More than sightseeing, an authentic Korean temple stay lets you embrace monastic living, gaining profound yet accessible insights into the Buddhist philosophy permeating this ancient culture. Abandon modern anxieties as you awake to drummed morning prayers, meditate amid stunning nature, craft lotus lanterns by hand, and savour the monk’s contemplative cuisine.

In this article, you’ll discover the best places to do a temple stay in Seoul or in other parts of Korea, as well as my recommendations for the best temples to try a Korean templestay experience in. I’ll introduce you to the most common cultural activities that you might encounter at a temple stay and offer insights into what a temple stay is like by sharing my own experience of a temple stay.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why You Should Do A Temple Stay In Korea

More than mere accommodation, an authentic Korean temple stay offers visitors the rare opportunity to briefly yet meaningfully embrace the lifestyle of the Buddhist monks living in accordance with ancient traditions amidst the nation’s rapid modernisation. It’s a serene change of pace from bustling city streets, a chance to reset both body and mind through simple mindfulness practices.

On an overnight temple stay experience, you get to stay in a traditional hanok room inside the temple’s main grounds and join in ceremonies and practices not normally seen by outsiders. Awaken before dawn to attend morning prayer ceremony, join in meditation sessions surrounded by stunning natural beauty, craft lotus lanterns, and sample the monks’ flavourful vegetarian fare.

While creature comforts are few, the rewards prove plentiful – visitors often depart with refreshed perspective, having gained insight into the spiritual fulfilment framing many Korean lives. So take a pause from sightseeing to unwind the Korean Buddhist way – through cultural and personal enrichment centred on serenity, compassion and contemplation direct from a temple stay.

Some of the main reasons I think you’ll love doing a temple stay in Korea are that you can…

But most of all, it’s a truly unique Korean experience that you can only have in Korea, usually in a stunning setting like a national park or area of natural beauty. While a temple stay experience in Korea might not be for everyone, if you’re open to trying new things, I think you’ll really enjoy it.

What Is The Korean Temple Stay Program?

The temple stay program was set up by the Culture Corps of Korean Buddhism with the aim to promote Korean Buddhism to the world. This scheme lets you experience a temple stay in one of Korea’s beautiful Buddhist temples in Seoul and across the country. It’s a unique experience you won’t find anywhere else. In the words of the Korean temple stay program:

“A temple stay is a unique cultural program which lets you experience the life of Buddhist practitioners at traditional temples which preserve the 1700 year old history of Korean Buddhism.”.

– Korean Templestay Program

I’ve joined a temple stay in Korea several times now and for me the best part is the chance to learn more about Buddhist philosophy. I’ve written more about my experience doing a temple stay later in this article. Even if you have no interest in Buddhism, you shouldn’t miss the chance to check out the historic temple buildings, witness centuries of Korean culture, and consider a new perspective on life.

Different Temple Stay Experiences In Korea

There are 3 types of temple stay experiences that are available to try in Korea, ranging from a 1-day program where you can engage in various cultural activities with the monks to longer overnight stays with a range of unique and interesting programs. These overnight programs are where I think you’ll find the most value from your temple stay as you get to see the inner workings of the temple.

1-Day Temple Stays

The one-day temple stay option is best for those with a limited time in Korea. Lasting a few hours, you can experience a temple tour, learn about mediation, or join in a traditional tea ceremony. Perfect for those on a tight schedule or who want a quick introduction to Korean Buddhism.

Experience-Oriented Temple Stays

This is definitely the best option for a temple stay in Korea, this option allows you to stay overnight at the temple and join in activities not open to regular visitors. Be part of Korean Buddhist ceremonies, join morning chanting with the monks, try the 108 prostrations, eat Buddhist meals, and practice Buddhist meditation. Other activities can include lotus lantern walks and prayer bead making.

Rest-Oriented Temple Stay

For those who want the tranquility and peace that comes from a temple stay in Korea, this is for you! The temple offers you a place to escape the busy modern world and learn to recharge through meditation and Buddhist ceremonies. In addition, you can reduce your stress, recharge, and unwind.

Where To Do A Temple Stay In Seoul

From serene mountain monasteries to urban temples tucked amid the bustling city streets, Seoul offers numerous easily accessible yet wholly immersive temple stays for foreigners. Experience an afternoon learning about Korean Buddhism at a heritage temple like Jogyesa or Bongeunsa, or escape the crowds completely for an overnight mountain retreat at Hwagyesa’s peaceful forest grounds.

There are many Buddhist temples scattered across Korea’s capital, with seven locations offering temple experience services in English, as you can see in the picture below. Jogyesa and Bongeunsa are the most touristy temples in Seoul, so if you want an experience that’s away from the main crowds, try one of the other temples such as Hwagyesa or Geumsunsa.

You can search for temple stays in Seoul on the Templestay website and filtering by temples in Seoul. Here’s a list of the temple stays in Seoul and what they currently offer:

• Bongeunsa Temple – one-day temple stay experiences
• Myogaksa Temple – one-day temple stay experiences
• Hwagyesa Temple – overnight temple stay experiences
• Geumsunsa Temple – one-day & overnight temple stay experiences
• Jogyesa Temple – no current temple stay programs
• Jinkwansa Temple – no current temple stay programs
• International Seon Center – no current temple stay programs

Please note: The temple stay schedule is usually set for the upcoming year or just the next season. If there are no temple stays when you check, they might be available later on. The programs available above are based on what was listed at the most recent time I checked.

Where To Try Korean Temple Food In Seoul

More than just sustenance, Korean temple cuisine thoughtfully encapsulates the contemplative Buddhist philosophy of compassion and interdependence. Each dish spotlights organically grown soybean products, wild mountain greens, vegetables and medicinal herbs, providing flavourful plant-based nourishment for both body and soul through simplicity, balance and care.

If you want to try Korean temple food in Seoul, then you can join a temple stay in Seoul, visit the Korean Temple Food Culture Experience Centre near Anguk Station, or visit the Balwoo Gongyang temple food restaurant on the 5th floor of the Templestay Information Centre near Jogyesa Temple. The Korean Temple Food Culture Experience Centre let’s you make your own temple food dishes.

Dining at a temple is a moving experience, allowing guests to approach their plates with newfound mindfulness and insight into the Korean maxim – “We eat to live.” So be sure to sample this meaningful cuisine during an overnight temple stay, allowing Korean Buddhist philosophy to touch your lips and permeate your perspective. The serenely healthy dishes will provide food for thought.

Where To Do A Temple Stay In Korea

There are many different temples across Korea that you can stay in. They are usually located in national parks or similar beautiful surroundings. You can find temples in every major region of Korea, including on Jeju Island. Venturing beyond the capital into Korea’s serene rural pockets unveils ancient monasteries and hermitages perfect for deeply immersive temple stays.

Each of these Korean temple stays offers something special; whether it’s unique Korean culture like Tripitaka Koreana or the Korean Buddhist martial art, Sunmudo; awe-inspiring views of mountains, coastlines, and waterfalls; or simply a new outlook on life through the meditative programmes on offer. Whichever one of these temple stay experiences you choose, you’ll discover something amazing.

Here are 7 of the best places to do a temple stay in Korea outside of the capital. These temples are currently all offering temple stay experiences, but availability changes each season.

1: Lotus Lantern International Meditation Centre (Incheon): The Lotus Lantern Centre welcomes overseas visitors to experience a blend of modern relaxation and ancient Buddhist traditions in Incheon, near Seoul. The temple stays include a free-style program where you can choose what to do, as well as regular overnight temple stays with chanting ceremony, temple cuisine, and accommodation.

2: Bulguksa Temple (Gyeongju): This is arguably one of the most impressive places to do a temple stay in Korea as this historic temple has UNESCO World Heritage status. Bulguksa Temple offers overnight stays which include morning meditation as the sun rises over the grand courtyard, joining the monks in daily rituals, and a chance to explore the ornate 15th century Buddhist sanctuaries.

3: Haeinsa Temple (Gayasan National Park): Remote yet easily accessible Haeinsa Temple, nestled within Hapcheon County’s verdant mountain valleys, unveils Korea’s Tripitaka Koreana wooden block anthology alongside meditation sessions, monastic cuisine, lotus lantern making, and sunrise ceremonial drumming through their memorable one-night temple stay.

4: Golgulsa Temple (Near Gyeongju): Golgulsa Temple has a large selection of temple stay experiences and provides the unique opportunity to witness and try ‘Sunmudo‘ – a Korean Buddhist martial art. There’s also the chance to try meditation on the beach, archery, horseback riding, and many of the other interesting activities that you’d expect during a temple stay in Korea.

5: Beopjusa Temple (Songnisan National Park): Home to Korea’s tallest wooden pagoda and a mammoth bronze bell, majestic Beopjusa Temple treats overnight visitors to personally crafted experiences like lotus lantern making, chanting ceremonies, temple cuisine, and taekwondo alongside scenic mountain trekking through Songnisan National Park’s lush foliage.

6: Naksansa Temple (Near Sokcho): Naksansa Temple treats overnight visitors to personally tailored stays combined morning prayer ceremonies amid stunning East Sea sunrises, a guided trek to a cliffside hermitage overlooking the sea, meditation, and deliciously simple monastic vegetarian fare. This is a great temple to stay in if you’re planning to visit Korea’s east coast.

7: Hwaeomsa Temple (Jirisan National Park): Nestled within Jirisan National Park’s trees, ancient Hwaeomsa Temple invites visitors into the daily life of their monks through immersive overnight stays – rising with the sun for morning prayer chanting, joining meditation sessions and Buddhist lectures, crafting lotus lanterns, dining on traditional temple cuisine, and resting amid mountain-framed serenity.

These next 3 temples currently don’t have any temple stay experiences available, but I’ve included them because they’re really beautiful temples that are definitely worth visiting just to explore. They might have temple stay programs again later in the future.

Yakchunsa Temple (Jeju Island): This is a very unique temple in Korea that looks like it would be more at home in South East Asia than in Korea. The entrance to the temple is lined with palm trees and it looks out over the rugged coast and sea. There are tangerines growing in the temple grounds and many unique and interesting sights to see. One of my favourite temples I’ve visited in Korea.

Magoksa Temple (South Chungcheon Province): Enveloped within the lush peaks of Mount Taehwasan, Magoksa Temple invites visitors to immerse in temple life through their overnight stay – greeting the mountain sunrise with Buddhist chanting, meditating stream-side in the pine-scented forest, crafting paper lanterns, dining on homemade temple cuisine, and retiring to their tranquil, natural haven.

Woljeongsa Temple (Odaesan National Park): With grounds enveloped by Odaeasan’s panoramic national park, historic Woljeongsa Temple treats visitors to personally tailored temple stays. It combines morning prayer ceremonies, meditation under waterfalls, monastic vegetarian meals made with organically grown ingredients, and Korean culture classes like lotus lantern crafting.

The Temple Stay Experience: What To Expect

Now that you know where you can do a temple stay in Seoul or Korea, let’s see what will happen during your temple stay experience. There are many different activities you can take part in during a temple stay in Korea. Most temples will offer these wonderful experiences. In addition, some temples offer more, including walks, treks, traditional crafts, and even music performances.

Guided Temple Tour: Ever explored a Buddhist temple and wondered what all the interesting statues, patterns, and symbols meant? Now you can find out with an English guided tour around the temple. The temple staff will kindly explain the history, culture, and meaning behind all you see at the temple. Great for increasing your knowledge about Korean Buddhism.

108 Prostrations: A mainstay of Korean temple stays is performing the bowing ritual ‘108 prostrations’, involving fully lowering one’s body to the floor 108 times as a symbolic shedding of greed and ego. While challenging physically, finishing evokes a profound sense of humility and purification amongst temple stay participants. This may involve threading 108 prayer beads at the same time.

Yebool (Buddhist Chanting): Yebool is the opening chant to start the day and offers the chance for self-reflection and purification for the day ahead. During a temple stay in Korea you’ll be able to join the monks inside the temple, somewhere most tourists will only see from the outside. Yebool chanting starts before sunrise, so make sure you get an early night the night before.

Da-Seon (Tea Ceremony): The Korean Buddhist tea ceremony is a form of meditation in itself. Firstly, practice mental discipline and concentration through the processes involved in creating the perfect cup of tea. Secondly, harness all your senses whilst you prepare and drink the tea in quiet contemplation. During the tea ceremony you have the chance to ask a monk questions.

Balwoogongyang (Monastic Meal): Balwoogongyang is the traditional method of eating a meal at Buddhist temples. Containing a mixture of rice, vegetables, and side dishes, certainly this healthy vegan-friendly meal will help you appreciate the simplicity and honesty of food. Eat together in silence, waste nothing, and give thanks for all of the hard work involved in your humble meal.

Walking Meditation (Pohaeng): A core element of Korean Buddhist practice is ‘pohaeng’ walking meditation – slowly circumnavigating temple grounds in silent contemplation, focusing on the sensation of each step to calm the mind. Most temple stays offer this meditative activity, allowing you to mindfully traverse flower-lined courtyards and soak up the tranquil beauty in these sacred refuges.

Cham-Seon (Seon Meditation): Seon meditation focuses on clearing your mind of thoughts, allowing you to learn mindfulness and concentration. This is one of the main practices of Korean Buddhists. By practising Seon meditation you will be able to learn your true nature and discover inner peace. If you just want to focus on meditation, I recommend visiting the The International Seon Center in Seoul.

Korean Traditional Culture Experience: This includes a range of cultural experiences offered by each individual temple. For example, you might make lotus flower lanterns or wood block prints, prepare temple food, or even see musical performances. Each temple stay offers their own unique cultural experiences, which you can see on their Templestay website page.

What To Bring To A Temple Stay

As most temple stays involve basic accommodation and an early morning start, be sure to come prepared with an open mind plus:

As temple stays allow only small bags within sleeping quarters, best leave luggage locked at temples and pack light necessities in a daypack instead. With humble lodging and vegetarian monk’s fare the norm, indulge in life’s luxuries beforehand or after. This program’s rewards lie not in lavish comforts but in the rare chance to personally immerse in the temple culture still thriving in modern Korea.

Do You Need To Know Korean To Do A Temple Stay?

You shouldn’t need to speak any Korean to join a temple stay experience as the program is designed to welcome foreigners and therefore there are guides who can speak English, as well as translate anything the monks might say. During the temple stay experiences I have been on, there are often people from around the world, with a variety of different backgrounds and native languages.

How To Book A Temple Stay In Korea

There are two main ways you can book a temple stay in Korea and both are really easy to do in English. You won’t need to know any Korean to book these, don’t worry.

Book online: Firstly, you can book a temple from the Templestay website. This website is helpful and shows you where you can do various temple stay experiences across Korea. It’s all in English and provides lots of essential information. You can book a temple stay before you arrive in Korea, which is recommended to help you plan your schedule and guarantee your place.

Book in Seoul: You can also book a temple stay by visiting the Templestay Information Centre in Insadong, Seoul. This is close to Jogyesa Temple, which is an excellent Buddhist temple that’s certainly worth visiting while you’re in Seoul, even if you don’t end up doing a temple stay. The information centre staff should be able to speak English and can answer your questions about the experience.

How Much Is A Korean Temple Stay?

I checked the prices of various Korean temple stay programs in Seoul and across Korea and the prices in 2024 range from ₩30,000 – ₩50,000 for a one-day program and from ₩60,000 to ₩100,000 for an overnight stay at a temple. The cost of a temple stay is different for each temple, depending on what they offer, the length of the stay, and other factors like that.

Considering that hotel rooms in Korea can be around ₩60,000 to ₩100,000 for a night, you’re essentially getting a night in a hanok house with lots of extra free cultural experiences, as well as a healthy dinner and breakfast. It’s certainly great value for money. If you’re just visiting the temple and not doing a temple stay, it’s free to visit, but donations to the temple are of course appreciated.

Etiquette Rules For Korean Temple Stays

It’s good to be respectful and follow the rules of any place you visit. Taking part in a temple stay in Korea is no exception, and the temples will ask you to follow a few basic rules. If you’re worried about being rude in Korea, then be sure to read my guide to Korean etiquette.

Dress code: Try to dress conservatively during your temple stay. Dark colours and long sleeves are best. Try to avoid bright and over the top clothing, heavy makeup, or strong perfume. If in doubt, cover up and keep it simple. Furthermore, you should keep your feet covered in the temple. Bring socks as you’ll need to take your shoes off inside, which is normal in Korea.

What not to do: Remember, this is a sacred place for the monks and nuns, therefore, try to avoid loud noises, smoking, or drinking alcohol in the temple grounds. There are many sacred religious objects and locations in the temple grounds, certainly avoid damaging or disrespecting them. In addition, sitting or writing on any sculptures is strongly prohibited.

In the Buddha’s Hall: When entering the Buddha’s Hall (the main temple), make sure to enter using the doors on the left and right. This is because the main door is reserved for the monks and nuns. If you enter the hall, first, do a half-bow with palms together toward the Buddha and then greet the statue with three prostrations. Temple staff will teach you how to do this.

Using your phone: In my experience, it’s been perfectly fine to bring a mobile phone with you when you take part in the temple activities, but please make sure it’s turned to silent mode so it doesn’t interrupt the monks or others. Also, try to avoid taking pictures when asked not to (in the Buddha’s Hall) and go away from others to talk on the phone. Otherwise, you’re fine to take pics of your stay.

Do You Have To Be Religious?

You don’t have to be religious to take part in a Korean temple stay experience. People of any faith can participate in a temple stay and you can certainly learn a lot and broaden your mind by joining in this program. Furthermore, the Buddhist monks and staff understand people have different views on the world and, in my personal experience, welcome discussion and alternative views.

Do You Have To Follow The Schedule?

You are free to choose whether or not you want to join the various temple stay programs. If you feel uncomfortable joining in any part, or you don’t think you can wake up before the sun rises, you can choose to miss that activity. The monks and staff at the temple stay were accommodating in my temple stay experiences. You won’t feel uncomfortable during this wonderful experience.

However, I would recommend trying to take part in everything if you can. When are you likely to be able to experience something like a temple stay again? Take note that meals are served during certain hours and won’t be available outside of those hours.

My Korean Temple Stay Experience

I’ve done a temple stay in Korea several times and absolutely loved every one. I’ve always gone for the weekend experience as there’s something special about staying overnight in the temple and getting up in the early hours to join in the morning worshipping and chanting ceremonies.

My most recent temple stay experience was at Beopjusa Temple in the beautiful Songnisan National Park in central Korea, a place I often visit for hiking. I arrived in the early afternoon and went through a VR welcome tour of the temple. Yes, even Buddhist temples have embraced new technologies in Korea! It was fun being able to see the temple from above through drone footage.

After an introduction to the program by the English guide, I got changed into the required clothing – a very simple outfit of loose trousers and top that you can wear over your normal clothes. It was still cold at that time of year, so I was happy for extra layers. There was a welcome ceremony that explained what we could expect, the rules we had to follow, and a chance to ask some questions.

I was with about 20 other people from Korea and around the world who all joined this temple stay program. We were given a guided tour of the temple grounds and told more about the traditions and meanings behind the various paintings, statues, and buildings. It was really interesting to learn about the rich history of this temple and how Buddhism has evolved in Korea.

