How to Ask for Directions in Korean: Phrases & Pronunciation
Asking for directions in Korean is easy; understanding the answer is the real skill. Here are the phrases to ask politely, the words you need to decode the reply, and the lifelines for when it comes too fast.
Polite 요 form with strangers
Use polite speech (요 endings) when stopping a stranger — 실례합니다 to open, and questions ending in 요. It's respectful without being stiff. Casual 반말 would be inappropriate with someone you don't know.
Asking
실례합니다, 길 좀 여쭤봐도 될까요?
Sillyehamnida, gil jom yeojjwobwado doelkkayo?
Excuse me, may I ask for directions?
지하철역이 어디예요?
Jihacheoryeogi eodiyeyo?
Where is the subway station?
여기서 멀어요?
Yeogiseo meoreoyo?
Is it far from here?
어떻게 가요?
Eotteoke gayo?
How do I get there?
Understanding the answer
쭉 가세요.
Jjuk gaseyo.
Go straight.
오른쪽으로 가세요.
Oreunjjogeuro gaseyo.
Go right.
왼쪽으로 가세요.
Oenjjogeuro gaseyo.
Go left.
횡단보도를 건너세요.
Hoengdanbodoreul geonneoseyo.
Cross the crosswalk.
Lifelines
다시 한 번 말씀해 주세요.
Dasi han beon malsseumhae juseyo.
Please say that once more.
좀 천천히 말씀해 주세요.
Jom cheoncheonhi malsseumhae juseyo.
Please speak a bit slowly.
지도로 보여 주시겠어요?
Jidoro boyeo jusigesseoyo?
Could you show me on the map?
Tips to sound natural
- Open with 실례합니다 (excuse me) — it makes people far more willing to help.
- 쭉 (jjuk) means "straight on" and shows up in almost every set of directions.
- Use Naver Map or KakaoMap, not Google Maps — Google's data is limited inside Korea.
- Ask them to show you on the map (지도로 보여 주시겠어요?) to turn a listening test into a visual one.
Now practice it out loud
Reading phrases isn't speaking them. Rehearse this exact scene with an AI partner in Korean, at your level — and get feedback after.
Practice Korean free