🚇 Korean Transportation Vocabulary: How to Get Around Like a Local

Planning to travel in Korea? 🇰🇷

Whether you're riding the subway in Seoul or taking a taxi in Busan, knowing basic Korean transportation words can make your trip smoother and more enjoyable. 🚌🚕

In this post, you'll learn essential vocabulary and phrases to navigate buses, subways, taxis, and directions — just like a local!

🚦 Basic Transportation Words

Korean	Romanization	Meaning
지하철	jihacheol	subway
버스	beoseu	bus
택시	taeksi	taxi
기차	gicha	train
비행기	bihaenggi	airplane
자전거	jajeongeo	bicycle
자동차	jadongcha	car
정류장	jeongryujang	bus stop
역	yeok	station
교통카드	gyotongkadeu	transportation card
환승	hwanseung	transfer
출구	chulgu	exit (of station)

🧭 Common Transportation Phrases

Korean Phrase	Meaning
몇 번 버스예요?	What bus number is it?
어디에서 내려요?	Where do I get off?
다음 정류장은 어디예요?	What’s the next stop?
지하철 몇 호선을 타요?	Which subway line should I take?
환승해야 돼요?	Do I need to transfer?
이 역에서 내려요.	Get off at this station.
택시 타고 가고 싶어요.	I want to go by taxi.
공항까지 얼마나 걸려요?	How long does it take to the airport?
교통카드 있어요?	Do you have a T-money card?
카드로 계산할게요.	I’ll pay by card.

🚇 Subway Tips in Korea

✅ Most cities use line numbers (1호선, 2호선...)
✅ Stations are announced in Korean, English, and Chinese
✅ Use T-money or cash-beep apps for payment
✅ Many stations have free Wi-Fi, convenience stores, and underground malls

💡 Example:

홍대입구역 2호선에서 갈아타세요.
→ Transfer at Hongdae Station, Line 2.

🚕 Taking a Taxi in Korean

택시 불러 주세요. → Please call a taxi.
이 주소로 가 주세요. → Please go to this address.
영수증 주세요. → Please give me a receipt.

📌 Tip: Use Kakao T (카카오택시) for easy booking with English options.

🗺️ Asking for Directions

Korean	Meaning
[장소]에 어떻게 가요?	How do I get to [place]?
이 근처에 지하철역 있어요?	Is there a subway nearby?
걸어서 갈 수 있어요?	Can I walk there?
오른쪽 / 왼쪽으로 가세요.	Go right / left.
직진하세요.	Go straight.