In the evening, we ate dinner with the monks (yummy vegan home-cooked food), took a night time walk with lanterns through the temple after dark, then got an early night. The accommodation at the temple was basic, but that’s part of life in a Korean Buddhist temple. It’s also comfortable and I had no complaints. I went to sleep straight away because there was an early start the next day.

Our schedule started at 4 a.m. with a music performance by the monks. You rarely get to see this ceremony, so it was a real treat. After that was another exclusive – the morning yebool, or chanting ceremony. I didn’t understand what was being said, but I could still join in, practice bowing, learn about the importance of the ceremony and see the dedication and spirituality in the monks.

Breakfast was served around 6 a.m. and then it was time for an early morning sunrise hike to a nearby peak (only 30 minutes away) to watch the sun rise. It was a beautiful scene, watching the sun crawl over the horizon and light up the mountain peaks and forests in the national park. Fortunately, we were allowed a short nap after this before the next main activity, which was one of the toughest!

A popular activity during a temple stay in Korea is the 108 prostrations. This is also one of the hardest! There are 108 ideals that Korean Buddhists are thankful for. In order to show their appreciation, they will bow 108 times. Participants at this temple stay experience got to do this whilst also threading 108 beads to make a prayer bead bracelet. This is really hard, but I guess it’s a good test of devotion.

It was tough, yes, but also worth it. I’d recommend giving it a try. If you’re not comfortable doing it, you can grab a mat and watch from the side instead. By this time we were all hungry and went for lunch with the monks again. More delicious vegan food and my body was feeling really good by this point with all the food, sleep, and lack of technological distractions.

The final activity of the program was also one of the best – a tea ceremony and question and answer session with one of the monks. I found this was the most interesting part of the temple stay and I learned a lot from the monk. I feel sorry in a way as I asked a lot of difficult questions, but he answered them honestly and, sometimes, with shocking answers. It turns out monks can have iPhones!

Overall, I had a fascinating, relaxing, insightful time during my temple stay experience and I would highly recommend it to others. There are different temple stay experiences across the country and I want to try visiting other temples to see what they have to offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about doing a temple stay in Korea. These answers are based on my own experience and from research conducted to write this article.

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Nestled in the remote Chilgapsan Mountain a couple of hours outside of Seoul, the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival transforms this rural valley retreat into a glittering icy world that looks straight out of a fairy tale. This frozen festival of winter delights includes a giant wall of bubbling ice, snowy sculptures, igloos, ice caves, snow statues, ice carvings, and all round winter fun for the whole family.

In this article you can find out what there is to see and do at the Chilgapsan Festival, including the various ice-based activities and attractions, how to get there by tour or public transport, and information about whether this festival is worth visiting or not. If you’re thinking of visiting this Korean ice fountain festival, and want to know why I think it’s definitely worth it, then keep on reading.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why Visit The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival 2024?

The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival (칠갑산 얼음분수축제) offers visitors the chance to see a truly unique sight – massive structures crafted entirely from long icicles that appear to sprout up from the ground and have earned this winter festival the nickname of ‘Ice Castle’. The icicles, sparkling to create the illusion of frozen ice fountains, are man-made but that makes them no less magical.

With its stunning mix of dramatic natural scenery and dream-like illuminations, the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival promises a fairy tale experience found nowhere else in Korea. This festival runs from December 23rd, 2023 to February 28th, 2024, which makes it one of Korea’s longest winter festivals and gives you plenty of opportunities to see it if you visit Korea during winter.

By day, you can explore illuminated ice caves and sculptures that get more fantastical each year. But it’s at night when the full effect comes alive, with rainbow-hued lights reflecting off the icy landscape synchronized to festive music. Visitors wander through this winter wonderland with hot chocolate in hand, snapping selfies and admiring over 50,000 tons of magical ice art crafted just for the festival.

Who Will Enjoy This Korean Winter Festival?

I think the Chilgapsan festival will appeal to couples and families, as well as anyone who enjoys playing in the snow. There are many rides and activities aimed at children, so this is a great way to keep them entertained during winter and gives them a fun, snowy playground to play in. Couples will enjoy strolling around the snow-covered landscape, posing for pictures in the many photo zones.

Warning about Korea’s winter weather: Winter in Korea can be very cold, especially during January and February, with temperatures dropping below zero degrees Celsius even during the day. If you are travelling with children, make sure they’re wrapped up well so they don’t suffer from the cold. There are lots of markets in Seoul that sell winter clothes and you can get heat packs and hand warmers, too.

What To Do At The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival

The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival provides a whole day of fun for people of all ages with lots of activities available for everyone, especially children. The main draw during the day is the ice fountain, sculptures and ice caves, with winter illuminations bringing the festival site to life once the sun sets. There’s also Korean festival food to try, snow and ice-based sports, and children’s rides.

Here are some of the best things you can see and do at this festival:

Ice Fountain, Ice Wall And Ice Sculptures

The towering ice fountains, which give this festival its name, and giant ice wall really have to be seen to be believed. Created by shooting jets of water which then freeze in place, they look truly unique. They look impressive during the day, but look even more extraordinary once the sun goes down and the lights are turned on, illuminating them in an ever changing rainbow of colours.

As well as the ice fountains, there are carefully created sculptures (inspired by Korean cartoons, Disney, and Pokemon), cute animals, and lots more. There are also ice sculptures shaped like the famous Korean turtle boat, a frozen Gwanghwamun Gate, wild animals, and a life-sized train made from ice.

Ice Caves, Igloos And Illuminations

Head into the ice caves and igloos to escape the cold and see gleaming blocks of ice lit up with vivid lights bouncing from frozen surfaces. There are several icy buildings to wander around and, as with the ice fountains, these look best when it’s dark so you can appreciate the illuminations at their fullest. Speaking of illuminations, there are lots of displays with pretty lights to see at night.

Snow And Ice Sports

There are plenty of winter sports to keep you busy and this festival is a great place to see snow in Korea as there are many snow machines working just in case it doesn’t snow. Slide down the snow sledding slope on a rubber ring or the ice sledding slope on a small sleigh. If you prefer flat surfaces, try the traditional Korean wooden sleighs and push yourself along the ice with short sticks.

Besides sledding, you can also try your hand at other winter sports and activities such as ice fishing, bare hand fishing in frozen tanks of water, a zip line past the frozen fountains, and a cow-drawn sleigh ride through the snow. If you want to try ice fishing, the experience here isn’t as impressive as dedicated ice fishing festivals like the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, but it’s still fun.

Children’s Activities At The Chilgapsan Winter Festival

I saw lots of families at the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival and there were plenty of activities for kids to enjoy, including a tractor-pulled ‘can sled’. These ‘cans’ looked like big cut out barrels with chairs inside, but were quite safe and let the kids feel like they were in their own personal car. The activities aren’t exactly on par with Disneyland, but they’re a good way to play in the snow.

As well as the sled and skis, children can try horse riding while being led around a course by a handler. There are also cultural activities and arts and crafts in small tents, but you might need to know a bit of Korean to understand what’s going on there. Activities will probably vary each year and may only be open during the busier weekend day, but I’m not sure so they could be available.

Food At The Chilgapsan Festival

Fans of Korean food won’t be disappointed with the range of Korean winter snacks at the Chilgapsan winter festival. Inside the festival grounds you can try various winter street foods on skewers, including chicken, rice cakes, and fish cakes, as well as deep fried fish. There’s also a cafe to get coffee, but don’t expect a chain store cafe, this is a temporary hut with a coffee machine inside.

The best part about the food at this festival has to be the roasted chestnuts, sweetcorn, and sweet potatoes. You can roast your own chestnuts on a log fire and cook the sweetcorn over hot coals. The sweet potatoes are roasted inside big metal drum ovens and served piping hot and steaming. These provide not only hot and delicious snacks, but also a fun experience to try at the festival.

For proper meals, there are some restaurants serving traditional Korean dishes such as tteok-guk (rice cake soup), haemul pajeon (Korean seafood pancakes), guk-bap (soupy stew with rice inside), and my favourite, donkasu (pork cutlet). There are simple meals like Korean curry and soybean sauce rice, too.

Sights Near Cheongyang Alps Village

Chilgapsan is the name of the mountain that the Cheongyang Alps Village, home to the ice fountain festival, is located by, which is why this festival is sometimes called the Cheongyang Ice Fountain Festival. If you want to explore more of this area during winter, there’s a really nice suspension bridge, the Chilgapsan Suspension Bridge (천장호 출렁다리), and reservoir near the entrance to the festival.

The reservoir looks really pretty when it’s frozen over and covered in snow, as you can see in the picture above. You can walk around the reservoir by following the wooden pathways, which are decorated with cute Korean messages along the way. You might be wondering why the suspension bridge has two giant chili peppers at each end. That’s because this area is famous for growing chilies.

Ticket Prices And Essential Festival Information

The entry fee for the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival is ₩8,000 per person (children under 36 months are free). This gives you access to the festival grounds and access to the sculptures, ice fountains, ice caves, igloos, and other sights and facilities at the festival.

The sledding pass, which includes access to the sledding hill for ice sledding, snow sledding, and bob sledding, costs about ₩20,000 per person. There are also additional costs for the zip line, ice fishing and children’s activities, such as horse riding and the can sled. The prices for these activities aren’t available on the festival’s official website yet, but I’ll update prices here when they are.

For more information about this festival (in Korean), you can visit the official Alps Village website.

Tours To Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival 2024

Despite the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival becoming more popular each year, there aren’t many tours. If you don’t have a car, taking a tour to the festival is the best option and gives you the benefit of a guaranteed direct journey there and back, as well as a guide who can tell you more about the festival.

Here are two tours that I recommend for the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival:

Cheongyang (Chilgapsan) Ice Festival & Other Winter Sights from Seoul: This all day guided tour from various locations in Seoul will take you to some of the hottest winter destinations in Korea, including the Chilgapsan festival. There are various options to add on extra destinations, such as Nami Island, the Garden of Morning Calm, Eobi Ice Valley, and a strawberry picking farm

Price: From ₩62,200 (about $47 USD)

Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival at Cheongyang Alps Village from Seoul: This all day tour from Seoul will take you to the Cheongyang Alps Village to see the Chilgapsan winter festival. You can add on extras, such as ice sledding, snow sledding, and bobsleigh, as well as extra destinations, to give you a full winter experience in Korea. You get over 4 hours to enjoy at the festival.

Price: From ₩69,100 (about $53 USD)

I always recommend booking tours in advance when visiting Korea for these reasons:

Learn more: Paying in your home currency is usually easier and cheaper than converting money into Korean won. Booking ahead is one of the tips included in my guide to paying in Korea, which covers ways to save on travel money in Korea and alternatives to relying on exchanging cash to travel.

How To Get To The Chilgapsan Winter Festival

Cheongyang Alps Village is a resort located in North Chungcheong Province, which is south of Seoul and about an hour west of Daejeon. It’s about 3.5 hours away from Seoul by car and can be reached by car or guided tour. Here are details about how to get to this Korean ice fountain festival by each of those means. There are instructions in Korean on the festival website, too.

From Seoul To Chilgapsan Festival By Car: If you plan to rent a car in Korea, or you live in Korea and have your own car, then you can drive to the festival in just over three hours from Seoul. You can find the main festival location by searching for “칠갑산얼음분수축제” or “알프스마을영농조합법인” in Naver or Kakao map apps. Use the address shown below to get directions with a sat-nav.

Address in Korean: 충남 청양군 정산면 천장호길 223-35 없음

From Seoul To Chilgapsan Festival By Tour: There are various tours to the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival from Seoul, as detailed in the previous section. Taking a tour is a convenient way to see the festival and to save time vs. organising your own way there on public transportation.

Please note: You can get to the Chilgapsan festival by taking a train from Seoul to Gongju and then transferring to a local bus, but the options for buses are very limited and don’t run late. I strongly recommend either renting a car or taking a tour rather than trying to get there by public transport. If you do want to try, there are directions (in Korean) on the festival website.

Best time to visit the Chilgapsan Festival: The best time to visit this festival is in the afternoon so you can enjoy snowy sights during the day, but don’t have to wait so long for the sun to set and to see the night lights and illuminations. Avoid visiting during the weekends if you can as it will be very busy.

Is The Chilgapsan Festival Worth Visiting?

Should you visit the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival? In the words of my friend Tim, who kindly contributed a lot of the pictures for this article, this festival is, “Totally worth it!“. This festival has plenty to see and do and will keep people amused in the afternoon and evening. If you take a tour that also visits another winter destination, such as a strawberry farm, then it’s a great day trip from Seoul.

Families will find plenty to do with lots of the activities aimed at children, such as the sledding slope, horse rides, and the can sleigh. Even if you’re not travelling with children, the beautiful winter displays at the Chilgapsan festival offer couples and solo travellers the chance to take unique pictures with snowy backgrounds and icy buildings, sample traditional Korean snacks, and experience a Korean festival.

This festival is worth visiting, but please consider the weather during winter in Korea. It’s cold and dry, which can be tough for people not used to such conditions. Be sure to wrap up warm and bring skin cream to protect against the dryness. Gloves are a must and heat packs that go in your pockets can save your fingers. Be aware of the cold weather and you should be fine here.

A Special Thanks To Photos Of Korea

I want to give a big shout out and thanks to Tim from Photos of Korea for letting me use his incredible photos from this festival and for sharing his thoughts about the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival, which he visited in 2023. You can see loads of incredible pictures of Korea’s lesser-known locations and festivals from his Facebook page, Instagram page, and his uploads on Unsplash.

2024 Winter Festivals In Korea To See Snowy Sights

Besides this Korean ice fountain festival, there are many other winter festivals that you should check out for exciting activities, incredible views, and cultural immersion. These festivals introduce you to traditional Korean culture in beautiful surroundings and with lots of delicious Korean festival food. Here are some of the other major winter festivals you can see in Korea:

Garden of Morning Calm Winter Illuminations: Exploring sculpted gardens and electric forests when the sun has set is like entering into a magical world, a true winter fantasia with lots of photo opportunities. Every year the garden has a range of themed areas that focus on animals, plants, and even love for the sweethearts.

Seoul Lantern Festival: This dazzling festival is held in Gwanghwamun Square outside Gyeongbokgung Palace, which gives over it’s large pedestrianised areas to massive themed lantern installations. These installations feature different concepts each year like aquarium scenes, starry nights, nature landscapes, and Korean folktales.

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Fishing Festival: This is one of Korea’s best winter festivals and made it into CNN’s top 7 ‘Wonder’s of Winter’ for a good reason. The Hwacheon Sancneoneo Ice Festival attracts over a million people each year to try ice fishing (with a rod or bare handed). There are winter activities, ice sculptures, and a Korean Winter Village with cultural games and Korean festival food.

Learn more: Discover all the best festivals to visit in Korea this winter with this guide to Korea’s winter festivals, which includes ice fishing festivals, illumination festivals, New Year festivals, and lots more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival. These answers are based on my own experience and from research conducted to write this article.

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The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is worth visiting because you get to experience a traditional Korean winter festival on a day trip from Seoul. There are also lots of other interesting ice-based games, cultural activities, and opportunities for sightseeing around this fish-focused town. This winter festival creates such a lively atmosphere it’s no wonder that it attracts over one million visitors every year.

In this article you can find out what there is to see and do at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, including the various ice-based activities and attractions, how to get there by tour or public transport, and information about other ice fishing festivals in Korea. If you’re thinking of visiting this fun winter festival, and want to know why it’s one of CNN’s “7 Wonders of Winter”, then keep on reading.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why I Love The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

This festival was the first winter festival that I visited when I moved to Korea and it’s one I’ve gone back to and will go back to again in the future as it’s pretty, fun, and has plenty to do. I bought a souvenir wooden fish from Hwacheon on my first visit and it still sits proudly on the top of my bookcase as a reminder of this festival. The fish I caught for lunch that day, however, has long since gone!

If I know people are coming to visit Korea in January and want to experience a unique winter festival that offers a fun day out from Seoul, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is always the first I recommend to them. This festival provides a mixture of culture, sports, entertainment, involvement, and surprising sights that makes it so memorable. This is a great festival to visit as a group or family.

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival runs from January 6th until January 23rd, 2024, right during the coldest part of winter in Korea when the river freezes over and there is ice over 40cm thick. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe to walk on, or even slide and sled on, even with all those holes drilled in it for you to catch fish through.

What To Do At The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival provides a whole day of fun for people of all ages with lots of activities available for everyone. The main draw is the ice fishing, which is one of the first things you see, but as you eyes stretch out over the icy river, you’ll notice a whole town alive with things to explore.

Here are some of the best things you can see and do at this festival:

1: Ice Fishing & Cooking

Ice fishing is the main attraction at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival and one that people typically start with when they arrive. All along the long stretch of frozen river running through the town are temporary ice fishing spots right above where the fish are swimming in the cold waters below.

You will be given a small fishing rod and bag to store your catch in and then shown to your own little hole in the ice. Now it’s your chance to prove your fishing skills by trying to hook the fish out from the frigid waters below. Once you’ve caught a few (limit of 3 per person), you can go to the kitchens and grill the fish or have it prepared as sashimi (raw fish). Both go well with a Korean beer.

Ice fishing on the river is probably not something most people have done and it’s fun to try at least once. There are lots of fun photo opportunities and the fact that you can cook your fish afterwards is a tasty bonus. Slipping along on the ice is also fun, as is watching others fail at walking on it so well.

2: Bare Hand Ice Fishing Competition

For those who want to test themselves in the frosty waters, there’s the chance to join in the bare hand ice fishing competition that’s held on the shore of the river. This is exactly what it sounds like – catching trout with your bare hands in a giant pool of ice cold water. It’s also a great spectator sport.

The contestants jump in the pool dressed in shorts and an overly large t-shirt (provided) and stuff trout down their tops until the 5 minute time limit is up. There’s a special prize for anyone who finds a trout with a golden ring attached, but otherwise you get to keep 3 of the fish you caught. You can eat your catch in the same way as the ice fishing and there’s also a hot foot bath provided to warm you up after.

The competition starts every hour (10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00) with up to 40 people jumping in the pool together – both locals and brave foreigners who have joined in. A friend of mine tried it one time and he really enjoyed it, but was happy to be out of the cold water by the end. I think he managed to catch 2 fish, which is pretty good. Definitely don’t miss watching this.

3: Ice Sledding And Snow Sports

There are all kinds of icy winter sports and activities to try at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival that don’t involve fish. You can try your hand at ice sledding in the traditional Korean way – on a small wooden box with two poles to push yourself along. Grab a box and give it a go.

Alternatively, you can jump in a giant inflatable ring and zoom down the snowy slopes, ending on the frozen river below. I spent quite a while doing this as it’s lots of fun. Fans of the Winter Olympics can try out curling, bobsleigh, and ice skating. If you want something more extreme, there’s also a zip line over the ice and ice suit walking (ice zorbing).

4: Ice Displays And Illuminations

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is home to ‘the world’s largest indoor ice sculpture plaza‘, according to the sign outside the entrance to one of the top attractions at this Korean festival. Inside this large building you’ll find a frosty wonderland of frozen ice sculptures of all different shapes and sizes.

One of the most impressive ice sculptures in this display is the large Korean-style traditional building, which resembles a small palace that you’d find in Seoul. There’s also ice slides, frozen fish sculptures, romantic photo zones, and lots of other interesting icy sights that no doubt change every year.

