Basic Korean for Travelers: Discover the simplest writing system in the world.

What kind of language is Korean?

Busan

Before diving into useful phrases, it's valuable to understand the nature of Korean. For a traveler, this isn't just an academic curiosity; it helps prepare your ear and mind for what's to come. Korean is considered a language isolate . This means that, unlike Spanish, which belongs to the Indo-European language family, Korean has no proven genealogical relationship with any other language group. It remains unique, distinct even from its close neighbors like Chinese (from the Sino-Tibetan family) or Japanese (from the Japonic family).

One of the most noticeable differences, and perhaps the first obstacle for a Spanish speaker, is sentence structure. While Spanish follows a Subject-Verb-Object order (for example, "Yo como banano"), Korean rigidly follows a Subject-Object-Verb structure. Thus, the same sentence would be constructed as "Yo banano como." The verb always comes at the end. Furthermore, Korean is an agglutinative language. This means that it constructs sentences and expresses grammatical relationships (such as tense, mood, and subject) by adding various suffixes and particles to the root of a word. This may sound complex, and it is for achieving fluency, but for a traveler's purposes, focusing on keywords and simple phrases is more than sufficient.

Where is Korean spoken?

Seoul

Korean is the official language of both South Korea (Republic of Korea) and North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea). There are minor differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar between the northern and southern standards, primarily due to decades of separation, but they are essentially mutually intelligible. Outside the peninsula, you'll find significant and vibrant Korean communities in various corners of the world. In China, specifically in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, Korean is one of the official languages. There are also large diasporas in Japan, the United States, Canada, and increasingly, in Latin American countries. This makes learning a few words not only useful for your trip to Korea but also a way to connect with the culture in the most unexpected places.

Hangeul(한글):

This is the name of the Korean alphabet, and it is famous for being one of the most scientific and logical writing systems ever created. Its history is fascinating. Before the 15th century, Korea used classical Chinese characters for writing, an extremely complex and elitist system that kept the common people from accessing education. In 1443, King Sejong the Great took it upon himself to promote mass literacy and commissioned his scholars to invent a new system. He declared, “A wise man can become familiar with them (the characters) before the morning is over; a stupid man can learn them in the space of ten days.” And he wasn't exaggerating. Hangeul consists of only 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels, which are combined into square “syllable blocks.” Each block represents a syllable.

Why is this an advantage for you as a traveler? Because even if you don't understand the meaning of a single Korean word, learning to read Hangeul is a task you can accomplish in an afternoon . This seemingly small skill is incredibly liberating. Suddenly, a menu full of incomprehensible symbols becomes words you can hear and read. A sign on the subway ceases to be an abstract scribble and transforms into a station you can pronounce. You'll be able to recognize loanwords like 커피 ( keopi - coffee), 아이스크림 ( aiseukeurim - ice cream), 호텔 ( hotel - hotel), or even iconic dishes like 김치 ( kimchi ), 불고기 ( bulgogi ), or 비빔밥 ( bibimbap ). This ability to decipher your surroundings transforms a confusing landscape into a legible one, making your experience infinitely richer, more independent, and immersive.

Learning to read: A practical example

Let's take a word you know: "banana." In Korean, it's a loanword and is written 바나나. Let's break it down:

1. The first syllable is 바. It is composed of the consonant ㅂ (which sounds like a soft 'b') and the vowel ㅏ (which sounds like the 'a' in "father"). Together they form the sound "ba".

2. The second syllable is 나. It uses the consonant ㄴ (which sounds like 'n') and the same vowel ㅏ ('a'). They form "na".

3. The third syllable is again 나 ("na").

By putting the syllable blocks together, we get 바 + 나 + 나 = 바나나 (ba-na-na). You just read "banana" in Korean! Applying this same principle to menus and signs will open up a world of possibilities.

Essential phrases for your trip

Armed with the ability to read, you can now supplement with key phrases.

Greetings and basic courtesies:

Hello (formal): Annyeonghaseyo (안녕하세요). Use this with almost everyone, especially with older people or in shops.

Hello (informal): Annyeong (안녕). To friends or much younger people.

Thank you: Gamsahmnida (감사합니다). The safest and most formal way.

Thank you (casual): Gomawo (고마워). With friends or in very informal contexts.

Yes: Ne (네). It is also often used as "Yes?" or "Can you hear me?" in a conversation.

No: Aniyo (아니요). It also works as a polite "No, thank you."

To request prices:

How much does this cost?: Igeo eolmaeyo? (이거 얼마예요?). Point to the item you want and say this phrase. The answer will most likely be shown to you on a calculator screen.

A crucial note on numbers and prices

Korean Won

This point is vital to avoid confusion. You might learn that the number 3 is sam (삼) and 1,000 is cheon (천). However, it's nearly impossible to find anything that costs 3 won. Korea experienced high inflation decades ago, so the value of its currency, the won (₩), is quite low today. A bottle of water easily costs around 1,500 won. A meal at a typical restaurant costs around 8,000 to 12,000 won. Therefore, it's absolutely essential that you understand the Korean number system.

10,000: man (만)

100,000: simman (십만) - which literally means "ten-ten-thousands" (10 x 10,000).

When a vendor at a market tells you something costs "o-man won" (오만원), they mean ₩50,000 (5 x 10,000). Understanding this system isn't just helpful; it's essential for any real-world transaction, from shopping at a traditional market to paying a taxi driver. Combining your ability to read numbers in Hangeul with knowledge of these units will give you complete independence when managing your budget.

Mastering fluent Korean takes years, but no one expects that of you. Your goal as a traveler is different: it's to acquire the tools to navigate, connect, and enjoy life more deeply. Learning to read Hangeul and a few crucial phrases is that tool. It transforms you from a passive observer into an active participant in your own Korean adventure. So, take that afternoon before your trip, study the Hangeul characters, and you'll see how a whole new world of flavors, directions, and smiles unfolds before you.