Hi, I’m Ayla! 👋
Welcome back to Simply Korea 101!
Today, we’re going to learn how to use public transportation in Korea.
Korea has an extensive subway and bus system, especially in major cities such as Seoul, Busan, and Daegu.
Knowing a few transportation phrases can make getting around Korea much easier.
Let’s get on the subway and start today’s lesson!
🚇 Key Vocabulary 5
Let’s start with five essential transportation words.
① 지하철 — ji-ha-cheol — subway
② 버스 — beo-seu — bus
③ 역 — yeok — station
④ 교통카드 — gyo-tong-ka-deu — transportation card
⑤ 환승 — hwan-seung — transfer
You’ll see 환승 frequently when traveling by subway or bus.
💬 Useful Expressions 5
① 지하철역이 어디예요?
지하철역이 어디예요?
ji-ha-cheol-yeo-gi eo-di-ye-yo?
→ Where is the subway station?
This combines today’s transportation vocabulary with a phrase you’ve already learned.
② 이 버스 명동에 가요?
이 버스 명동에 가요?
i beo-seu myeong-dong-e ga-yo?
→ Does this bus go to Myeongdong?
You can replace 명동 with the name of your destination.
③ 몇 호선이에요?
몇 호선이에요?
myeot ho-seon-i-e-yo?
→ Which subway line is it?
Korean subway lines are often identified by numbers or names.
2호선이에요.
i-ho-seon-i-e-yo.
→ It’s Line 2.
④ 어디에서 갈아타요?
어디에서 갈아타요?
eo-di-e-seo ga-ra-ta-yo?
→ Where do I transfer?
The verb 갈아타다 means to change or transfer from one form of transportation to another.
갈아타다 — ga-ra-ta-da — to transfer / change transportation
⑤ 여기에서 내려요?
여기에서 내려요?
yeo-gi-e-seo nae-ryeo-yo?
→ Do I get off here?
This is useful when you’re not sure whether you’ve reached your stop.
🚌 More Useful Transportation Expressions
Here are a few more phrases that can help you travel around Korea.
교통카드 있어요?
gyo-tong-ka-deu i-sseo-yo?
→ Do you have a transportation card?
다음 역이 어디예요?
da-eum yeo-gi eo-di-ye-yo?
→ What is the next station?
몇 정거장 남았어요?
myeot jeong-geo-jang na-ma-sseo-yo?
→ How many stops are left?
서울역에서 내려요.
seo-ul-yeo-ge-seo nae-ryeo-yo.
→ Get off at Seoul Station.
버스로 갈 수 있어요?
beo-seu-ro gal su i-sseo-yo?
→ Can I get there by bus?
🚉 Important Transportation Verbs
These verbs appear constantly when using public transportation.
타다 — ta-da — to ride / get on
내리다 — nae-ri-da — to get off
갈아타다 — ga-ra-ta-da — to transfer
가다 — ga-da — to go
오다 — o-da — to come
For example:
→ 예를 들어:
지하철을 타요.
ji-ha-cheo-reul ta-yo.
→ I take the subway.
다음 역에서 내려요.
da-eum yeo-ge-seo nae-ryeo-yo.
→ Get off at the next station.
🗣️ Mini Conversation — Taking the Subway
Ayla: 실례합니다. 홍대에 어떻게 가요?
sil-lye-ham-ni-da. hong-dae-e eo-tteo-ke ga-yo?
→ Excuse me. How do I get to Hongdae?
B: 지하철 2호선을 타세요.
ji-ha-cheol i-ho-seo-neul ta-se-yo.
→ Take Subway Line 2.
Ayla: 환승해야 해요?
hwan-seung-hae-ya hae-yo?
→ Do I need to transfer?
B: 아니요. 환승 안 해도 돼요.
a-ni-yo. hwan-seung an hae-do dwae-yo.
→ No. You don’t need to transfer.
Ayla: 어디에서 내려요?
eo-di-e-seo nae-ryeo-yo?
→ Where do I get off?
B: 홍대입구역에서 내리세요.
hong-dae-ip-gu-yeo-ge-seo nae-ri-se-yo.
→ Get off at Hongik University Station.
Ayla: 감사합니다!
gam-sa-ham-ni-da!
→ Thank you!
B: 네, 좋은 여행 되세요!
ne, jo-eun yeo-haeng doe-se-yo!
→ You’re welcome. Have a nice trip!
🔊 Read Aloud & Repeat
Let’s practice today’s transportation expressions aloud.
→ 오늘 배운 교통 표현을 소리 내어 연습해볼게요.
이 버스 명동에 가요?
i beo-seu myeong-dong-e ga-yo?
→ Does this bus go to Myeongdong?
몇 호선이에요?
myeot ho-seon-i-e-yo?
→ Which subway line is it?
어디에서 갈아타요?
eo-di-e-seo ga-ra-ta-yo?
→ Where do I transfer?
환승해야 해요?
hwan-seung-hae-ya hae-yo?
→ Do I need to transfer?
여기에서 내려요?
yeo-gi-e-seo nae-ryeo-yo?
→ Do I get off here?
Try saying them once slowly and then again at a natural speed.
🎯 Today’s Korean Challenge
Translate these sentences into Korean.
1. Which subway line is it?
→ __________
2. Does this bus go to Myeongdong?
→ __________
3. Where do I transfer?
→ __________
4. Do I get off here?
→ __________
5. Do I need to transfer?
→ __________
Answers
1. 몇 호선이에요?
myeot ho-seon-i-e-yo?
→ Which subway line is it?
2. 이 버스 명동에 가요?
i beo-seu myeong-dong-e ga-yo?
→ Does this bus go to Myeongdong?
3. 어디에서 갈아타요?
eo-di-e-seo ga-ra-ta-yo?
→ Where do I transfer?
4. 여기에서 내려요?
yeo-gi-e-seo nae-ryeo-yo?
→ Do I get off here?
5. 환승해야 해요?
hwan-seung-hae-ya hae-yo?
→ Do I need to transfer?
How many did you get right?
→ 몇 개나 맞혔나요?
Korean Culture & Travel Tip
[확실] In Korea, rechargeable transportation cards can generally be used across buses and subways, making transfers much easier.
When using a bus, remember to tap your transportation card when getting on and, where required for fare calculation or transfer benefits, when getting off.
You’ll also hear station announcements in Korean and often other languages on major urban subway systems.
✨ Quick Review
Today, we learned how to use public transportation in Korea.
Remember these key expressions:
몇 호선이에요? — myeot ho-seon-i-e-yo? — Which subway line is it?
어디에서 갈아타요? — eo-di-e-seo ga-ra-ta-yo? — Where do I transfer?
환승해야 해요? — hwan-seung-hae-ya hae-yo? — Do I need to transfer?
여기에서 내려요? — yeo-gi-e-seo nae-ryeo-yo? — Do I get off here?
이 버스 명동에 가요? — i beo-seu myeong-dong-e ga-yo? — Does this bus go to Myeongdong?
The next time you use a subway or bus in Korea, try using one of today’s expressions.
💛 See You in the Next Chapter!
You don’t have to learn everything at once. Just learn one word, one phrase, and one step at a time.
Keep practicing, and you’ll be surprised how much Korean you can understand.
See you in the next chapter!
— Ayla
Let’s discover Korea, one word, one dish, and one story at a time.