When the sun starts to set, which happens before 6pm in January, you’ll be dazzled by the beautiful winter illuminations and lanterns strung up throughout the town of Hwacheon. These cover the central street and also spread out across other key areas in the town. Unsurprisingly, a lot of the lanterns are shaped like fish to represent the famous sancheoneo mountain trout the town is famous for.

5: Winter Culture Village And Sights

Between the ice sports, fishing, illuminations, and strange people jumping into pools of freezing cold water are cultural activities to check out, including traditional Korean games like the ones seen on Squid Game, at the Winter Culture Village. Koreans are keen to introduce foreigners to their traditional culture and this ice fishing festival is an opportunity for you to learn more about Korean culture.

Some of the activities you can try at the Winter Culture Village include archery, slingshot shooting, fire fighting, and games like yut nori. You can eat Korean traditional foods, such as fried rice cakes and nurungji (scorched rice). There’s also performances with traditional instruments on the weekend.

Hwacheon is a town that’s crazy about fish and to show their love for their slippery friends, they’ve painted lots of colourful murals on buildings throughout the town. These make for interesting photo spots and holiday snaps. There’s also a giant rotating fish statue looking over the river that rotates from atop a tall tower. There are many unique sights like this to check out in Hwacheon.

Ticket Prices And Tour Options For This Festival

The fee for the main activities at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival (ice fishing and bare hand ice fishing) is normally ₩15,000 per activity for anyone 11+. However, to encourage foreign visitors to join in this winter festival, there is a discount for all non-Koreans. Foreign visitors to the festival only pay ₩10,000 (~$9 USD) per activity and children under 6 year enter free.

What is included in the entry price? The entry fee for this festival allows you to enter the frozen river and try ice fishing with the provided fishing equipment. You get to eat the fish after you’ve caught it, prepared on a grill or as sashimi (raw fish) for an additional fee of ₩3,000 per fish. There’s a limit of 3 fish per person and you can take them home with you if you like.

Walking around the town and joining in cultural activities is free, as are some of the activities such as curling and badminton. Other activities at the ice fishing festival, such as sledding, bobsleigh, rubber tube slides, zip line etc., come with additional charges as follows:

Tours To The 2024 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

There are a number of tours available to the Hwacheon Sancehoneo Ice Festival that depart from Seoul and are open only to foreign tourists. These tours include transportation to Seoul and back, a tour guide who speaks English, and entry fees to various activities, which means you can see the best of the festival for one price and without the hassle of organising your own transport.

Here are two tours that I recommend for the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival:

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival Day Tour from Seoul: This 11 hour round-trip tour from Myeongdong and Hongdae will show you the best ice fishing festival in Korea with a professional English-speaking driver and guide. The tour fee includes ice fishing with grilled fish, 5 rides on the ice sled, the Ice Sculpture Square, and a complimentary ₩10,000 coupon to spend on other activities.

Price: ₩53,000 (about $43 USD)

Hwacheon Ice Fishing and Garden Of Morning Calm Lighting Festival: This combined tour from Seoul will take you to two of the hottest winter festivals in Korea – the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival and the Garden of Morning Calm Lighting Festival. The tour includes entry fee for the ice fishing activity with all equipment, an English-speaking guide, and entry to the Garden of Morning calm.

Price: ₩73,000 (about $55 USD)

I always recommend booking tours in advance when visiting Korea for these reasons:

Learn more: Paying in your home currency is usually easier and cheaper than converting money into Korean won. Booking ahead is one of the tips included in my guide to paying in Korea, which covers ways to save on travel money in Korea and alternatives to relying on exchanging cash to travel.

How To Get To The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

Hwacheon is a town located in Gangwon Province halfway between Seoul and the east coast. It’s about 2.5 hours away from Seoul by car and can be reached by car, shuttle bus, or guided tour. Here’s some details about how to get to the ice fishing festival by each of those means. There are instructions in Korean on the festival website, too.

From Seoul To Hwacheon By Car: If you plan to rent a car in Korea, or you live in Korea and have your own car, then you can drive to the festival in a couple of hours from Seoul. The main festival location is “화천산천어축제”, but you will probably need to visit a temporary car park to park your car. The address of the festival is shown below. Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for directions.

Address in Korean: 강원 화천군 화천읍 중리 187-15

From Seoul To Hwacheon By Shuttle Bus: There is a special shuttle bus that operates for this festival exclusively for foreign tourists. This shuttle bus only runs once per day at 8:30am from Hongdae / 9:00am from Myeongdong and doesn’t include entry fees to any of the activities. The price for this shuttle bus is ₩20,000 per person.

From Seoul To Hwacheon By Tour: There are various tours to the Hwacheon Ice Fishing Festival from Seoul, as detailed in the previous section. Taking a tour is a convenient way to see the festival and to save time vs. organising your own way there on public transportation.

Please note: You can get to Hwacheon by bus and train from Seoul but this might be more expensive than taking the shuttle bus and definitely takes longer. I would recommend either using the shuttle bus or one of the tour options rather than trying to get there by public transport. If you do want to try, there are directions (in Korean) on the festival website.

Are Korean Ice Fishing Festivals Worth Visiting?

Should you visit an ice fishing festival in Korea this winter? In my opinion, you absolutely should. These winter festivals are a great opportunity to see snowy and icy landscapes, try a range of fun activities, eat delicious Korean festival foods, and create lasting memories from your time in Korea.

Just look at the guy in the picture. He’s standing in ice-cold water with a slippery trout in his hand and he’s got a big smile on his face. Whether you’re taking part or observing from the sidelines, there are so many entertaining sights and activities to enjoy at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival.

The festival does involve a long trip from Seoul to attend, about 2.5 hours each way, but you get a full day of activities and unique photo opportunities. If you add a side trip to the Garden of Morning Calm Lighting Festival at the same time, you get your money’s worth in terms of travel time.

The only downside of this festival is its popularity. It can get busy on weekends, which might put some people off. As a tourist, you have the luxury to travel during the week and I would definitely recommend visiting on a weekday to avoid the crowds and get more time and space at the festival.

Other Ice Fishing Festivals In Korea

I would say that the Hwacheon Ice Festival is my favourite fishing festival in Korea, but it’s not the only ice fishing festival that’s on during winter. There are few other big ice fishing festivals that run at the same time of year and offer the chance enjoy more ice and snow-based activities in Korea.

Pyeongchang Trout Ice Fishing Festival 2024: Pyeongchang, home to the 2018 Winter Olympics, hosts a trout ice fishing festival each year with many people attending to try their luck with a rod. There are other events to enjoy, including bare hand fish catching, sledding, snow rafting, and a sleigh train. For extreme sports lovers, you can rent an ATV and zoom through the frozen landscape.

You can join this festival with a tour from Klook.

Inje Ice Fishing Festival 2024: Running for more than 20 years, this large ice fishing festival in Inje is a family-friendly winter festival that not only includes ice fishing, but a range of other activities, too. There’s the Ice Playground, Snow Playground, and Mountain Village, where you can build a snowman, learn to sled and ski, slide down slippery slides, see ice sculptures, and see cultural exhibitions.

Yangpyeong Ice Fish Festival 2024: Held in the Soomy Village resort, this winter ice fishing festival runs from December to February and hosts a range of activities for families and other visitors to enjoy. Besides ice fishing, you can experience kite-flying, top spinning, sledding, and making traditional Korean snacks (jin-bang).

2024 Winter Festivals In Korea To See Snowy Sights

Besides ice fishing festivals, there are many other winter festivals in Korea that you should check out for exciting activities, incredible views, and cultural immersion. Here are some of the other major winter festivals you can see in Korea:

Garden of Morning Calm Winter Illuminations: Exploring sculpted gardens and electric forests when the sun has set is like entering into a magical world, a true winter fantasia with lots of photo opportunities. Every year the garden has a range of themed areas that focus on animals, plants, and even love for the sweethearts.

Seoul Lantern Festival: This dazzling festival is held in Gwanghwamun Square outside Gyeongbokgung Palace, which gives over it’s large pedestrianised areas to massive themed lantern installations. These installations feature different concepts each year like aquarium scenes, starry nights, nature landscapes, and Korean folktales.

Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival: The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival is a lesser-known gem among Korea’s winter festivals, but is fast becoming a must-see destination as a day trip from Seoul due to the unique ice fountains. There’s also a lot of delicious Korean winter foods to try, such as roasted chestnuts that you can cook yourself.

Learn more: Discover all the best festivals to visit in Korea this winter with this guide to Korea’s winter festivals, which includes ice fishing festivals, illumination festivals, New Year festivals, and lots more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival. These answers are based on my own experience and from research conducted to write this article.

Support In My Korea

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I was invited to participate in this day of kimchi making and kimchi eating with a family in Daejeon in late November as they were getting ready to fill their kimchi fridge with fresh kimchi for the year ahead. Yes, Koreans have a whole refrigerator dedicated to storing just one dish! That’s how much is made during kimjang day.

In this article I want to share my experience of making kimchi in Korea, as well as pass on some cultural insights and information about this arduous day of cabbage cutting and stuffing. If you’re interested in trying kimjang yourself, I’ll also tell you about where you can try it in Seoul and other places in Korea.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

What Is Kimjang And Why Did I Do It?

What is kimjang? kimjang is a Korean cultural tradition where families gather in late autumn or early winter to make large batches of kimchi together. During kimjang, ingredients like napa cabbage are chopped, salted, and seasoned before being stored to ferment and eat during the colder months.

Koreans don’t just use napa cabbages, however, there are over 200 hundred types of kimchi that can be made, including mul kimchi (water kimchi), baek kimchi (white kimchi), pa kimchi (spring onion kimchi) and more. All are great Korean banchan. When I joined kimjang, we made 3 different types of kimchi in one day.

When is kimjang? There is no set date for kimchi making day in Korea, but it’s traditionally around late November or early December when the temperature drops below zero degrees. This is apparently the ideal condition to make kimchi and weather reports in Korea will alert people when to start kimjang.

November 22nd is designated as Kimchi Day in Korea, but this isn’t a set date for making kimchi, more a day where the cultural importance of kimchi is celebrated. Some US states have even started to adopt Kimchi Day on the same day in recognition of Korean communities in the US.

Why did I join kimjang? kimjang is a traditional cultural event that centres around the family working together to prepare food for the winter ahead. I was able to do kimjang like a local as I joined my girlfriend’s family on this special day for the first time this November. I’d never done it before.

This experience was interesting, but also physically and culturally intense. Joining Korean family events as an insider opens up a different view of what is essentially a day of food prep and one of the benefits of dating in Korea. I hope to share some of these insights with you in this article

Joining these experiences is hard for foreigners in Korea, even those who live here as expats or students, unless you have some nice Korean friends. However, if you want to get your hands covered in red paste, you can experience making kimchi at the Seoul Kimchi Academy in Seoul. More details on that later.

The Kimjang Experience: How To Make Kimchi

I’ve got a confession to make. I didn’t do everything needed to make kimchi this kimchi making day. Some steps were done by other people both before I arrived and on another day. That’s because modern kimjang can involve a few shortcuts to make things easier. After all, modern life is busy and time is precious!

There are a few things to prepare before you start making kimchi onkimjang, such as buying the ingredients, making the sauce, and cutting up the cabbages. As well as this, you’ll need a big area to prepare the kimchi with lots of newspapers down to stop the bright red sauce staining everything.

Traditionally, Koreans prepare the ingredients for kimjang throughout the year, collecting seafood in spring, sea salt and chili peppers in summer, and the cabbages, spring onions, radishes and other ingredients in autumn. These ingredients are fermented (seafood) and dried out (chili peppers) throughout the year.

Honestly though, I don’t think Koreans really collect all those things in each season, and most people purchase them closer to the time. That’s why the price of ingredients for kimchi making tend to shoot up in late November. I was told the price of oysters (for geotjeori) was three times higher than normal right now!

Step 1: Prepare The Cabbage

This step is best done the night before kimjang as the baechu cabbages need time to soak and dry out so they’re ready to be covered in the spicy sauce that turns them into delicious kimchi. Each cabbage should be cut into quarters and soaked in salty water. This helps make them soft and easy to pull apart and also removes impurities and excess water.

In the morning, take the cabbages out of the water, wash them thoroughly, and put them somewhere sunny to dry. My girlfriend’s mum got up at 6am to do this. I was busy sleeping at this time, saving energy for the rest of the kimchi making process.

Step 2: Make The Marinade

This is probably the most important step for a successful kimjang. If you don’t have the perfect marinade to coat the cabbages with, your kimchi won’t bring a bite of joy to every meal throughout the year. Fortunately, I wasn’t involved in making the marinade, so it was perfect!

The marinade is made of a range of ingredients (more details later) that typically include red chili pepper powder, garlic, spring onions, pear, fermented fish, rice paste, and ginger. my girlfriend’s mum was in charge of mixing a giant metal bowl of marinade, adding in generous helpings of the various ingredients to get it sweet yet spicy. It’s a family recipe that’s been perfected through dozens of kimchi making days.

Step 3: Marinade The Cabbages

This is the heart of kimjang and the toughest part where you really earn the big meal that’s waiting for you at the end. To marinade the cabbages, you’ll need a big metal bowl that is big enough to hold the cabbage spread out. Start with a large dollop of kimchi marinade in the bottom of the bowl and then slap your cabbage on top of it so that you coat the outside.

So far, so easy, but next up is the tricky part and one that takes a long time. Lift the cabbage up and separate each leaf, laying the first leaf down on the bottom of the bowl. Massage a generous helping of the sauce onto the leaf, then place the next leaf down and do the same. Keep doing this until the whole cabbage has a layer of marinade between each leaf and around the outside.

Tip: Make sure you get all the ingredients (spring onions, radish, etc.) between each leaf, not just the sauce.

Step 4: Store The Kimchi

After a couple of hours of back-breaking marinading, with the occasional thumbs up from my girlfriend’s mum for encouragement, all of the kimchi was safely placed in boxes, ready to start fermenting in the kimchi fridge. Historically, kimchi was stored in stone pots and buried outside, but the neighbours might steal it if we did.

Before I put each one into the box, I had to wrap the kimchi in a special way, which I never knew about until I joined this kimchi making day. Using the outer leaf of the cabbage, you need to gently wrap it around the bottom of the cabbage and then tuck it around the front.

The cabbages are stored facing up, as in the outside of the cabbage is facing the bottom of the box, except for the last ones, which go face down. We packed in some radish kimchi with the cabbage kimchi as they can ferment together and it fits in nicely at the side.

Step 5: Make Other Kimchi

The main star of the kimjang show is baechu kimchi, but there are many other types of kimchi you can make at the same time. We made 3 different types of kimchi on this day, including one that we ate for dinner.

The first type was baechu kimchi, which is the kimchi you most commonly see in Korean restaurants and the one you use for a kimchi slap. The second type was radish kimchi, which is also very common in Korean restaurants and cut into bite-sized chunks that are more like sliced apples. The third type was baechu geotjeori kimchi, which is a non-fermented kimchi that you can eat fresh. This fresh kimchi is the one we ate for dinner after a long afternoon making kimchi.

Step 6: Share Dinner Together

After a hard day’s work making kimchi, we were all tired and ready for a big meal. Korean’s typically eat boiled pork slices, called suyuk (수육) in Korean, after kimjang with a big helping of fresh geotjeori kimchi. This is one of my favourite traditional Korean dishes and I definitely recommend it wrapped in lettuce leaves (bossam).

While my girlfriend and I were marinading an endless supply of cabbages (36 wrapped pieces in total, but it felt like 100), her mum was preparing dinner for everyone. This dinner was certainly the best part of kimjang and a welcome reward for everyone’s hard work. There’s nothing like tucking into freshly prepared kimchi. And of course we had to wash it down with some makgeolli.

My Thoughts On Kimjang

Overall, it was a really interesting experience making kimchi with my girlfriend’s family. We all worked hard to make several boxes of kimchi that will be eaten throughout the year. I got to take a box home for myself (although my girlfriend will probably steal it all) and I look forward to that fresh kimchi smell in the fridge!

Kimchi making day certainly is a time when everyone comes together and the camaraderie and teamwork that I found through kimjang was a welcome reward for all the hard work. My back was quite stiff for a couple of days after sitting on the floor filling dozens of cabbages with the family’s secret sauce. but it was worth it.

I’ll never forget my girlfriend’s mum using her limited English to direct me to put more sauce on the leaves while commenting how much of a natural I am at making kimchi throughout the day. Her regular thumbs ups while my gloved hands were wrist-deep in kimchi seasoning gave me the motivation to keep on going.

It’s little things like being fed boiled pork slices as I wrapped the cabbages, preparing the table and cleaning up together, and everyone being involved that made it a very memorable day of my life in Korea. It’s not something that I’d want to do often as it’s hard work, but I’d definitely do it again next year.

To help sum up my thoughts on the cultural aspects of kimchi making day, I asked DALL-E 3 to create an image of kimjang that shows everyone working together. What do you think? Does it look right? Check out the next section of this article to learn more about the cultural and historic aspects of kimjang.

History & Origins Of Kimjang

Since 2013, kimjang has been recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, demonstrating the importance of kimchi making day for Korean culture. It’s not just a practical day of food production, it’s a shared experience that reflects Korea’s traditional values.

The origins of kimchi making date back centuries as a way to preserve vegetables without refrigeration during Korea’s harsh winters. Neighbours would make large amounts of kimchi collectively to share. Over time, kimjang became a family tradition, with recipes and techniques passed down through generations.

While modern refrigeration allows year-round kimchi today, some Korean families still honour their heritage by coming together each winter for kimjang. It’s an opportunity to bond across generations while ensuring a supply of homemade kimchi is stocked in kimchi refrigerators. And homemade kimchi is the best kind of kimchi!

The tradition highlights values of community, cooperation, and shared work while celebrating Korean food traditions. I would say that these values are still strong in Korea today, even if kimjang’s popularity is waning. Community and cooperation are key facets of Korean culture and etiquette and can be seen in many places.

Unfortunately, the practice of kimjang isn’t as common as it was in previous decades as Koreans have moved away from their hometowns and spend less time with their family except during big holidays. I think this is reflective of how many societies spend less time as a family and not just a Korean issue.

See how kimchi is made in this interesting video that explores the cultural and historic roots of kimjang.

What Ingredients Are Used For Kimjang?

Korean families may have their own recipe for kimjang, but most of them will use a standard set of ingredients as a base for the marinade and then add in extra ingredients or use different quantities of the standard ingredients. I don’t want to spoil the family secret, so here are the typical kimchi marinade ingredients for kimjang.

Gochugaru (고추가루) – dried chili pepper flakes: This is the heart of the kimchi marinade and the ingredient that gives it a deep red colour. Add as much as you can handle.

Maneul (마늘) – garlic: Koreans love garlic and Korea is one of the countries that eats it the most. Loads of garlic cloves are crushed and added into the kimchi marinade.

Saeng-gang (생강) – ginger: Another popular ingredient in Korean cooking, ginger is both healthy and delicious and gives the kimchi it’s basic taste.

Pa (파) – spring onions: Finely chopped spring onions are added into the sauce and placed between the leaves. This gives the kimchi a crunchy texture and added flavour.

