← Getting Around Korea

Asking & Giving Directions

길 묻기와 알려주기

Textbook실례합니다, 명동역이 어디에 있습니까?sil-rye-hap-ni-da, myeong-dong-yeok-i eo-di-e it-seup-ni-kka?Excuse me, where is Myeongdong station?
Real저기요, 명동역 어디예요?jeo-gi-yo, myeong-dong-yeok eo-di-ye-yo?Hey, where's Myeongdong station?🏷️ Any casual setting
📺 In context
저기요 replaces 실례합니다 in 99% of street conversations. 어디예요? is all you need. Point in a direction and add 이쪽이에요? (this way?) for confirmation.
Direction words
직진Go straight
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좌회전/우회전Turn left / Turn right
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왼쪽/오른쪽Left side / Right side
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건너편Across the street
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골목Alley
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사거리Four-way intersection
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횡단보도Crosswalk
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○○ 옆에 / 앞에 / 뒤에Next to / In front of / Behind ○○
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Understanding Korean directions
쭉 가시면 왼쪽에 있어요Go straight and it's on the left
이 길 따라서 쭉 가세요Follow this road straight ahead
사거리에서 우회전하세요Turn right at the intersection
GS25 지나서 골목으로 들어가세요Pass the GS25 and go into the alley
걸어서 5분 거리예요It's a 5-minute walk
Koreans give directions using landmarks (편의점, 은행, 카페) more than street names. 'GS25 옆에' makes more sense to Koreans than 'OO로 123번길.'
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If you ask directions in Korea, there's a 50% chance the person will just walk you there. Don't be surprised or feel bad — it's Korean kindness culture. Say 감사합니다! 여기서 찾을 수 있어요 (Thanks! I can find it from here) if you want to release them.

Quick Quiz