usually translated as “I am, because you are”, and I can’t fault them too much for the capital letter, but I wish they’d checked with an English copywriter before writing it.

68: Push Or Pull?

These door signs at a shop at Deogyusan National Park in Muju are very confusing. I don’t know if I’m coming or going!

69: Let’s Get Bussy!

I don’t know if Koreans know what ‘BJ’ can also mean, but it’s probably not something that should be associated with business. Or Bussiness…

70: Faulty Goods?

You should probably nun-chuck this in the bin (sorry) as it’s damaged. Or so the Konglish sign on the package tells you. This has so much Konglish I was tempted to buy it and read it every day. I would use it carefully and not aggressively towards people. Unfortunately, I don’t have a shady and management to store it in. Too bad.

How To Avoid Making Language Mistakes

If you’re worried about making your own language mistakes when coming to Korea, then why not brush up on your Korean before you arrive by learning some useful Korean phrases before you travel.

These two articles will help you learn some basic phrases for travelling around Korea and when ordering food. First is my list of 60 Basic Korean Phrases – useful in all situations. Next I have a guide dedicated to eating out and features Korean Food Phrases. And if you’re worried about making Korean cultural faux pas, then be sure to learn these Korean etiquette secrets with my Korean Etiquette Guide.

Of course, the best way to avoid language mistakes is with a guided Korean course, such as the one I’m learning Korean with – 90 Day Korean Course.

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Expat Life In Korea

Of course, there’s a lot more to it than that. Living in Korea as an expat and not knowing the language is definitely possible, but there are times when you’ll be left speechless and struggling.

Find out how far a basic knowledge of Korean will take you, as I show with examples from my own personal experience of living in Korea since 2015. Did I quickly learn Korean to live in Korea more easily? Ahem… Read on to find out the answer. You might also pick up a few basic Korean phrases and realise you know more Korean than you thought!

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

Should You Learn Korean To Live In Korea?

Do you need to learn Korean to live in Korea?

No.

That’s my conclusion after living in Korea for 6 years and seeing plenty of other expats getting by just fine but not being able to hold a conversation in the local language.

Learning Korean will make your social life richer, increase job opportunities, and help you in so many situations.

Should you learn Korean to live in Korea?

Absolutely.

Learning Korean when you live in Korea will open up so many doors for you and make your social life richer, increase your job opportunities, and help you in so many day-to-day situations.

There are many situations where you’ll absolutely need to speak Korean or have a very kind Korean friend to help you.

At the very least you should know hangul (the Korean alphabet) and some basic Korean phrases if you want to travel to Korea or live here.

Whilst there are many reasons that you don’t have to learn Korean to live in Korea, there are also many situations where you’ll absolutely need to speak Korean or have a very kind Korean friend to help you. I’ll list some of these later on in this article.

Before I talk about why and how you should learn Korean to live in Korea now or in the future, I want to share my own story and my experience learning Korean in Korea.