Mu (무) radish: As with the spring onions, these are chopped into small parts and added between the cabbage leaves. We used grounded radish instead of chopped radish.

Bae (배) – pear: Korean pears are gigantic, crunchy, and quite different from pears I’m used to from England. When they’re grounded and added to the sauce, they bring a good amount of sweetness.

Seol-tang (설탕) – sugar: An easier way to add sweetness to the kimchi marinade is through spoonfuls of sugar. The mixture of sweet and spicy is quite common in Korean cooking and is called yangnyeom (양념).

Chap-ssal-pul (찹쌀풀) glutinous rice paste: this white sauce is an essential ingredient to help with the fermentation process along with the fermented seafood ingredients. It helps the growth of bacteria in kimchi.

Saeu-jeot (새우젓) – fermented shrimp: These minuscule shrimp are commonly used as a seasoning for dishes and are really salty. They’re used to help the kimchi ferment and give it a strong, rich and sour taste.

Gganari-aeg-jeot (까나리액젓) – fermented anchovy sauce: As with the fermented shrimp, this fish sauce adds a rich taste to the marinade and contributes to the high level of health benefits of kimchi.

So-geum (소금) – salt: Used to bring out the flavour of kimchi. You don’t need too much if you’re using lots of fermented shrimp or anchovy sauce.

The quantities of these ingredients will vary depending on how much kimchi you’re making, which can range from a few cabbages to dozens. Here’s a simple kimchi recipe you can use to make a batch of kimchi at home.

How To Make Vegetarian Kimchi

If you want to make kimchi that’s vegetarian or vegan-friendly, you can use all of the above ingredients, but leave out the fermented shrimp and anchovy sauce. Unfortunately, this takes away the strong savoury taste that kimchi is known for, so you’ll need to replace them with alternative ingredients, such as vegetable stock or soy sauce.

For those who prefer to make kimchi without seafood, here’s a recipe for vegan kimchi that you can use when you try kimjang at home. It’s worth being aware of kimchi’s seafood ingredients if you’re travelling in Korea and want to eat only vegan-friendly food. Most restaurants will serve non vegan-friendly kimchi.

How To Experience Kimjang In Korea

I’ll be honest, it’s not going to be easy to persuade a typical Korean family to let you join them for kimjang, but you might be lucky if they think the offer of free help is better than having a stranger in their house. Fortunately, there are other options to try kimchi making when you’re in Korea. Here are few ways you can try making kimchi:

Visit the Museum Kimchikan in Seoul: If you’re visiting Seoul, there’s an excellent museum dedicated to the world of kimchi in Insadong called Museum Kimchikan. Groups that want to experience kimchi making can contact the museum one day in advance to try kimjang. I recommend calling 1330 (tourist support) in Korea to do this.

Join a kimchi making class in Seoul: There are regular classes in Seoul that will introduce you to the world of kimjang, such as those run by the Seoul Kimchi Academy. Here you can try making kimchi with pre-prepared cabbages and learn about the history and culture of Korean kimchi at the same time.

Here are a couple of classes to learn how to make kimchi in Seoul:

• Seoul Kimchi & Culture Experience
• Kimchi Making, Hanbok Wearing and Tea Ceremony in Seoul

If you’re from Singapore, there’s an authentic kimchi making class in Singapore that you can join.

Experience a kimchi making event at Songtan Market (Pyeongtaek): For expats in Korea or tourists who are visiting in early December, there’s an authentic kimchi making experience happening at a traditional market in Pyeongtaek. This 2-day event will take you through the whole kimjang process and includes meals and snacks.

You can find out more about this event from this South of Seoul blog post. It’s just $25 and designed to introduce people to local Korean culture and customs.

Kimchi Making Day FAQs

Finally, here are a few FAQs about winter in Korea, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you. If you have any other questions you’d like to ask, feel free to leave a comment.

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Dive into the rich tapestry of Korean literature with novels that transcends borders and touches hearts. From poignant tales of personal struggle to gripping mysteries and surreal fantasies, these 10 Korean novels translated into English give a curated journey through stories showcasing the soul of Korea.

Let the vivid imagination of Korean authors enrich your reading list and open a window to a culture that’s both fascinating and deeply introspective. I hope this introduction to the world of Korean novels entices you to delve further into the enchanting world of Korean literature. Happy reading!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why Should You Read Korean Novels In English?

Reading novels from Korea is akin to embarking on a cultural expedition without leaving the comfort of your armchair. Literature, in its essence, is a reflection of a nation’s soul, capturing the nuances, beliefs, and stories that have shaped its people over generations.

Experience the angst and rebellion in “Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982”, delve into the haunting surrealism of “The Vegetarian”, or get enchanted by the allegorical beauty of “The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly”. With every page you turn, you’re not just reading a story, you’re immersing yourself in a world where tradition meets modernity, and personal tales intertwine with the larger narratives of society.

Korean novels, for instance, offer readers a mosaic of experiences, from the nation’s ancient folklore and Confucian values to the rapid modernisation and the struggles it brought along. Through the eyes of the characters, one can traverse the bustling streets of Seoul, wander through serene Hanok villages, or even experience the weight of historical events like the Korean War.

When you read a book from Korea…You’re stepping into their world, feeling their history, and connecting with the pulse of their culture.

Whether you’re a seasoned literature lover or someone venturing into the vast expanse of global narratives, these books promise a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Each novel, while uniquely Korean in its setting & sensibility, tackles universal themes and emotions that resonate with readers worldwide.

I chose these stories because they really get to the heart of what it means for the authors to be Korean. They talk about family ties, the importance of honour, and the search for identity. I love it when you dive into a book from another country, like Korea, because you’re not just getting a good story, you’re stepping into their world, feeling their history, and connecting with the pulse of their culture.

Now, without further ado, here are 10 amazing Korean novels translated into English that I’m sure will help you learn and love more about Korean culture. Grab a cosy chair, put up your feet, and find your next literary inspiration from the world of Korean books.

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982
Cho Nam-Joo

Since its publication in 2016, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 has become one of the most popular and well-known pieces of Korean fiction. Kim Jiyoung quickly became associated with the #metoo movement. Because of its feminist agenda, it has also received a lot of criticism here in Korea, and has become quite a controversial talking point.

The novel follows the life of a Korean everywoman, Kim Jiyoung, from early childhood through to marriage and motherhood in modern day Seoul. The story is not action-packed or plot-heavy. Instead, it is quieter and slower paced. Jiyoung herself is somewhat of a blank slate, an image on which to reflect yourself as the reader, as you imagine yourself in her shoes.

The novel highlights the sexism and misogyny in Korean society. Jiyoung experiences everyday sexism and microaggressions from a young age, and Nam-joo makes it clear that these experiences are not specific to Kim Jiyoung, but are felt by many Korean women nowadays.

Translated By: Jamie Chang
Publication Date: October 2016
Number of Pages: 192

Who is this book aimed at: This book is aimed at young adults and above, especially those navigating the challenges of adulthood and societal expectations. It appeals to both male and female readers interested in gaining a deeper understanding of gender dynamics in Korea.

Who will enjoy this book: Readers who appreciate contemporary fiction with strong feminist themes will certainly enjoy this book, as well as those interested in understanding the societal pressures faced by modern Korean women. I think it’s also suitable for anyone looking for a compelling character-driven narrative that offers deep insights into everyday life.

Why you should read this book: It offers a raw and unfiltered look into the life of an ordinary Korean woman, making it a significant cultural commentary. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 has sparked crucial conversations about gender equality in Korea and beyond, making it an essential read for you if you’re keen on understanding contemporary societal shifts.

The Vegetarian
Han Kang

The Vegetarian, arguably the most well-known Korean novel in translation and perhaps my favourite Korean novel, famously won the International Booker Prize in 2016. The story follows an ordinary woman, Yeong-hye, and her husband. One night, Yeong-hye has a horrifying nightmare, after which she categorically announces her status as a vegetarian.

Her husband, the narrator of the first section of the book, finds it shocking and often belittles her efforts to remove meat products from the house. We really get the sense that her decision is not being taken seriously. This is just the start of Yeong-hye’s declining mental state.

It’s really a social commentary on what it means to be human, and Yeong-hye’s growing animosity towards humanity. Though Yeong-hye is the protagonist of the book, each chapter is from someone else’s perspective, so as readers we’re also observing her as outsiders, becoming increasing confused by her actions and the reasons behind them.

Translated By: Deborah Smith
Publication Date: October 2007
Number of Pages: 160

Who is this book aimed at: If you’re the kind of reader who’s drawn to stories that make you think and question the world around you, The Vegetarian may be your next favourite book. However, I wouldn’t recommend this book to young readers due to its adult themes.

Who will enjoy this book: While this book might resonate more with mature readers due to its deep themes and somewhat dark undertones, anyone curious about the intricacies of mental health, relationships, and personal boundaries, as well as Korean society, will find it engrossing.

Why you should read this book: Because it’s not just a novel; it’s an experience. Han Kang isn’t just telling us a story about a woman who has become a vegetarian; she’s challenging us to question our beliefs. It’s no wonder the book clinched the esteemed Man Booker International Prize in 2016. If you’re a fan of Haruki Murakami, I expect that you’ll love this book.

Almond
Sohn Won-Pyung

Almond tells the story of Yunjae, a young boy with a brain condition that limits his ability to feel emotions due to the almond-shaped neurons in his brain. We follow Yunjae through childhood and into his teenage years when his life suddenly changes.

Yunjae retreats into himself, and lives a solitary life, until the arrival of a new bully at his school, Gon. Gon is seemingly totally different to Yunjae. He is driven by emotions, he is loud, and he is antagonistic. Over time, the two discover that they have more in common than they first realised, and they begin to form an unlikely and unusual friendship.

The story unfolds as the two learn more and more about each other and themselves. Yunjae’s is a unique and fascinating perspective to read from. He is direct and emotionless, leaving the reader with the unique opportunity to see other people emotion’s through Yunjae’s eyes.

Though there are some uncomfortable scenes of violence, the novel’s moral is an important one. It tells us to put aside our judgement of others. Let’s not judge books by their covers, as it were

Translated By: Joosun Lee
Publication Date: March 2017
Number of Pages: 272

Who is this book aimed at: Those who find solace in stories that delve deep into the human mind and emotions will enjoy this Korean novel’s gripping narrative that’s both touching and enlightening.

Who will enjoy this book: This Korean novel is primarily crafted for a mature audiences, drawing in readers who appreciate tales of personal growth, resilience, and the intricate dance between trauma and healing. It’s definitely a compelling read and will those who are interested in human psychology.

Why you should read this book: Sohn Won-pyung brilliantly brings to light the struggles and triumphs of living with a condition that affects emotional recognition, offering you a fresh perspective on empathy, humanity, and connection.

The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly
Sun-Mi Hwang

The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly is a wonderfully charming and heartwarming tale about identity, belonging and found family. It follows an array of animal characters, including a weasel, a rooster and a duck.

Our main character is a brave and loving hen named Sprout, whose journey to motherhood is an unorthodox one. Sprout grows tired of a life where she lays eggs for farmers day in and day out, and dreams of a life of freedom. One day, she is able to escape the confines of the barn, but makes an enemy in the determined weasel. Sprout discovers an egg, and finally has the chance to become a mother herself.

This book has been compared to Charlotte’s Web and Watership Down and for good reason. It is heartwarming and delightful. Much like these beloved animal stories, Sprout’s tale is timeless, one to be enjoyed by all ages.

Translated By: Chi-Young Kim
Publication Date: January 2000
Number of Pages: 134

Who is this book aimed at: This enchanting fable, with its vibrant characters and captivating narrative, is perfect for those who enjoy stories that speak to the soul and evoke childlike wonder.

Who will enjoy this book: Readers of all ages will love this book and it’s just as suitable for younger audiences as it is for older ones, holding a particular charm that’s easily accessible. If you’re ever dared to dream big, then this tale will resonate with its gentle, dreamlike quality.

Why you should read this book: At its heart, it is a story about love and loss. It’s about freedom and choice. But above all, it is a tale about family. Sun-Mi Hwang brilliantly weaves a tale about love, sacrifice, and the courage to follow one’s heart. It’s a poignant reminder that sometimes the most unlikely heroes have the most incredible journeys.

Please Look After Mom
Shin Kyung-Sook

The international best-seller Please Look After Mom begins with the disappearance of 69 year-old So-Nyo amongst crowds at a bustling Seoul subway station. Her husband and adult children are saddened by her disappearance and try their best to find her. Shin uses 1st-person, 2nd-person, and 3rd-person narration to tell the story from these different perspectives.

As they try to discern where she might have gone, they start to realise that they maybe didn’t know her as well as they thought. Who was this woman they called Mom? Throughout the novel, we also see the rapid modernisation of Korea.

So-Nyo and her peers struggle to keep up with a society that is leaving them behind. Born into a world that’s hugely different to the modern Seoul she disappears in, we see So-Nyo struggle to come to terms with her home country becoming more unrecognisable to her as years go by. This is ultimately a story about motherhood, family, love, and loss. It asks the question: how well do we really know the people in our lives?

Translated By: Chi-Young Kim
Publication Date: January 2008
Number of Pages: 272

Who is this book aimed at: This book is aimed at those who understand the bonds between parent and child. If you’ve ever felt the complexities of family ties, the deep-rooted love, and the inevitable misunderstandings that come with it, Please Look After Mom will resonate deeply with you.

Who will enjoy this book: Adult readers who enjoy dissecting the intricacies of relationships, particularly between children and their parents, will find this Korean tale especially poignant. The narrative, though rooted in Korean culture, has a universal appeal that transcends borders and anyone who has sacrificed themselves for their children will certainly make a connection with this book.

Why you should read this book: I really enjoyed the way the narration of each chapter is told from a different perspective, with different family members detailing their search for So-Nyo and reminiscing about their lives together. It makes this Korean novel both unique and fascinating.

The Disaster Tourist
Yun Ko-Eun

This lesser-known eco-thriller, The Disaster Tourist, is a short but exciting novel with feminist leanings. It follows Yona who works for a travel agency in Seoul that specialises in organising trips to environmental disaster zones, areas that had been devastated by the likes of volcanoes, tsunamis, etc.

Following an incident with a predatory and exploitative male boss, Ko-Eun agrees to take a business trip to a desert sinkhole on the island of Mui, Vietnam to determine why its success as a tourist destination has been waning in recent years. Upon arriving in Mui, she finds the sinkhole underwhelming, recognising this as the reason why the destination is losing popularity.

She soon becomes embroiled in a plot to create a new, more exciting, more catastrophic manmade sinkhole. This is a novel of two halves: a story of a working woman and the sexism she encounters in modern-day Seoul, that soon becomes a fast-paced, action-packed eco-thriller unlike anything you’ve read before.

Translated By: Lizzie Buehler
Publication Date: October 2013
Number of Pages: 200

Who is this book aimed at: Travel enthusiasts and those with a penchant for dark humour, satire, and suspense will find The Disaster Tourist an intriguing read. This Korean novel is definitely suitable for readers who crave a fresh perspective on the world of tourism and its grim underbelly.

Who will enjoy this book: For modern-day globetrotters and readers who enjoy thought-provoking narratives, this book offers a critical look at the ethics of disaster tourism. I like that it’s not just another travel tale but an exploration of the moral dilemmas that arise when tragedy becomes a spectacle.

Why you should read this book: You should read this Korean novel because it brings to light many questions about the exploitation of other cultures, the value of life, and even the concept of reality itself. Ultimately, it brings to light the link between global tourism and capitalism, and the impact of this on our natural environments and local communities.

Love in the Big City
Sang Young Park

Longlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2022, Love in the Big City is Park’s first novel to be translated into English. Rather than one coherent narrative, this book is actually four short stories not chronologically told, each about someone the main character loves, be it romantically or not.

The protagonist of this Korean novel is a young gay man, exploring and coming to terms with his sexuality and identity, whilst caring for his ailing mother and maintaining a friendship with his roommate, Jaehee. Over time Jaehee becomes less and less recognisable to our protagonist, and his mother is ashamed of his sexuality.

He has two romantic interests at different times in the story. One is cold and distant, and one might be the love of his life. All his relationships, whether they be romantic or not, are overshadowed by his queerness and his positive-HIV diagnosis.

Translated By: Anton Hur
Publication Date: October 2021
Number of Pages: 218

Who is this book aimed at: This story primarily speaks to those navigating the complexities of adulthood, friendship, and romance in a bustling metropolis. Written with humour and heart, it resonates with city-dwellers, young adults, and those who’ve felt the dizzying highs and lows of love.

Who will enjoy this book: This novel is a treat for readers drawn to vibrant urban tales, bursting with life, love, and the challenges of modern relationships. If you’re enchanted by the allure of city lights or find yourself lost in the maze of urban life, you might see yourself reflected in these pages.

Why you should read this book: Love in the Big City is a story of LGBTQ+ lives in modern Seoul, a romp through Itaewon nightclubs, a plethora of Tinder matches, and the loneliness and shame that comes with it. It’s a reminder that amidst the city’s cacophony, finding oneself and true love can be the most challenging yet rewarding adventure.

Untold Night And Day
Bae Suah

Untold Night and Day is a short, disorienting fever dream of a novel. Its loose plot follows Ayami over one sweltering day and night in Seoul as she searches for her German-language teacher. It begins with her completing her shift at Seoul’s only audio-theatre shortly before it is due to close for good. Characters pop in and out of the story with little explanation.

The vivid descriptions of the summer heat are claustrophobic and suffocating. Bae’s use of repetition leaves the reader with a strange sense of déjà vu, whilst time and location seem to jump about in unexplained ways. Anyone who has experienced the summer weather in Korea can sympathise with her struggles.

The writing itself is dreamlike and ambiguous, often leaving the reader with an unsettling feeling and questioning what is and isn’t real.

Translated By: Deborah Smith
Publication Date: April 2013
Number of Pages: 160

Who is this book aimed at: This novel is aimed at those readers who appreciate avant-garde literature and unconventional storytelling, allowing themselves to be taken away to another world through well-crafted narrative structure and poetic prose.

Who will enjoy this book: If books that venture beyond the conventional, twisting day and night, fact and fiction, are your cup of tea, then you’re sure to enjoy this mesmerising tale. This book is perfect for those who appreciate the abstract, surreal writing that digs into the meaning of our existence.

Why you should read this book: With her unique voice, Bae Suah beautifully crafts a Korean novel that challenges our perceptions of the world around us. As the story unfolds, you find yourself pondering the nature of identity, boundaries of consciousness, and complexities of the human psyche.

Concerning My Daughter
Kim Hye-Jin

Concerning My Daughter, the first Korean novel by Kim Hye-Jin to be translated into English, is a slice of life narrative about a struggling and ageing mother. When her daughter approaches her and asks to move back in with her due to financial struggles, our main character is disappointed.

Why has her daughter not got married and had children yet? Why is she still working? Surely a husband would bring financial security. But when her daughter brings home Lane, her long-term girlfriend, the disappointment of our protagonist deepens and she begins to feel an almost palpable hatred towards Lane that can only be explained by the fact that she’s not a man.

When not at home, our protagonist works at a nursing home, caring for an elderly dementia patient, Jen, who used to be a very important and prominent diplomat who travelled the world. She is then faced with the realities of living a non-traditional life. Jen has nobody in her life to care for or look after her in her old age. Who will look after our protagonist when she reaches the end of her life?

