🛫 Travel Korean at the Airport — Beginner Level (TOPIK 1–2)

Airport Korean expressions — scene: traveler at Incheon departure board with suitcase, checking flight information before flying

Flying to or from Korea soon? With just a few easy Korean phrases, you can survive check-in, security, immigration, and baggage claim without panic. ✈️

이 글에서는 공항에서 꼭 필요한 초급 여행 한국어 표현을 한 번에 정리해 드릴게요. 인천공항 기준이지만, 다른 공항에서도 그대로 쓸 수 있어요.

Updated for Beginner (TOPIK 1–2) learners · Hangul + Romanization + English included.

🎯 Learning Goal

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Use simple Korean at the check-in counter (passport, bags, seat).
Answer basic questions at security and immigration.
Ask about your gate and baggage claim in natural Korean.
Understand key airport words you’ll see on signs and announcements.

🗣️ Key Airport Vocabulary

First, learn the most important words you’ll see and hear at the airport.

Korean	Romanization (RR)	English
체크인 카운터	chekeu-in kaunteo	check-in counter
여권	yeogwon	passport
탑승권 / 보딩패스	tapseunggwŏn / bodingpaeseu	boarding pass
탑승구	tapseunggu	boarding gate
수하물	suhamul	checked baggage
기내 반입	ginae banip	carry-on
보안 검색	boan geomsaek	security check
입국 심사	ipguk simsa	immigration (entry check)
세관	segwan	customs
수하물 찾는 곳	suhamul chatneun got	baggage claim

Tip: At Incheon Airport, signs are in Korean and English, so matching these words will help you read faster.

✈️ Useful Airport Expressions (Beginner-Friendly)

Use these short sentences in real situations.

1) At the check-in counter

체크인하려고요.
chekeu-in haryeogoyo — I’d like to check in.
여권 여기 있어요.
yeogwon yeogi isseoyo — Here is my passport.
창가 좌석 주세요.
changga jwaseok juseyo — Window seat, please.
수하물 한 개 맡길게요.
suhamul han gae matgilgeyo — I’ll check one bag.

2) At security & immigration

벨트랑 노트북 빼야 돼요?
belteurang noteubuk bbae-ya dwaeyo? — Do I have to take off my belt and take out my laptop?
여행 목적은 관광이에요.
yeohaeng mokjeogeun gwangwang-ieyo — The purpose of my trip is tourism.
며칠 있을 거예요?
myeochil isseul geoyeyo? — How many days will you stay?

3) At the gate & baggage claim

탑승구가 어디예요?
tapseunggu-ga eodi-yeyo? — Where is the boarding gate?
수하물 찾는 곳이 어디예요?
suhamul chatneun gosi eodi-yeyo? — Where is the baggage claim?
제 짐이 안 나왔어요.
je jimi an nawasseoyo — My baggage didn’t come out.

💬 Practice Dialogue — At the Check-in Counter

Read, listen, and repeat. Follow the order: 한국어 → Romanization → English.

A = Passenger, B = Staff

A: 체크인하려고요.
chekeu-in haryeogoyo
— I’d like to check in.

B: 여권이랑 탑승권 주세요.
yeogwonirang tapseunggwon juseyo
— Please give me your passport and ticket.

A: 창가 좌석 가능해요?
changga jwaseok ganeunghaeyo?
— Is a window seat possible?

B: 네, 가능합니다. 수하물 있으세요?
ne, ganeunghamnida. suhamul isseuseyo?
— Yes, it’s possible. Do you have any bags to check?

A: 수하물 한 개 맡길게요.
suhamul han gae matgilgeyo
— I’ll check one bag.

B: 여기 탑승권이랑 여권 돌려 드릴게요.
yeogi tapseunggwonirang yeogwon doll-ryeo deurilgeyo
— Here are your boarding pass and passport back.

Shadowing tip: Try saying A’s lines first, then both A and B. Record yourself on your phone and listen.

📝 Quick Check Quiz (Beginner)

Click to check the answers.

1) How do you say “I’d like to check in” in Korean?

체크인하려고요.
chekeu-in haryeogoyo

2) You want a window seat. Which sentence is correct?

창가 좌석 주세요.
changga jwaseok juseyo — Window seat, please.

3) How do you ask “Where is the boarding gate?”

탑승구가 어디예요?
tapseunggu-ga eodi-yeyo?

4) You want to say “I have nothing to declare” at customs. Which one?

세관 신고할 것 없어요.
segwan singohal geot eopsseoyo — I have nothing to declare.

👩‍🏫 Teacher’s Tips

Keep it short: 공항에서는 길게 말할 필요 없어요. One short sentence is enough.
Use polite endings: -요 / -세요 makes everything sound kind and safe.
Front-load key words: “창가 좌석 주세요” (window seat please) — say the important word first.
복습할 때는 공항 사진을 보면서 큰 소리로 읽어 보세요. 입에 붙여야 실제 상황에서 바로 나와요.
More beginner travel phrases here: Travel Korean — Useful Expressions (if you’ve published that page).

🌀 “Say What?” — 비슷하지만 다른 표현

탑승구 vs 게이트

탑승구 — pure Korean word, used on official signs.
게이트 — English loan word, often heard in announcements.

You can ask:
탑승구가 어디예요? or 몇 번 게이트예요? — both are okay.

체크인하려고요 vs 체크인할게요

체크인하려고요 — “I’d like to check in.” (soft, polite, beginner-friendly)
체크인할게요 — “I’ll check in now.” (more like a decision)

📌 Did You Know? — Korea Airport Tips

Incheon Airport is often ranked as one of the most comfortable airports in the world. Many staff can speak basic English, but a little Korean makes them smile. 🙂
Most announcements are in Korean + English, sometimes also in Japanese and Chinese.
Free water taps, convenience stores, and cafés are easy to find after security—look for the word “매점 (maejeom)” or “편의점 (pyeonuijeom)”.
If you are not sure, asking in simple Korean like “영어 돼요? (yeongeo dwaeyo? — Do you speak English?)” is totally okay.

📝 It’s Your Turn

Practice makes your airport day stress-free. Try these:

Write 3 sentences you will actually use at the airport (check-in, immigration, baggage). Then say them out loud three times.
Record yourself doing the check-in dialogue (A and B). Listen and fix pronunciation.
Leave a comment on the blog with one sentence, for example: “제 여행 목적은 ___이에요.” I’ll correct it for you. 😉

👋 Take a Lesson with Me on italki

Want to practice your real flight details together? Bring your itinerary, and we’ll create custom airport sentences you can use on the exact day you travel.

We’ll practice check-in, security, immigration, and small talk with staff — all in simple, natural Korean.

Practice Airport Korean on italki

💬 Stay Connected

Did this airport lesson help you feel more confident? 😊

Bookmark this page before your trip to Korea.
Share it with a friend who is flying to Korea for the first time.
Ask any airport Korean questions in the comments — I read them all and try to reply.

💬 Stay connected for new updates: come back for more Travel Korean, Beginner lessons, and real-life Korean expressions.