People walking along a narrow Seoul street lined with Korean shop signs at sunset
An evening walk through Seoul. Photo: Robson Hatsukami Morgan

Keep the question simple

Ask where a place is, rather than trying to describe your whole route. “지하철역이 어디예요?” asks where the subway station is.

Use a written destination

Keep the Korean place name visible on your phone. Names that sound similar can refer to different places.

Ask again when you need to

“천천히 말씀해 주세요” asks someone to speak slowly. “감사합니다” is a polite way to thank them.

Know where to find travel help

The Korea Tourism Organization’s 1330 service offers travel information by phone and real-time chat, with tourist interpretation also available. Check the official service page for access details.