Translated By: Jamie Chang
Publication Date: September 2017
Number of Pages: 176

Who is this book aimed at: If, like me, you enjoy novels that have a penchant for deep emotional tales, brimming with introspection and insight, you’ll really enjoy this Korean novel. It’s as relevant for a younger adult dealing with difficult parents as it is for those parents facing their own mortality.

Who will enjoy this book: Whether you’ve experienced struggles in your family relationships or not, this book appeals to a wide audience and I think anyone can relate to the challenges and realisations produced in this book. The nuanced portrayals of love, sacrifice, and time make it a captivating book that’s not just about Koreans, but also about humans the world over.

Why you should read this book: This Korean novel inspires you to reflect on your own relationships, the sacrifices you make for those you hold dear, and our inescapable end. It’s a story about complex family dynamics, a changing society, women’s roles and LGBTQ+ communities in Korea, something that’s often not discussed enough in Korea’s conservative society.

Cursed Bunny
Bora Chung

Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung is a collection of 10 short stories of varying genres, though they all contain some unsettling horror elements. The first story is a shocking and disturbing tale of body horror. The second, a worrying medical issue that leads to discussions on a woman’s place in a patriarchal society.

No two stories are alike, and each has its own unique twist of an ending, leaving you trying to figure out what could happen next. Bora Chung’s language is shocking and grotesque at times. Now and then I found myself wanting to look away but a morbid curiosity had me returning to page after page until I’d finished every story.

I’d never read anything like it before and found it utterly original, though not for the faint hearted.

Translated By: Anton Hur
Publication Date: March 2017
Number of Pages: 251

Who is this book aimed at: Fans of horror will be sure to love these chilling tales set with a Korean twist, as will those who want to dig under the skin of Korea’s traditional culture. Definitely not for the faint-hearted, but if you like your humour dark and disturbing, this book is for you.

Who will enjoy this book: Those who are brave enough to read Cursed Bunny will be rewarded with entertaining, often unsettling tales from Korea that are laced with suspense and surprise. If you like stories that challenge the norm, this book feels like a treasure found in a hidden alleyway in Seoul.

Why you should read this book: Why pick up this book on your next Korean novel spree? Because Cursed Bunny gave me chills like no other. The blend of Korean folklore and contemporary unease kept me hooked. Reading it felt like exploring a haunted palace at midnight – eerie, mesmerising, and utterly captivating. If you want a novel that leaves an imprint, this is a must-buy for you.

More Korean Novels You Might Enjoy

As someone who has lived in Korea for a long time, I’ve learnt that this country has an incredible depth of storytelling that intertwines Korea’s traditional past with an emerging modern culture that’s coming to terms with its place in a global society. This conflict has resulted in some fascinating Korean novels.

From the strong feminist themes in Kim Jiyoung to the horrifying descriptions in Cursed Bunny, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in these Korean books in English. Korean translated fiction has taken remarkable strides in recent years, and I’ve no doubt that the future is bright.

If these English language Korean novels have whetted your appetite for more Korean literature, then you don’t need to worry about running out of things to read. I’ve still got a lot to read, with these books by Korean authors on my to-read list. I’ll share them here as I think you might enjoy them as well.

• Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong
• Crying In H Mart by Michelle Zauner
• Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
• The Mermaid from Jeju by Sumi Hahn
• Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim
• Seven Years of Darkness by You-Jeong Jeong

So, whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just someone with a deep love for profound tales, keep venturing into the world of Korean literature. It’s a journey that I promise you won’t forget.

Safe travels and happy reading!

Incidentally, if you’re interested in learning about Korean culture, why not check out these fascinating facts about Korea or what unique Korean experiences you can have when you travel to Korea. If you’re totally in love with Korea, then check out my Korean dating advice for a quick chuckle.

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Food is a great way to understand a culture and a meal is more than just a way to refuel your body. Being able to discuss the meal, offer praise, ask simple requests, and being able to ask for another glass of soju will help you make friends and show you want to learn more about Korea and its people.

This guide covers everything about Korean food phrases; from entering a restaurant and getting a table, to understanding Korean menu words, asking about food, and finally settling the bill. You’ll also learn how to ask for takeout food in Korean, give compliments, and explain dietary restrictions.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why Learn How To Order Food In Korean?

Travelling to Korea has never been easier thanks to Korean translation apps like Papago, which can turn foreign phrases into Korean and vice versa. However, these apps can be time consuming to use and feel less personal than being able to communicate directly with the person you’re talking to.

That’s why I’ve made a guide about how to order food in Korean; so you can learn a few phrases to use when eating in or taking out food when visiting Korea. Learning these phrases, as well as some Korean travel phrases, will help you understand more, make a good impression, and travel in Korea more easily and authentically.

This is more than just a guide to ordering food in Korean, however. I’ve packed in extra tips and insights about Korean food culture, how to get takeout in Korean, how to avoid embarrassing dining mistakes, etiquette tips for eating out in Korea, and the best ways travellers to Korea can enjoy all the amazing foods Korea has to offer.

To help make it easier for you to find what you’re looking for, I’ve broken this article into the following sections. Click the quick links below to jump straight there or keep reading through all parts.

How To Get A Table

How To Read Korean Menus

Explaining Dietary Restrictions

How To Order Food In A Restaurant

Getting Takeout Food In Korea

How To Pay For Your Meal

How To Discuss Food & Meals

Korean Food & Dining Culture

A Note About The Korean Used In This Guide

Korean is a complex language and there can be multiple ways to say the same thing. In English, you might say ‘give me a pizza‘ or ‘I think I’d like a pizza, please‘ or just ‘pizza, please‘. They all mean the same thing, but can be easier or more difficult to understand for non-native English speakers. The same principle applies with Korean, which has various ways of saying the same thing.

I’ve tried to use the simplest Korean phrases to order food so that travellers can learn them more easily, and also so that Koreans will be able to understand you more easily. Comprehension is the key. Therefore, these Korean phrases for ordering food are designed for travellers who don’t speak Korean and have been simplified in places. Particles have been dropped where meaning is still obvious, and the grammar used is the polite form, which is the best form for talking to strangers.

If you’re interested in learning Korean and want to make more articulate sentences, then I recommend signing up to a dedicated Korean study website like Korean Class 101 or 90 Day Korean, which offer free learning materials and premium courses with personalised feedback and support. They can help you master Korean phrases to order food, how to make friends, and lots more.

How To Get A Table In A Korean Restaurant

The first step to eating out in Korea is finding a table. You usually don’t have to wait to be seated at a restaurant in Korea. Instead, you should go into the restaurant, find a table, sit down, check the menu, and order when ready. However, popular restaurants may have reserved tables (예약된 테이블).

Fast food restaurants in Korea, including franchise gimbap restaurants and other Korean quick foods, have kiosks to order at before you get a table. You might need a table number before placing your order, in which case you’ll need to get a table before you can order food at the kiosk.

If the restaurant looks busy, or you’re not sure whether you can get a table, these Korean phrases will help you know what to say and understand common responses you’re likely to hear. You can order food in Korean and get a table with a few of these simple phrases.

Getting A Table Phrases Explained

명 (myong) means ‘person / people‘. When you want to ask for a table you can say the number of people in Korean followed by ‘myong’. Alternatively, you can just indicate the number of people with your fingers and the server will understand. Pointing and gestures are a great way to get by if you don’t know Korean numbers. For fast food places, you usually get your own table.

How To Read Korean Menus

If you’re travelling in Seoul or other touristy areas, you’ll find many menus have English translations on them, such as the one pictured above from a bindaetteok restaurant at Gwangjang Market. If they don’t have English translations, then they’ll probably have pictures that you can point to instead of having to order food in Korean.

These days it’s common for restaurants in Korea to use menu tablets fixed to the tables to order food, or automatic kiosks. The tablets sometimes have English translations, but not always. The menu on a tablet usually has headings along the side (e.g. starters, desserts, etc) to display what’s available.

For those brave enough to venture away from the touristy areas, or those who end up trying to read a menu that doesn’t have English translations or pictures, then the list of Korean menu items will help you work out your starters from your sweets. You can also learn how to ask for a menu.

Even though you might struggle with ordering food in Korean at one of these places, they’re usually the places with the best Korean dishes. Definitely try to find the non-touristy looking restaurants for authentic Korean food that will have you saying 정말 맛있다! (jong-mal ma-sshit-da!) – really delicious!.

Korean Menu Phrases Explained

You’ll notice that a lot of these words sound similar to their English meaning, such as menu (men-yu), starter (seu-ta-tuh), and dessert (di-juh-teu). You’ll see many ‘loan words‘ from English (or other languages) where there may not have been a Korean word when the thing was introduced.

This is common in many languages and makes it a lot easier for travellers who can speak English. When ordering food, you’ll find many non-Korean dishes have a similar sound to their English name, such as pi-zza, pa-seu-ta, ai-su-keu-reem, seo-si-ji. etc. If you want to order non-Korean food and don’t know the word, try just saying it in English.

반찬 (ban-chan) are one of the best things about eating out in Korea. These are Korean side dishes that come with Korean meals, which can range from a bowl of kimchi to a dozen small dishes packed with eggs, fish, meat, seafood, vegetables, crabs, pickles, pancakes, and so many other delicious nibbles. When you eat out in Korea, try to sample as many as you can. You won’t normally see them listed on a Korean menu, however.

How To Explain Dietary Restrictions In Korean

Korea has a wide range of foods that cater to people from around the world. Whether you like seafood, steak, salad, or a combination of all of these, there’s a Korean dish for you. There’s also a wide range or foreign foods to enjoy, some of them mixed with Korean dishes to create modern fusion food.

However, not everyone can or wants to eat the same thing. Some people choose to follow certain diets due to lifestyle or religion, whilst others may have an allergic reaction or intolerance to some ingredients. This section will introduce Korean phrases relating to allergies and dietary restrictions.

Halal Food In Korea

Muslim travellers to Korea who need to know how to ask about halal food in Korea, or want to know if halal food is served, can use the Korean phrase 할랄인가요? (hal-lal-in-ga-yo?) – ‘is this halal?‘. There are halal certified restaurants in Seoul, and places with halal goods are often well marked, as the picture shows. You can find halal restaurants in popular tourist areas such as Myeongdong and Itaewon. However, outside these tourist areas, it may be harder to find halal food. For halal restaurant recommendations, check out these halal restaurants In Seoul.

Vegan Food In Korea

There is a growing trend for vegan food in parts of Seoul and in areas such as Hongdae, Itaewon, and Gangnam you’ll be able to find several vegan restaurants. Some Korean food is naturally vegan, including Korean temple food and other vegan Korean dishes. However, vegan travellers to Korea outside these popular international areas might struggle.

If you want to say you’re a vegan in Korean, use this phrase – 나는 비건 채식을 해요 (na-neun bi-gan chae-shig-eul hae-yo). This means ‘I’m a vegan vegetarian‘. The word often used to refer to vegan is ‘비건‘ (bi-gan). This is an English loan word and not the actual Korean word.

To ask if something is suitable for vegans, you can say 비건 채식주의자가 먹을 수 있어요? (bi-gan chae-shik-ju-wee-ja-ga mog-ool su iss-oh-yo?) – literally: can this be eaten by vegans?

Warning: Be careful when you translate ‘vegan’ using translation apps as some might translate it to ‘vegetarian‘ (채식주의자 – chae-shik-ju-wee-ja), which is not the same as vegan. The Korean term for vegan, according to Papago, is 완전 채식주의자 (wan-jon chae-shik-ju-wee-ja) – ‘total vegetarian’.

The concept of veganism might not be understood by some Korean restaurants, so it may be safer to ask to exclude certain items with the phrase ‘___는 빼 주세요‘ (___neun bbae ju-seh-yo), which means ‘no ___, please‘. You can ask to exclude meat (고기 – gogi) or dairy products (유제품 – yu-je-poom).

As well as halal and vegan foods, these Korean food phrases will help you talk about other dietary restrictions and check what is inside certain foods, including the level of spice.

Dietary Restriction Phrases Explained

매워요? (mae-wo-yo?) means ‘is this spicy?‘. Another key Korean phrase for travellers to Korea who can’t handle spicy food that well (like me). If you’re concerned, point to a dish and say ‘mae-wo-yo?‘ to find out if it’s spicy. In my experience, many Koreans will say something isn’t really spicy as it’s not super-hot. That doesn’t mean it’s not still spicy though, so be careful. Korean levels of spice may not be the same as other places. If the dish is red, it’ll probably be spicy.

고기 (go-gi) is the word for ‘meat‘ and Koreans add this word to the animal’s name to make the type of meat. For example, pig (dwe-ji) and pork (dwe-ji-gogi), cow (so) and beef (so-go-gi), or chicken (dak) and chicken meat (dak-go-gi). However, fried chicken is usually just called ‘chi-kin‘. Fish meat is mul-go-gi, which translates to ‘water-meat’. Bul-go-gi, a Korean meat dish, translates to ‘fire-meat’, indicating the way it was cooked. Although bulgogi is typically beef, other meat can be served as bulgogi. Be careful when you order it if you want to avoid certain meats.

How To Order Food In Korean

Now that you’ve worked out what’s on the menu, it’s time to use these Korean food phrases to order your meal. This might seem the most daunting part of ordering food in Korean, but is actually quite simple. Remember, you can always point to the thing you want to eat if you get tongue-tied.

You can order food in Korea in several ways, depending on where you’re dining. Table service is common in Korea, where someone will come to your table to take your order. Servers often won’t come to take your order until you shout out ‘저기요!’ (joh-gi-yo) – ‘over here’ or press a call buzzer.

When you’ve called the server to take your order, or pressed a buzzer to get their attention, they’ll want to know what your ‘order‘, 주문 (ju-moon), is. In case a server comes to your table but you’re not ready to order, you can tell them 잠시만 (jam-shi-man), which means ‘just a moment‘ or ‘hold on’.

These Korean phrases to order food will help you say what you want and ask questions of the server, including checking the price, how spicy something is, and asking for recommendations.

Ordering Food Phrases Explained

주세요 (ju-seh-yo) means ‘please give‘ but can also be used to mean ‘please‘ when you order food in Korean. This is a really useful Korean phrase to learn and you’ll notice it appears many times at the end of these Korean phrases for ordering food. Whatever you want to order in a restaurant, you can simply point at it on the menu or directly and say ‘ju-seh-yo’.

이거 뭐예요? (ee-goh mwo-yeh-yo?) means ‘what is this?’ and is probably my most loved and used Korean phrase for ordering food, shopping, or exploring Korea. If you ever want to know what something is called, just point at it and say this phrase.

마세요 (ma-seh-yo) means ‘please don’t‘ and is often used in warning signs or when asking not to include things. If you have special dietary requirements, then this is a great phrase to learn. If you want to ask someone to stop or not do something, you should use the phrase 하지마 (ha-ji-ma), which literally translates to ‘don’t do‘. However, try to avoid using this unless you really have to or you’re with friends as this expression is informal and might seem rude.

셀프 (sel-peu) – In Korean restaurants it’s common to see a sign that says ‘셀프’ (sel-peu), which means ‘self‘. This is a self-serve area where you can top up on side dishes, water, etc., for free. In Korean BBQ restaurants this is where you’d get extra lettuce, kimchi, garlic, etc.

How To Ask For Takeout Food In Korean

Getting takeout at a Korean restaurant or cafe is a popular option, especially for light meals such as gimbap, toast, and coffee that you can enjoy outside. There is no extra charge for takeout and you might get discounts when you do. Restaurants have packaging and cutlery ready for takeout orders.

To ask for takeout food or drinks in Korean is really simple, just say 포장해 주세요 (po-jang-hae ju-seh-yo.) after you place your order at the counter, which means ‘takeout, please’. After you place an order in a restaurant or cafe, the staff will ask whether you want to eat in or take out if it’s not obvious.

You can state that you want to ‘dine in’ by saying 여기서 (yoh-gi-soh), or you can ask for ‘takeout’ by saying 포장 (po-jang). If you want to take uneaten food home, you can use the same phrase – ‘po-jang‘ – to get it boxed up to take out. Remember to add 주세요 (ju-seh-yo) to the request to make it politer.

When you go to a Korean restaurant or cafe that has an automatic ordering machine, the first option you’ll see is whether or not you want to dine in (여기서) or get takeout (포장). You should be able to figure out which is which by the pictures that accompany them (a table vs. a takeout bag or house).

Using Korean Food Delivery Apps

Getting food delivery is easy in Korea with Korean delivery apps, such as Coupang Eats and Yogiyo, allowing you to place a food order to be delivered direct to your location for a small fee (~4,000 KRW). I use Coupang Eats as the system is mainly in English and, with a bit of help from Papago, it’s easy to order food delivery. However, you need a Korean phone number and a Korean bank account to use these delivery apps, so going to the restaurant and asking for takeout food is usually the only option for visitors to Korea.

How To Pay For A Meal In A Korean Restaurant

Paying for your meal in a Korean restaurant comes at the start of your meal if you order via a tablet or automatic ordering machine, or at the end of the meal if you ordered at a counter or with a server. You will receive a bill on a small clipboard that you should take to the cashier when you finish eating.

If you haven’t received a bill, or you want to ask for clarification about prices, the Korean phrases in this section will help you discuss settling up, splitting the bill, and getting a receipt. Before covering these phrases, there are a few Korean cultural issues related to dining that’ll help when eating out.

Paying the bill: In Korean culture, where age and hierarchy decide social standing and respect, footing the bill may go to the oldest person. If the eldest (Korean) guest offers to pay the bill, it is best to accept their offer and find some way to pay them back in kind later on, rather than fighting about it.

Splitting the bill: If you’re eating out with friends and want to split the bill, there’s an easy Korean phrase for that. You can say 따로 따로 (dda-ro dda-ro) to the cashier to indicate that you want to split the bill. The cashier will either split the bill by the number of customers or you can pay for what you ate.

Best Ways To Pay For Food In Korea

Visitors to Korea that don’t have a Korean bank account might find it difficult or expensive to pay for goods & services with an overseas credit or debit card. Furthermore, fewer places in Korea are accepting cash payments as Korean society move towards becoming cash-free. This includes public transportation, cafes, and restaurants. Almost all places in Korea should accept card payments.

As paying by card is becoming the default way to pay in Korea, I recommend getting a travel money card, such as that offered by Wise, which is a prepaid travel card that allows you to pay in Korean won when you’re travelling in Korea. Alternatively, pick up a WOWPASS when you arrive in Korea. This is a Korean debit card that you can top up in foreign currency, also with great exchange rates.

However you decide to pay when you eat out in Korea, these Korean phrases for paying for your food will make sure you don’t make a meal of the situation.

Food Payment Phrases Explained

얼마예요 (ol-ma-yeh-yo) means ‘how much‘ and is another one of those essential Korean words you can use for ordering food, shopping, and so much more. Want to haggle for a new bag in the market? Just ask ol-ma-yeh-yo? Want to know the cost of a train to Busan – ol-ma-yeh-yo? It’s short and an easy Korean word to remember.

카드 (ka-deu) and 현금 (hyun-geum) mean ‘card‘ and ‘cash‘ in Korean. Korea is a card-friendly country and you can pay by credit card in many places. However, some places might only accept hyun-geum (cash). These include food stalls in traditional markets and on street corners.

