Essential Korean: Taxi Tips

Essential Korean: Taxi Tips

So you’ve just gotten to Korea and you want to get from A to B without taking the public transportation system? Well, the subway rocks and the intricate bus system is even better but if you must take a taxi then you’re going to need the basics to help get you to your destination.

With even nonexistent Korean language skills you should be able to find a subway stop near your ultimate destination.

1. Yuk: No it doesn’t mean nasty or terrible its Korean for Station, as in subway station. With even nonexistent Korean language skills you should be able to name a subway station near your destination. Just tell your driver the name of the station followed by YUK and Juyseo (please) and you’ll be good to go.
2. Wehn-jjohk: Left
3. Oh-ruuhn: Right
4. Chik-Chin: Straight

With this you should be set to get to where you want to go that is if you know where you’re going.

Another tip for when you first arrive is to have your address written in Korean somewhere on you. That way when you can’t quite pronounce your address whether you’re too drunk or just tongue tied you’ll get to where you need to be.

If you do run into the brick wall of language barriers then call 1588 5644. It’s a network of volunteers throughout Seoul who will connect you with someone who speaks your language as well as Korean.

They have interpreters for:

English push 1

Japense push 2

Chinese push 3

French push 4

Spainish push 5

Italian push 6

Russian push 7

German push 8

Portuguese push 9

Arabic push 10

Polish push 11

Turkish push 12

Swedish push 13

Thai push 14

Vietnamese push 15

Malay/Indonesian push 16 However, excercise some judgement about when to call because these folks are volunteers. That Four AM phone call to help you order late night take out might not be such a good idea.