영수증 (yong-su-jeung) is a ‘receipt‘. You’ll hear this word every time you buy something in a shop or eat in a restaurant. If you want a receipt, then nod your head and they’ll give you one. If you don’t want a receipt, you can practice another easy Korean word – 괜찮아요 (gwen-chan-ah-yo), which means ‘it’s ok‘ or ‘no thanks’ in this situation.

How To Discuss Meals And Food In Korean

Food is a form of ritual and in all societies there are certain words and expressions that we use when we’re about to eat something or we’ve finished enjoying a stomach-filling meal. Korea is certainly no different and there are plenty of Korean phrases discussing food that you’ll hear in any restaurant.

Korea is a culture based around harmony and sharing, which you can see in the meals with communal dishes shared by all, such as Korean BBQ. Pouring drinks for each other is common, as is an endless procession of toasts at a Korean dinner party in the local restaurant after work.

If you want to wish the others at your table a pleasant and happy meal, tell them 맛있게 드세요 (ma-shi-geh deu-seh-yo), which means ‘enjoy your meal‘ or ‘bon appetit‘. After the meal, show how satisfied you are by saying 잘 먹었습니다 (jal moh-goh-sseum-ni-da), which means ‘I really enjoyed the meal’.

Feeling hungry in Korea? Then say 배고파요 (bae-go-pa-yo) to say ‘I’m hungry’. It’s easy to eat too much at Korean meals, especially meals like Korean BBQ. If you’ve had enough and want to stop eating, then say 배불러요! (bae-bul-loh-yo!) to show you’re full. It literally means ‘my stomach is full’.

Here are some more Korean phrases to help you discuss your meal and to help you ask for things while you’re eating out in Korea.

Korean Phrases Discussing Food Explained

더 (doh) means ‘more‘ in Korean and if you’re ordering food or want to get more of something, this simple word is all you need. Of course, be sure to add ju-seh-yo to the end to be polite.

너무 (noh-moo) means something is ‘too -‘, as in ‘too spicy’ or ‘too hot’. Once you learn some more adjectives, this is a great way to indicate how you feel about something. 너무 춥다 (noh-moo choop-da) – it’s too cold! If you’re travelling to Korea in winter, you’ll certainly say that a lot.

음식 (eum-shik) – you can’t talk about Korean phrases for ordering food without this word, which means ‘food’ in Korean. You can add this word to a country to ask for food from that place. For example, food from China (중국) is 중국 음식 (jung-guk eum-shik) and food from Mexico (멕시코) is 멕시코 음식 (mek-shi-ko eum-shik).

Cultural Tips When Eating In A Korean Restaurant

Here are a few quick tips about eating out in Korea and how to avoid cultural faux pas, taken from my guide to Korean etiquette and culture. These tips cover the whole dining experience, from entering the restaurant to eating politely and tipping. Learning these simple cultural differences will go a long way.

1: Remember to take off your shoes. If there is a raised entrance when you go into a restaurant, take off your shoes before entering. You’ll see shoe lockers to store your shoes in or leave them on the floor with the others. This usually only happens with traditional Korean restaurants.

2: Wait for elders to sit before you do. If you’re eating with a Korean family or co-workers, be sure to respect the age-based hierarchy and wait for elders to sit first. This also applies to your boss if you’re at a work social event.

3: Tipping isn’t necessary. I’ve lived in Korea since 2015 and never had to (or been able to) leave a tip. Except for a few restaurants in Seoul that might add a service charge, you won’t be asked or expected to tip staff in Korean restaurants.

4: Don’t pour drinks for yourself. This applies to social situations, not when dining alone or with your family. It’s said to be bad luck to pour your own drinks at a party. Be remembered for your generosity and offer to pour for others.

5: Help others before you help yourself. As with pouring drinks, Korean dining experiences are a communal event and you should consider others before yourself. This usually involves handing out chopsticks and spoons to others before eating, or offering dishes to people to try.

6: Use two hands when pouring drinks. This is a common etiquette rule that applies in several situations, including shaking hands and giving gifts or money. Keep two hands on the bottle when you pour drinks, or keep one hand on your arm as you pour.

7: Don’t lick your fingers while you eat. Even with the messiest food, you’re expected to use chopsticks to eat your meal (or a spoon). Licking your fingers is seen as unhygienic at best, but can also be considered rude to some Korean people.

8: Don’t stick your chopsticks upwards in rice. This is very bad etiquette as this looks like incense sticks used at Buddhist funeral ceremonies and brings bad luck. Avoid at all costs.

Pronunciation Tips For Ordering Food In Korean

Korean is a relatively straightforward language to pronounce, which is great news for people trying to order food in Korean as you won’t get your tongue tied up in knots saying what you want. Korean is a syllabic language, which means that if you pronounce each syllable clearly, you should be understood.

Most Korean words and syllables are pronounced as they are in English, but the vowel sounds can be a bit tricky. Here’s how to pronounce some of the vowel sounds used in this guide, as well as making soft vowel sounds using the letter ‘h’ at the end and double consonant sounds:

Be patient and do your best when trying to speak Korean. I really hope you’ll have great success when using these phrases while you’re eating out in Korea. If you have trouble understanding what someone is saying to you, you can ask them to speak more slowly with the following phrase:

Want to learn how to pronounce Korean words? Check out this video teaching you how to learn Korean pronunciation from the Learn Korean Free YouTube channel.

Useful Tips To Order Food In Korean

I’ve eaten out in Korea way too much, it’s hard not to. The food is cheap, delicious, and there is so much variety, a lot more than people realise before visiting Korea. I’ve put together a few tips to help you get even more out of your trip and the delicious Korean meals you’re going to enjoy.

1: Korean food is cheap. Don’t be surprised by how much you get. However, food can get expensive, especially if you want to eat foreign foods. You’re in Korea and so I’d really recommend trying the local foods before looking for something more familiar.

2: Meals are often for two. Some meals will be for two or more people and will be indicated on the menu with – 2인 (2 people in Korean). If you see this, then the price is for the whole meal, not per person. This is a big sharing meal and are often much better than individual meals – check them out!

3: Understanding Chinese characters. Sharing meals (like those found in tip 2) usually come in 3 different sizes, which are represented by traditional Chinese characters. These are as follows:

• 小 (so) – small portion
• 中 (jung) – medium portion
• 大 (dae) – large portion

A small portion is enough for 2-3 people. Remember, the meal will usually come with side dishes, too.

4: Eat at traditional markets. Korea’s traditional markets and Korean street food stalls offer the most amazing Korean food and are often cheaper and fresher than in a restaurant. Be sure not to miss them when you visit Seoul and other cities.

5: Indulge in side dishes. Traditional Korean meals typically come with side dishes, called banchan (반찬). These are included with the meal and if you ask for more, you can often get free refills. Don’t be surprised if you order a simple meal and end up with 10 or even 20 side dishes!

6: Wrap it up. If your meal comes with a bowl of lettuce leaves (or cabbage), you’re probably meant to use it to wrap the other parts of the meal. Eating a Korean BBQ is a really fun experience and one of the times it’s ok to get your fingers dirty. Pick up some meat, garlic, kimchi, and whatever else you fancy, and wrap it inside the lettuce leaf and pop it into your mouth.

7: Stay Hydrated. Restaurants in Korea always give you free water (sometimes iced tea). This is a great way to get free liquids during the day. Make the most of it as Korea can be hot, especially in summertime. Also, Korean dishes tend to be quite salty, so staying hydrated is important.

Korean Cookbooks To Make Korean Dishes At Home

If you’re not in Korea yet, why not try making delicious Korean foods at home instead? Here are some Korean cookbooks to learn how to make a range of tasty Korean treats. Start with the basics, such as tteokbokki and mandu, or jump straight into filling meals like kimchi jjigae and jjamppong.

Maangchi’s Big Book Of Korean Cooking

The book contains the favourite dishes by famous Korean chef and YouTuber, Maangchi. She has perfected many Korean meals over the years, from Korean barbecue and fried chicken to bulgogi and bibimbap. Discover Maangchi’s professional approach to Korean cooking today.

Available on Amazon

The Korean Vegan: Joanne Lee Molinaro

Joanne Lee Molinaro has captivated millions of fans with her powerfully moving personal tales of love, family, and food. In her debut cookbook, she shares a collection of her favorite Korean dishes, some traditional and some reimagined, as well as poignant narrative snapshots that have shaped her family history.

Available on Amazon

Wookwan’s Korean Temple Food

As the first volume of temple cuisine published in English, Wookwan herself has written an elegant volume that introduces the reader to Korean temple food, including what it means to care for the ingredients at each step of preparation, following the three key principles of cooking temple food, interspersed with her own accounts and tips among the recipes.

Available on Amazon

Korean Stone Bowl Cooking Pot

An essential part of many Korean winter dishes is the stone bowl (dolsot) cooking pot. This can be used to make dishes such as dolsot bibimbap, kimchi jjigae, and many other hot soups and stews.

Available on Amazon

Cookbooks not your thing? Check out the Baek Jong Won YouTube channel. He’s one of Korea’s most famous chefs and you can find his restaurants all over the place. He can teach you to make tteokbokki and many other tasty Korean winter foods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about how to order food in Korean. These answers are based on my own experience and from research conducted to write this article. If you have any more questions about this topic, please feel free to post a comment at the end of this article.

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In this guide to how to use Papago, you’ll discover the many different ways you can translate Korean to English and other languages. Besides the basic typed translation, there are many other ways to translate Korean words, including image translation, voice translation, and website translation.

This simple to use guide to Papago will help you get the most out of the best Korean translation app for travelling in Korea. There are lots of pictures to show you all the functions of Papago and practical tips for using the app as you travel. Find out why Papago is one of my favourite apps in Korea.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why Use The Papago App To Translate Korean In Korea?

The Papago app is the best method to translate Korean into English and other languages as you travel in Korea. With the Papago app, you can translate signs and written Korean into English, as well as translate words and phrases you want to say from English into Korean.

Here are some of the useful things the Papago app can do for you:

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• Can help you learn Korean vocabulary

This article will show you the various ways to use Papago to translate Korean into English or English into Korean and the different ways the app can do this. To help save you time, I’ve answered some of the most common questions about the Papago app here before giving a more detailed overview.

What is Papago? Papago is a translation app from Naver, one of Korea’s largest tech companies. It launched in 2016 and allows translation between Korean and 12 other languages. Papago is a multilingual AI-based cloud translation service that uses neural machine translation to learn from its mistakes and improve the accuracy of the translations it offers. In Korean, it’s called 파파고.

Is Papago the same as Naver Dictionary? Naver Dictionary is a Korean translation service that offers direct translations based on dictionary entries from a stored database. Papago is not the same as Naver Dictionary as it is uses neural machine translation to improve its personalised translation services based on people’s experience of using the app.

What languages does Papago translate Korean into? Papago translates between Korean and English, Chinese (simplified), Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese (traditional), Spanish, French, Indonesian, Russian, German, and Italian.

Where can you download the Papago app? You can download Papago on Google Play and the App Store. You can also access Papago from a desktop browser by visiting papago.naver.com.

Is the Papago app free? The Papago app and website are both free to use.

Is Papago better than Google Translate? Both Google Translate and Papago are used to translate Korean into English and vice versa. However, Papago is often recognised as being more accurate when translating into Korean as it has been created by a Korean company.

Do you need to be connected to the Internet to use the Papago app? The Papago app works best when it is connected to the Internet as it can access Naver’s language database and offer better translations from Korean into other languages. There are also offline language packs that can be downloaded for English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese. Below is the English language pack.

Does the Papago Korean translation app translate spoken words? The Papago app can translate spoken words, typed words, pictures, text, and even whole conversations into Korean, English, or other languages. It is a versatile app that can be used to translate any Korean words into English

Does Papago provide reliable Korean translation? Translations by Papago into Korean and from Korean are more accurate and authentic than translations by other translation services. Because of the neural machine translation used by Papago, translations are increasingly more reliable.

Can Papago help me learn Korean? The Papago app not only translates between Korean and other languages, it can also be used to study Korean. The ‘myEdu‘ section of the Papago app allows you to study Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese and can help improve vocabulary retention. There is also a section with useful phrases that has hundreds of essential phrases for travellers.

Do you need to create an account to use Papago? You don’t need to create an account to use Papago’s translation services. Once you download the app, you can use the translation functions freely. There is an option to sign in to a Naver account to keep a history of your translations. To sign up for a Naver account, you need to enter your personal details and have an available phone number.

How To Use The Papago Korean Translation App

The Papago app is one of the easiest and most reliable methods of translating Korean into English and other languages into Korean. Not only are the results more accurate, the app is simple to use and works quickly. The app is available in English, meaning you don’t need to understand Korean.

To use Papago, type the English word you want to know in Korea into the home screen of the app. This will instantly translate the word into Korean and show you the word written in Hangul, the Korean alphabet, and the phonetic spelling to help you pronounce the word.

The images below show you an example of how Papago translates English into Korean. The word ‘hello’ has been entered into the central area and then translated into Korean. You can see the most common Korean translation in the main screen, as well as alternative words below.

When Papago translates from English into Korean, it shows the Korean word in the honorific form, which is the polite form used to speak to people in Korea that aren’t your friends and family. This is the recommended form to use when travelling in Korea unless you are socialising with Korean friends.

The speaker icon above the Korean translation allows you to listen to the pronunciation of the word so you know how to say it. You can use this to practice learning how to speak Korean or to let a Korean speaker understand what you want to say without saying the Korean words yourself.

There are many other functions of the Papago app, which will be covered below. These functions include translating typed words, translating websites, translating text on images, and translating spoken words. Each of these are covered in the next few sections of this article.

Using The Papago App To Translate Korean And English Words

You can translate single words or whole sentences into Korean using Papago. If you aren’t comfortable speaking Korean, use the Papago app to write what you want to say and show that to the Korean speaker you’re trying to communicate with. Alternatively, click the speaker icon for sound.

Not only can you translate from English into Korean with Papago, you can also translate Korean into English. This function is very useful if you receive a text message or visit a website with Korean text that you want to translate into English. Copy the text and paste it into Papago for instant translation.

Tip: Some words in English or Korean can have multiple meanings and Papago won’t always know which one you want to use. For example, the word ‘lead’ can mean to lead someone somewhere or is a type of metal. Translating sentences gives Papago context to help it know which meaning of the word you want to use. If you’re not sure if you have the correct translation, check it in a sentence.

Using Papago To Translate Websites From Korean Into English

The Papago app can translate websites in real time as you browse them, allowing you to use Korean language websites as if they were in English. This can be done by selecting the ‘Website Translate‘ option on the side bar of the Papago app. Tap the three lines to access the side bar in the app.

Enter the URL of the website and Papago will translate it from Korean into English or one of the other supported languages. Copy the URL from a browser on your mobile device and paste it into the box in the Papago app and it will translate the site for you. You can save favourite websites for later.

Once you’ve chose which website you want to translate, you can easily change which language is shown using the to and from language options at the top of the screen in the app. Select the original language on the left and then the language you want to display the website as on the right.

The example above shows a translated version of the Wikipedia homepage from English to Korean. Translating English websites into Korean with Papago could be useful when you want to share information from an English website to someone in Korea who doesn’t speak English.

The Papago app can be used to translate Korean websites into English and other languages, making them more accessible for foreigners travelling in Korea. This works for Korean text that is present on a website, however, it won’t translate images as these aren’t formatted as text.

As you can see from the examples below of a translated website from Korean to English by Papago, there are a lot of Korean words still present. This is because a lot of Korean websites use embedded images with text on them instead of writing directly onto the webpage.

Fortunately, it is possible to translate images with text online and offline thanks to the Papago app. This can be done with the next feature of the app, which is to translate Korean text in a picture.

Using The Papago App To Translate Korean In Pictures

One of the most useful functions of the Papago app is to translate signs, pictures, and images with Korean text into English by using your phone’s camera. On the main translation screen, select the ‘Image‘ icon, as shown in the picture above. This will open up your phone’s camera to take a picture.

Below is an example of how the Papago app translates images with the camera. The first picture is the original text on a box of delicious chocolate mushrooms that I often eat with a coffee. The second picture is the translated version of the same picture with the Korean text now showing in English.

When you choose the camera translation with Papago, you can choose to translate everything the camera can see (translate all), translate instantly as you move the camera around (realtime translation), or translate only selected areas (translate partially). A flash option is available, too.

The Papago app can use images stored on your phone, including screenshots, downloaded images, and pictures taken with your phone’s camera, and can translate these into Korean. Below is an example of a screenshot from a Korean website translated into English using the Papago app.

As well as translating images with Korean text into English, you can also do the opposite and use Papago to translate English text into Korean. This can be useful to show a Korean speaker a business card, image, or similar picture that you need to show that’s written in English.

Using The Papago App To Translate Spoken Words

If you need to talk to a Korean speaker face-to-face, then the voice and conversation functions on the Papago app can be useful to help understand what is being said by both parties. The voice translation function in Papago allows you to speak Korean or English and translate it to the opposite language.

To use the voice translation feature in Papago, click on ‘Voice‘ on the home screen and start speaking. You might need to change the language settings first, which you can do by choosing the desired languages at the top of the screen. Press the green microphone button to start translating.

The images below show the result of the voice translation function for the word ‘hello’, spoken in English in the first image and then spoken in Korean in the second image. When translating into Korean, Papago will add in the phonetic spellings and speaker button to hear the word spoken.

You can say more than single words in the voice translation section of Papago and the app will translate whole sentences into Korean, English, or other languages. This can be useful for telling simple sentences and requests to Korean speakers, asking for help, or answering questions.

Using The Papago App To Translate Korean Conversations

If you plan to have a conversation in Korean, then the ‘Conversation‘ function in Papago will be more useful as it allows direct conversational input and output in Korean and English. In this screen there are two halves to the screen. The top half is for translating Korean, the bottom half is for English.

Depending on whether an English or Korean speaker wants to translate what they’re saying, push the blue button on the top (Korean) or bottom (English) half of the screen and then talk. This will show the spoken words in both Korean and English on their relative screens, as can be seen below.

This is a faster way to communicate with instant translations between Korean and English with each speaker having a screen they can speak into. To hear the pronunciation of the Korean or English words, tap on the text in either screen and Papago will play the word or sentence out loud.

After you finish speaking in English, Papago will automatically play the spoken sentence in Korean, which allows for faster translations and conversations. Only the currently translated sentences are shown on the screen, but there is a ‘History‘ function in the sidebar to check past translations.

There is a lot more to simply knowing the language when having a conversation in Korean. There are also a lot of Korean cultural and etiquette issues to understand, too. This can include knowing to shake hands with both hands, when to bow, why Koreans may not be able to refuse offers, and more.

How To Use The Papago App To Study Korean

The Papago app not only works as a direct translation tool for Korean text, images, websites, and spoken words, it can also be used to help you learn Korean and other languages. There are two key language learning features in Papago; vocabulary flashcards and a Korean expressions phrasebook.

This section will give a brief overview of these two features.

Learn Korean Vocabulary With Papago

One of the most popular ways to learn Korean vocabulary on your phone is with flashcards. Flashcards can help you build association between a word and an image, which can improve vocabulary retention. Papago helps you learn Korean with flashcards covering 27 useful topics.

There are flashcards to help you learn the Korean words for various animals, foods, numbers, colours, body parts, clothes, dates, jobs, sports, and more. You can practice learning these in Korean, English, Chinese (simplified), or Japanese and can learn multiple languages at the same time.

Below are two screenshots from Papago’s ‘Word Cards‘ section that shows some of the different topics and the straighforward word cards with image and text in both languages. Word pronunciation is in the top right corner and there is an option to cycle through the word cards automatically in a loop.

Learn Basic Korean Phrases With Papago

Knowing some basic Korean phrases can really help you when you travel Korea as you can not only ask for what you need, but also understand what’s being said to you. The Papago app can help you prepare for common expressions with a Korean phrasebook that covers many typical situations.

The ‘Phrasebook‘ section of Papago covers topics such as accommodation, phrases for eating out, transportation, emergencies, shopping, and more. There are hundreds of phrases covered in this phrasebook that will be useful when travelling in Korea and talking with Korean speakers.

The images below show some of the topics that are covered in the phrasebook, with each topic having various subsections within them. Not only are there phrases in each section, there are also example conversations to help you react and interact with Korean speakers more naturally.

How To Create A Naver Papago Account

It isn’t necessary to have an account to use Papago’s translation services, but creating a Naver Papago account will allow you to get more from the Papago app. A feature that is only available when signed in is the Papago Gym. Below is a brief summary of how to create a Naver Papago Account.

To sign up for a Naver Papago account, you will need to have an email address and phone number. Select ‘Sign In‘ at the top of the sidebar on the app and then select ‘Sign Up‘ under the large green Sign In button to create an account. You can also log in with a Facebook or Line account.

The first step of creating a Naver Papago account is to accept the terms and conditions. Next, enter your preferred username and password, followed by your personal details such as name, date of birth, gender, and phone number. These can be seen in the images below.

You don’t need to have a Korean phone number to create a Naver Papago account, you can use a phone number from any country. However, you will need to be able to receive a verification code to activate your account, so you will need to have a network connection to receive messages.

After you verify your phone number, you can finish the account creation by clicking the large green Sign Up button. Your Naver account should now be activated and you can use it to log into Papago and get the full set of features from this Korean translation app.

What Else Can You Do With Papago?

There are further features to the Papago app not mentioned above. One of the most useful is the Papago Mini function which allows you to place a floating widget on your phone’s home screen so you can translate text, voice, or an image instantly. This is useful when travelling around Korea.

New features of Papago include the ‘myEdu‘ section, which allows you to learn English, Chinese, or Japanese with Korean. This looks like it will be useful for studying between those languages with Korean. There’s also a study camera on the home screen to take a photo of study materials (or upload them) and to make your own notes, flashcards, and to translate them instantly.

The Papago app is moving beyond simple translation between Korean and other languages and appears to be becoming a tool for learning Korean through self-study. Even if you don’t plan to study Korean through Papago, Papago is definitely the must-have translation app for travelling in Korea.

Why I Recommend Papago For Travelling In Korea

As I live in Korea, and I’m not yet fluent in Korean, I use the Papago app all the time. Relying on translation apps can be a double edged sword, something I talk about in my article about whether or not you need to learn Korean to live in Korea successfully. Papago is on the front screen of my phone as I always need access to it. I use it a lot, especially in these situations:

• Translating signs and notices in various places.
• Communicating with my coworkers, especially about work matters.
• Translating text messages and emails from Korean to English
• Checking Korean websites to find information.
• Translating into Korean when dealing with banking matters.

There are lots of other times when I use Papago, but those are the most common. Expat life in Korea is much easier with apps like Papago and allows me to have conversations, solve problems, find information, and learn about what’s going on much more easily. I’d be lost without it.

For travellers coming to Korea, Papago should definitely be one of the first apps you install on your phone. There are lots of English translations in Korea, but you’re almost certainly going to need to translate a bit of Korean as well, especially if you travel out of the big cities.

If you want to make friends and a make a good impression with the locals, then learning or using a few phrases when you travel Korea will make a big difference. You can use Papago to speak to others, thank them for their help, ask for help, and navigate transport signs, menus, and shop signs.

Overall, Papago will be an essential app for travelling in Korea.

Useful Apps For Travelling In Korea

Besides Papago, there are several other apps that will make travelling in Korea a lot easier and save you time, money, and hassle. I’ve covered these in my South Korea travel guide, which includes lots of really useful information about phones, Internet access, apps, and lots more.

Here are some of the apps I recommend for travelling in Korea and what each one does.

• Kakao Taxi – book taxis anywhere in Korea.
• Kakao Talk – Korea’s most popular messenger app.
• Naver Maps – most reliable map app for Korea.
• Coupang Eats – food delivery to your location.
• Korail Talk – official app for booking train tickets in Korea.
• Seoul Subway – plan routes and check subway times.
• Klook – manage tours and bookings from this great tour company.

Unlike Papago, several of these apps will require a Korean sim card to use as you need to register a Korean phone number before activating the apps. It’s possible to use Kakao Taxi without a Korean phone number, something I’ve helped many people with in my article about using Kakao Taxi.

FAQs About Using Papago Korean Translation App

Finally, here are a few FAQs about how to use the Papago Korean translation app when travelling in Korea, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you. If you have any other questions you’d like to ask, feel free to leave a comment.

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This Daebak Box review will introduce you to this popular gift box that arrives neatly packed with Korean goodies direct from Seoul each quarter. Find out how much the Daebak Box costs, what you can get inside, and whether it’s good value for money.

Whether buying a box for yourself, or for a friend who is a massive fan of Korean culture, cosmetics, lifestyle goods, or characters, the insights and opinions in this article should help you decide if the Daebak Box is something you want to buy. Read on to find out more and start exploring the world of Korean subscription gift boxes. Be warned, you might want to buy one straight away!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

What Is The Daebak Box?

The Daebak Box is a gift box for yourself or other fans of Korea that contains more than 10 wonderful goodies from the Land of Morning Calm.

Inside each box, sent quarterly direct from Korea, you can find K-Pop and K-Drama items, Korean beauty products, uniquely Korean snacks and foods, and Korean lifestyle products.

Daebak promises that each Daebak Box will contain more than $100 worth of Korean goodies at retail value (something I’ll cover later on in this article).

If you want a slice of cool Korea delivered to your doorstep every 3 months, then the Daebak Box is probably something you’ll really enjoy.

Got a friend or family member who is obsessed with Korean culture, beauty, products, and lifestyle? Send a one-off Daebak Box or Daebak Gift Card to them as a wonderful surprise.

Disclaimer: I received a Daebak Box free of charge from the Daebak Company to help me write this review. I didn’t receive any additional incentives from the company. The opinions in this article are based on what I think of the Daebak Box, the contents, and the service as a whole. As always, I would not recommend products that I don’t think are beneficial to you and always strive to promote the best items from Korea.

What Do You Get With A Daebak Box?

The contents of the Daebak Box change every time, so you always get something fresh and original to enjoy every quarter. The box contains a selection of goods that include:

• Korean Cosmetics / Beauty
• K-Drama / K-Pop
• Korean Foods / Drinks
• Korean Culture
• Other Fun Korean Items

There is a minimum of 10 items in each box, hand picked to match a seasonal theme. I’ve included the contents of the Daebak Box I received for this review in a later section.

You’ll receive a Daebak Box every quarter, bringing you the best seasonal items from Korea in a beautiful box that you can keep and use again and again.

Not only do you get a magical box full of Korean delights, you also get to be part of the Daebak Community, as you can see from the picture below.

Join the community, share your reviews and pictures, and have the chance to win Daebak Points to spend at the Daebak Shop for even more fantastic Korean items.

How Much Does The Daebak Box Cost?

The Daebak Box starts from as little as $49.99 per quarter, delivered to your doorstep wrapped up and beautifully presented. The actual price you’ll pay for the Daebak Box can vary depending on two main factors – which subscription plan you sign up for (seasonal or annual) and where you live.

Here are the key details about the two different subscription plans and their costs.

Daebak Box Seasonal Plan

The Daebak Box Seasonal Plan is for those who want to experiment with the Korean gift box service without committing to a full year (or more) of Korean goodies.

The Seasonal Plan allows you to buy the current seasonal box (spring | summer | autumn | winter) and get it delivered to your house (or to a friend’s if you’re buying it as a gift).

The price is $54.99 for a recurring subscription or $59.99 for a one-off purchase. The seasonal plan auto-renews every 3 months, but you can cancel it any time before the next billing date.

Shipping Cost

There is a one-off cost for shipping that is not included in the subscription price. The cost will be added based on your location. Customers in the US currently pay around $9.99 for shipping for the seasonal box. Taxes may be added depending on location, too (such as in the UK).

Daebak Box Annual Plan

The Daebak Box Annual Plan costs $199.96 per year, which works out at $49.99 per box.

This is $20 cheaper than the Seasonal Plan ($219.96 per year) if you get all 4 quarterly boxes and definitely the best option if you plan to get more than one box.

Shipping Cost

If you sign up to the Annual Plan for the Daebak Box, there is no shipping fee* added as far as I can tell. This means you save even more with the annual plan than the Seasonal Plan

*I checked addresses in a few countries, including the USA, UK and the Philippines, and they all had free shipping and no taxes.

Example Daebak Box Contents

I received a lovely bamboo-themed Daebak Box to help me write this review. The box design is unique every season and this one represents the charming views of Damyang Bamboo Forest – a lovely place to visit during summer in Korea.

This next section of the Daebak Box review will outline all the fun things that were packed into this surprisingly large box, grouped into different categories based on the the type of product included.

As mentioned, Daebak Boxes are guaranteed to include K-Culture, K-Food, K-Beauty, and K-Lifestyle goodies, as well as a copy of the latest Daebak Magazine.

Korean Cosmetics

There were 3 Korean cosmetic products inside this Daebak Box:

TenZero Clearfit Heartleaf Cream:
All-in-one cream that provides anti-wrinkle and moisturising benefits. Contains houttuynia cordata extract, which has a soothing effect, hydrating the different skin layers to retain skin moisture.

Regular Price $29.54

Iidaya Woody Santal Hand Cream:
Thick hand cream with shea butter that is quickly absorbed into your hands. Has a rich scent made from natural ingredients including violet, eucalyptus, musk, sandalwood, and cedarwood.

Regular Price: $27.29

Dr. Noah Maru Bamboo Toothbrush:
Made with sustainable bamboo, these wood toothbrushes are made to create a lasting impact by reducing plastic waste for an ideal sustainable bathroom product.

Regular Price: $3.33

I’m writing this article in late October, so the first thing I tried out was the hand cream. Winter in Korea is very dry and I use a lot of hand cream and so far I’ve been very impressed with it. Definitely a top quality product. Same with the toothbrush, which was a bit unusual at first, but you soon get used to it. I must admit, I haven’t used the anti-wrinkle cream as I’m saving it as a gift for my mum, but I’ve been assured it’s a good brand and product.

Korean Tea & Snacks

There were 3 Korean food products inside this Daebak Box:

Nong Shim Salad Noodles:
A healthier version of Korea’s famous instant ramyeon noodles. Comes with a fresh oriental dressing to give it a light taste.

Regular Price: $2.99

Bamboo Leaf Tea Bags:
Healthy herbal tea bags made from bamboo leaves and unpolished rice grains. A non-caffeinated hot drink to calm and soothe you before bed.

Regular Price: $6.49

BT21 Hoo Gargle:
Refreshing mouth wash from the cute characters inspired by BTS. Helps keep your mouth clean and smelling fresh. Comes in a disposable capsule so you can take it with you.

Regular Price: $1.50

I’m a big fan of Korean tea and the tea bags certainly didn’t disappoint. They are refreshing and perfect for drinking at night now that the evenings are getting colder and colder here in Korea. And they won’t keep me up, which is a big bonus. The mouthwash was fine, it has a rooibos taste and worked the same as my regular mouth wash. One for BTS fans to keep instead of use. The noodles were a tasty treat. Not as heavy as Shin Ramyeon and good for an early morning snack.

Korean Lifestyle Products

There were 5 Korean lifestyle products inside this Daebak Box:

Mini Rattan Bag:
A cute and spacious woven bag that compliments any summer outfit and is ideal for carrying things to the beach or pool.

Estimated Price: $14.99

Hyojason Bamboo Back Scratcher:
An easy-to-carry mini back scratcher that is made from bamboo. The length is adjustable to relieve an itch anywhere you can not easily reach with your hands..

Regular Price: $8.99

Dr. Noah Cotton Toothbrush / Pencil Case:
Cotton case that can be used to store bamboo toothbrushes from Dr. Noah, or as a pencil case for your favourite stationery.

Regular Price $2.99

Kakao Friends Apeach Mask Deco Seal:
Make your boring face mask look cute and colourful with these deco seals featuring the popular Kakao Friends character, Apeach.

Regular Price $4.99

Damyang Bamboo Forest Sticker:
A souvenir from the pretty Damyang Bamboo Forest in Korea. A unique sticker that you can place on your wall, notebook, or suitcase.

Regular Price $0.99

I originally thought the cotton case was meant for stationery, but then realised it was actually for the bamboo toothbrush. It works perfectly well in either case. I really like the back scratcher – it deals with any itch you have. The handbag seems water-resistant and useful for carrying things near water, such as a summertime trip to one of Korea’s sandy beaches.

I haven’t tried the mask deco seals as I use a reusable mask in Korea, but it will make a good present. The Damyang Bamboo Forest sticker will go on my next notebook.

Korean Magazine & Daebak Magazine

First Look Magazine:
Top K-Pop group, Stray Kids, graces the cover of this season’s 1st Look Magazine. Plus, get an exclusive look at the new Netflix K-Drama, ‘Annara Sumanara’, starring Choi Sung-Eun.

Regular Price $4.99

Daebak Magazine:
Colourful magazine by Daebak which follows the same theme as the Daebak Box (bamboo forest). Includes details about box contents, the Daebak community, Korean cultural insights, Korean expressions, a fun quiz, and lots more.

Regular Price: Free

The 1st Look Magazine is packed full of Korean cultural content with large pictures and stories that’ll certainly please any K-Fan. It’s all in Korean, so you can practice developing your Korean skills (or just look at the pictures like I did). The Daebak Magazine is fun. It explains what’s in the box and has some fun quizzes and useful info. On the back page is a mini-box. A miniature replica of the regular box, which is a cute bonus. I’ll use it to give a small gift.

My Daebak Box Review: Honest Opinions

As mentioned previously, I was provided a free Daebak Box from the Daebak Company to help me write this review. I was asked to share my thoughts of the box with you lovely people, not to exaggerate about how wonderful this Korean gift box service is.

Indeed, I never agree to shamelessly promote an item and will always give my honest thoughts, whether good or bad. As you can see in my Lingo Pie review article, where I give both praise and suggestions for how the service could better help Korean language learners.

Therefore, please find below my honest opinions about the contents, packaging, and costs for the Daebak Box and whether I think it’s value for money.

If you want to add your own comments about this box, please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section at the end of this review.

Daebak Box Contents

Here’s a summary of my thoughts about the box contents:

• Wide range of products
• Good quality Korean items
• Hard to find outside of Korea
• Consistent theme
• Premium options chosen instead of cheaper variants
• Not all products likely to appeal to every person
• Magazine in Korean

The contents of the Daebak Box really are varied and include a wide range of premium and basic items, from luxurious hand cream to basic ramyeon noodles. They’re all well made, Korean goods that you wouldn’t be able to pick up easily (or cheaply) outside of Korea.

This box’s theme was the Damyang Bamboo Forest in Korea and the products all fit nicely into the theme. The box packaging, which I’ll discuss next, keeps the same theme and the whole collection has a strong natural feeling to it. The Damyang sticker is a nice touch and can be a lasting reminder of the box after the rest has been used.

Not only are the products good quality, they’re also better than they could be. There are cheaper alternatives to most of these items, such as the hand cream and anti-wrinkle cream, that could have been included, but weren’t. There are certainly more expensive versions, too, but the quality, when considering the cost of the box, is definitely good. More on value for money later on.

Personally, I don’t plan to use all of the items in this box, but I can gift things like the anti-wrinkle cream and rattan bag to other people, so that’s fine. Different things will appeal to different people and the diversity of products means there’s something for everyone.

I think that most people, especially those who don’t live in Korea, will appreciate and enjoy the contents of the Daebak Box. I certainly enjoyed them and it introduced me to a new hand cream which I really like now.

This isn’t a criticism of the box, as it certainly adds authenticity, but the magazine was all in Korean. This could make it a bit redundant for people who don’t read Korean or aren’t interested in K-Pop and other K-Culture. But if you’re not interested in those things, you probably won’t order this box anyway, so it’s a moot point.

Overall, the contents of the Daebak Box are of a good quality, varied, interesting, and fun. Fans of Korean culture, travel, or cosmetics will certainly be pleased with the contents. If you sign up for the Seasonal Box, there’s enough inside to keep you going from one box to the next and the Daebak Magazine adds more to do and learn about.

Daebak Box Packaging & Delivery

The packaging for the Daebak Box is really nice. The box arrived at my house in a parcel and the box itself was wrapped with bubble wrap, keeping the box and contents secure and undamaged.

Every part of the box is colourful and continues the bamboo theme that was the theme for this season. The outside of the box had a clear, colourful bamboo forest scene (go to Damyang and you can see the same) that is like a postcard itself.

When you open the box, you’re greeted by some cute pandas munching on bamboo and playing around joyfully. It’s charming and every part of the box is pretty to look at. It certainly encourages me to keep using the box long after the contents have been taken out.

The box itself is sturdy and larger than I thought it would be. There’s a lot squeezed into the box, but nothing was bent or damaged by being put inside – it’s clear that it was packed carefully and smartly.

The only slight problem was that the magazine was folded up, which is the only way it would fit as it’s much taller than the box is. It’s not a real issue though as it is easily straightened out again.

Overall, the packaging was of a good quality. The items arrived in perfect condition and the box is really lovely and can be reused for a long time.

Daebak Box Value For Money

Here’s a breakdown of the cost of each of these items if you were to buy them separately. The Daebak Company states that each box contains over $100 worth of goods in each box, which is based on the price of the goods they sell in their online shop.

As you can see from the table above, the total cost of these items (without shipping and taxes) would be $109.08. This supports Daebak’s claim that each box includes more than $100 of goods inside.

I’m tempted to add the cost of the box to the total value of the Daebak Box as it’s really nice and sturdy and something I would expect to pay at least $5 – $10 for considering the interesting theme. The Daebak magazine, too. The high level of production definitely adds value.

The Daebak Box ranges from $49.99 (Annual Plan) to $59.99 (One-off Seasonal Box), which certainly means that you save a significant amount of money vs. the regular cost of buying these products. You can save about $50 with each Daebak Box.

There are discount codes available for the one-off Daebak Boxes, such as the one below. It can save you 5% on the total price, making it better value for money.

Overall, as long as you appreciate and use the items that are included in the Daebak Box, it’s definitely value for money. The cost to buy each item separately is almost double what you’ll pay for the box. Is the Daebak Box worth it? That’s what I’ll discuss in more detail next.

Is The Daebak Box Worth It?

This is the trickiest part of this Daebak Box review and whether something is worth buying or not is a relative concept. It can depend on where you live and how much you appreciate the items in the box. For this review I’ll assume you’re living outside of Korea and Korean products aren’t easily available.

Each box has different contents. Some people will love everything, some people will be amazed with most items, some people might not use half of the box and give the rest away. There’s simply no pleasing everyone, but for people who are fans of Korean culture, cosmetics, and products, I think they’ll fall into the first two categories and be impressed with the box.

The items included in the box offer value for money, assuming that they are things you like, will use, and want to receive. Personally, I won’t use the rattan bag, mask stickers, or anti-wrinkle cream. That takes away almost $50 of value from the box, making it about the same price as buying everything separately. However, I will certainly not waste them and will gift them to other people, which will make them happy and that’s worth the money.

The Daebak Box isn’t going to be something you can buy for someone who isn’t interested in Korea. It’s not designed for that and probably wouldn’t appeal to them. There’s also cool stuff that anyone can enjoy. You don’t need to love Korea to appreciate good hand cream.

If you’re buying it as a gift, or for yourself, decide whether or not the chance to get these cool Korean goods is worth the cost. If you want a uniquely Korean sticker on your laptop, a refreshing cup of Korean tea, a delightfully smooth hand cream, a magazine full of your favourite Korean celebs, and lots more, then the Daebak Box is probably the most fun, cost-effective way to go.

Overall, fans of Korean products and culture will appreciate the box and its contents. If you are in a position to spend $50+ per quarter to get hold of uniquely Korean goodies, or if you want to spend $60 to buy the box as a one-off gift, then go for it. I don’t think you’ll regret it.

About The Daebak Company

The Daebak Company is a Seoul-based company that provides Korean goods direct from Korea to the rest of the world. They want to share their love of Korean culture, products, and experiences to the growing army of K-Culture lovers around the world.

Not only do they sell the Daebak Box, they also provide the chance to pre-order and purchase the hottest Korean pop, movie, and cultural goods from anywhere in the world.

You can find out more about the Daebak Company from their fun Instagram posts and the Daebak Community on Facebook, as well as on their homepage.

Other Korean Gift Boxes By Daebak

As well as the Daebak Box, which provides a range of Korean products, they also provide delicious Snack Fever Boxes. The Snack Fever boxes are monthly Korean subscription boxes packed full of yummy (and sometimes weird) Korean snacks. From chocolatey Pepero to super-spicy instant noodles and a whole lot of tasty and unusual snacks in between.

Korean Goods From Daebak

You can find hundreds of items in their online shop, including K-Pop, K-Drama, K-Beauty, K-Lifestyle, and K-Character goods. From cool BTS memorabilia to cute Kakao Friends accessories, there’s so much available on their website.

Daebak Box Review FAQs

Finally, here are a few FAQs about the Daebak Box, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you. If you have any other questions you’d like to ask, feel free to leave a comment.

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This Lingopie review article will introduce you to an innovative method of learning Korean through TV shows and other videos, as well as explain how you can create your own personalised study lists as you’re enjoying a show. As an English teacher in Korea, I appreciate new and alternative methods to studying a language and have tried Lingopie to see if it’s worth recommending or not. I’m also studying Korean myself and can appreciate the site as a learner.

In this article you’ll find lots of information about how and why to use Lingopie, as well as who it is (or isn’t suitable for). I offer my own, unbiased thoughts after using the site and as a Korean language learner. I hope you find it useful.

Lingopie Review: What Is Lingopie?

What is Lingopie? Lingopie is a paid language learning site that allows you to learn Korean and other languages through a wide range of videos, including K-dramas, music videos, children’s shows, and more.

There are also specially created videos designed for language learning, such as hangul flashcard videos to help you master the basics of the Korean alphabet.

As well as videos, Lingopie also offers traditional language learning tools to help you master Korean, including flashcards, review tools, and games, as well as many in-video tools.

Lingopie differs from other language learning sites like 90 Day Korean and Korea Class 101 as it offers a library of videos with natural language presented through TV shows.

Learning Korean by listening to native speakers is a great way to develop communication skills and can improve your chances of sounding more natural when you speak Korean.

Lingopie also has a blog that offers tips for learning Korean and interesting articles about language, such as the Best Shows To Learn Korean and How To Learn A Language With TV.

Lingopie is also available for Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, & Russian.

How Can You Learn Korean With Lingopie?

The main way to learn Korean with Lingopie is by watching the many TV shows available (and being added) to Lingopie. There are also flashcards and games to help you practice what you learn. Here’s a brief overview of the different services available on Lingopie.

Learn Korean While Watching TV Shows

The primary way to learn Korean with Lingopie is through the TV shows specially selected and translated to help you learn. Each video comes with a script, subtitles, and translations, as well as the ability to practice and repeat at your own speed.

Besides K-dramas, there are also travel shows, documentaries, children’s shows, and family shows. The shows are generally aimed at adults and those with an interest in Korean culture and travel, but there are some dedicated shows for younger learners, too.

The TV shows used are actual programs you’d watch in Korea and offer the chance to hear native Korean which hasn’t been adapted for language learning. Exposure to words you might not normally see in a structured language course can help you develop language skills at your own pace and teach you a bit of slang, too.

Useful Features While watching TV Shows

Here are some of the features that you can use to help you learn Korean with Lingopie while you watch the TV shows:

Script: Really useful script that follows the video. Hover over words to see translations and add them to your study list.

Subtitles: Interactive subtitles that include translations for key words that you can add to your own study list.

Auto-pause: Automatically pause playback at the end of each subtitle

Caption-skip: Skip back or forward by caption.

Caption settings: Change between Korean (hangul) and English letters on the subtitles.

Speak sentence: Listen to the sentence and learn to pronounce it.

Practice speaking: Practice speaking the sentence and record yourself.

Loop sentence: Repeat the same sentence to help you memorise it.

Adjust play speed: Choose the play speed that’s right for you. From half speed to full speed.

These features give you a lot of freedom to learn at your own speed and to practice and perfect your Korean skills. Being able to instantly add words you see to your own study list helps you to build your vocabulary in your own way.

Use The Special Korean Learning Videos

In order to be able to read and follow Korean dramas with subtitles, it’s first necessary to be able to read the Korean alphabet – hangul. Hangul was created by King Sejong in 1446 and is a relatively easy alphabet to learn.

The Korean alphabet is made up of straight lines and circles and can be learned in a couple of days with flashcards and videos like the one in the picture above, taken from the Lingopie website.

There are a few videos on Lingopie that will help you learn how to read hangul, as well as teach you the basic sounds, which come in syllable groups of 2 or 3 characters.

Practice Korean Using Flashcards

After you watch a video, any words that you’ve added to your study list can be reviewed through flashcards. These flashcards are created using the videos on Lingopie and help you build your Korean vocabulary skills.

Lingopie prompts you to practice these when you finish the video, which is a good way to reinforce what you’ve just learnt, and you can also study these at any time by going to the ‘Review and Practice’ section of the website.

The use of video clips to create flashcards is quite unique and a good way to recall language from the show you’ve just watched and create associations in your brain between the drama and language. You’ll also get to hear native Korean as you practice.

Practice Korean Using Games

Besides flashcards, there are also a couple of games to help you remember and develop your language skills. This kind of repetitive practice can help the words stick in your mind.

Word Master: This is a matching game that asks you to match the Korean word to the English meaning. You can listen to the word and read it in hangul.

Pop Quiz: This is a multiple choice quiz where you’ll be asked to find the correct meaning of the word in Korean or English. The game is based on your own study list, not pre-composed lists.

Review Words In Your Personalised DIctionary

When you learn Korean with Lingopie, there are loads of chances for you to see what words you know, as well as review words that you’re currently learning.

At the start of each video, you’ll see a screen like the picture above with a set of recommended words to learn in that video, as well as words you’ve already covered.

As you watch each video, you can select any word you want to learn and add it to your personal study list. This personal study list isn’t the same as a structured study list you might find in a Korean textbook, this is made up of all the words you’ve selected to learn.

You can manage your personal study list by reviewing the words to practice again, deleting them from your list, or marking them as known, which means you’ve memorised them.

Any of the words in your personal study list will be used for the review games and flashcards.

Learn Together In The Korean FOrums

One of the other services offered by Lingopie is the forum. There is a dedicated forum for Korean language learning where Lingopie admin and language learners can discuss study tips, share information, ask questions, and provide information, like in the picture above.

Forums can help make the language learning process more effective as they build a community where members can support and learn from each other. It’s also a good place to share your ideas with the admin and to learn what’s new.

How Much Does Lingopie Cost?

Due to all of the features included with Lingopie, including fully translated and subtitled Korean dramas and other shows, as well as new content added regularly, there is a cost to using Lingopie.

The amount you pay depends on the commitment you want to make to learning Korean, with the annual plans being half the price of the monthly plan. The yearly plan is one payment, which works out as $5.99 per month, whereas the monthly plan allows you to pay month by month and cancel at any time for $11.99 per month.

The family plan looks really good as it’s much cheaper when you split the cost. Also, studying with family (or friends) helps to improve your own motivation for learning a language. Being able to share and discuss your learning experience with others helps you stay focused and encourages you to learn more.

You can also study any of the other 7 languages (Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, & Russian) for this price. Useful if you want to learn Korean and another family member wants to learn, for example, Japanese.

Lingopie Review: My Thoughts

I think Lingopie is an interesting idea and an innovative approach to learning Korean. I’ve studied Korean for several years, so I’m not a beginner, and I was able to follow along with the videos and learn some new words and expressions as I went.

I’ve used Lingopie for several weeks during this summer and generally watched shows in small bursts as there is a lot of language included in each one. I especially liked the travel documentaries, but I guess most Korean language learners would like the K-dramas, which are packed with interesting Korean culture.

Even though most videos are only 10-15 minutes long, this actually works out at an hour or more (or several hours!) of language learning as you go back to learn new words, add words to your study list, practice listening and speaking, and check your own understanding.

Lingopie’s video player make it easier to learn Korean than by following YouTube videos due to the aforementioned features, such as advanced subtitles, definitions, and playback settings.

One of the best features of Lingopie has to be the use of Korean TV shows and the chance they offer for unstructured language learning (i.e. how people really speak, not specially made for language learners). As a language teacher (I teach English at a Korean university), I can appreciate both structured and unstructured language learning tools.

I use unstructured videos to teach English and to expose my students to native English from around the world (not just British English). It helps them to hear native English and can be an enjoyable way to learn a language.

However, the use of unstructured language learning is something that makes Lingopie not entirely suitable for beginners. Although there are videos that cover the basics, such as learning the Korean alphabet (hangul), there is no obvious progression and path from absolute beginner to simple words, vocabulary, grammar, then on to intermediate language skills, etc.

This makes it very hard for language learners to have a deep understanding of the language and can leave a lot of gaps in their vocabulary and grammar knowledge. That being said, I do know people who have learnt Korean without any formal training, mostly through exposure to native Korean speakers and TV shows like the ones used on Lingopie.

The flashcards and review activities do help to develop language learning and tying them into the videos you’ve watched is a nice touch and could be very useful for building lasting language skills through association.

Whilst being able to choose the words you want to learn can be really useful for intermediate and advanced learners, the lack of structure and grouping (i.e learning animal names or colours in one group) can make it confusing for beginners. If you already have a wide vocabulary, and understand the basics of Korean grammar, then these activities should be useful for you.

The cost of Lingopie is fairly reasonable compared to sites like FluentU, which starts at $239.99 per year, and the 90 Day Korean Inner Circle Course, which starts at $150 per year. You do get more from those sites, but for experienced Korean language learners who want to develop their skills from native speakers, the price is acceptable. Whilst you could obviously watch Korean language learning videos for free on YouTube, the cost of Lingopie covers interactive subtitles, personalised study lists, and more.

Perhaps my biggest issue with Lingopie, although it’s not massive, is the range of Korean content currently on the site. It would be nice to see more varied content, including some comedies that teach funny expressions and Korean humour. However, the lack of content now (as of August 2022) is understandable as the Korean and Japanese language options were only added in April 2022.

I’m sure there will be a lot more content in the coming months and years and there’s enough already on the site to keep you busy for many weeks and months.

Final Conclusion

In conclusion to this Lingopie review, I think that intermediate and advanced Korean language learners could benefit from the content and learning styles used by Lingopie. The site offers a good chance to discover and develop Korean language skills and expressions in a natural, unstructured way.

For experienced learners who want to fill in the gaps in their vocabulary, add new expressions, and sound more natural when speaking Korean, the TV shows used on Lingopie will help a lot.

For learners who need support and structured learning, the format of Lingopie could make it difficult to learn Korean without additional resources such as grammar and study books, but can still be useful.

Lingopie Review Summary

Here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons of Lingopie for learning Korean.

Alternative Ways To Learn Korean

If you’re interested in learning Korean from TV shows, then I’d recommend trying Lingopie to see how it is. There’s a 7 day free trial for the annual and family plans which will give you enough time to decide if it’s right for you.

Other options for learning Korean include the Talk To Me In Korean series (this is how I started learning Korean), the internationally popular Learn Korean With BTS (perfect for K-Pop fans), dedicated course with personal tuition, such as that from 90 Day Korean, and YouTube channels such as Billy Korean.

You can also check out my basic Korean travel phrases and Korean phrases for ordering food to help you learn the basics for travelling to Korea. These articles not only introduce you to 60 really useful words and phrases, they also offer tips on how to use the words, how to make sentences, and alternative uses of the words.

Learning Korean With Lingopie FAQs

Finally, here are a few FAQs about Lingopie, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you.

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Whatever you’re interested in, these insights to Korean etiquette will show you what’s considered rude in Korea, how to make friends and socialise, what manners are expected when dining out, special rules for the Korean workplace, and lots more.

There are dozens of insights and my personal comments about Korean culture, including how strictly rules are followed, how Korean society is changing, how to avoid offending people, and how to make a great first impression in Korea.

Find out all you need to know about Korean etiquette and gain a deeper understanding of Korean culture. It will open your eyes to the many cultural differences that make Korea such a unique and interesting place to explore and learn about.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why Learn About Korean Etiquette?

Korean etiquette rules, customs, and manners have developed over centuries, influenced various cultural factors. These factors include a strong hierarchy, Confucian ideals, and a sense of Han Spirit – a uniquely Korean emotion that embodies grief and resentment from centuries of suffering.

Not knowing about these uniquely Korean cultural rules can leave people feeling confused or upset when they travel to Korea or talk with Korean friends and encounter a situation or action they don’t understand.

This guide will stop you making embarrassing mistakes and cultural faux pas. It will also shine a light into the behaviour (hidden or open) of Korean people & society in general and help you understand why things happen the way they do.

This article covers a wide range of the most common Korean etiquette rules, customs, beliefs, and superstitions. It shows you how to display good manners and follow etiquette rules in various situations, such as when eating out, socialising, or at work.

In some sections there are Korean cultural insights and ‘reality checks‘ that show my opinion on these rules and how strictly they’re followed. I hope you’ll find them useful.

Now, here are the 35 tips that will teach you how to avoid being rude, how to follow Korean etiquette rules, how to show good manners, and how to make a good impression in Korea. Afterwards, there’s a guide to Korean culture and how it has shaped Korean etiquette. Be sure to read to the end.

What Is Considered Rude In Korea?

One of the most important things to know when travelling to a culturally distinctive place like Korea is how to avoid being rude. Knowing what is considered rude in Korea is not only useful to avoid difficult situations, but also to show Koreans that you’ve taken time to learn about their culture.

If it’s considered rude in your country, it’s probably considered rude in Korea. Things such as spitting, shouting, hitting people, swearing, and generally being obnoxious are definitely rude in Korea. I haven’t added them to this list as they should be obvious.

If you follow these rules and avoid these taboos, you will not only avoid cultural faux pas, you can start to make friends in Korea and show respect when you travel and engage with Koreans, at home or abroad.

1: Writing Someone’s Name In Red Ink

Koreans used to write the names of deceased people in red ink. Doing the same to a living person indicates that you either wish they were dead, or else want to do them harm.

This is a pretty serious etiquette mistake and I’ve been in trouble for doing it in the past. If you’re going to be writing in front of Korean people, be safe and stick to black or blue ink.

2: Wearing Shoes Inside Someone’s House

Every Korean house is a shoe-free area and it is considered rude to wear shoes inside someone’s house. It’s not only rude to wear your shoes into a Korean house, it’s also unlucky and dirty. Show good manners by removing your shoes when you enter.

Korean houses have a small area when you first enter that is for removing shoes. You can tell it because it’s lower than the rest of the floor. If you step up into someone’s house, that means you’re entering into a no-shoe area and you should take off your shoes immediately. There may be guest slippers you can wear, although that depends on the house you’re visiting.

3: Crossing Your Legs When Talking To Someone

In Korea, it is considered rude to cross your legs in the presence of someone ‘superior’. In Korea, that means higher in society, either through their job or their age. It isn’t considered rude to cross your legs in front of friends and people of a similar (or lower) social standing as you.

It’s more acceptable to sit with your legs straight or open a bit. Crossing your legs is seen as being lazy or disrespectful to the other person. Therefore, you should sit up straight and keep your hands on your lap. Open body language shows honesty and attentiveness.

4: Shaking Hands With One Hand And Not Two

A one-handed handshake is certainly bad etiquette in Korea and you should instead shake with two hands. Why is it considered rude? This most likely goes back to times of court intrigue, where people showed both hands to prove they weren’t hiding any concealed dangers, such as a knife or poison.

There are several acceptable ways to shake hands in Korea, all of which include both hands. First, shake holding both hands. If that’s not appropriate, the left hand should be placed on the right wrist or between the wrist and elbow. Alternatively, tuck the left arm around the waist under the right arm.

5: Standing Chopsticks Upright In Rice

A definite Korean cultural taboo is sticking chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice. This action looks similar to incense sticks in funeral ceremonies and symbolises death. As with writing in red ink, this makes people think of death and is considered bad luck.

This applies to other countries where Buddhism is prevalent as it’s a Buddhist ceremony. Although Korea isn’t a predominantly Buddhist country, it’s still a superstitious one and upholds these beliefs. To avoid disrespect when eating, rest chopsticks on a napkin or bowl.

6: Pointing With A Finger

When gesturing in Korea, it is considered bad manners to point with one finger, especially the index finger. Instead, Koreans tend to use the whole hand when gesturing or motioning towards something.

To call someone’s attention in Korea, use the whole hand, palm face up. Bring the whole hand up as if clapping. Don’t use one finger. This is the opposite of what’s usual in Western countries where the palm is face down.

The middle finger is seen as rude, especially when stuck straight up at someone, just as it is in other countries such as the USA and UK.

7: The Number 4 Is Considered Bad Luck

The number 4 is an unlucky number in Korea, just as 13 is in English speaking countries. Known as tetraphobia, the issue is serious in Korea. Koreans will go out of their way to avoid using the number, including removing the number 4 from elevators, restaurant tables, and even whole apartment blocks.

The Korean superstition surrounding the number 4 originates from the sound made when saying ‘four’. This word sounds the same as the word for ‘death’. In Korean they are both pronounced as ‘sa‘.

This is an issue in several countries, including China and Japan, as they use the same Chinese characters for these two words.

8: Saying No When Asked To Do Something

When someone in Korea asks you to do something, it is considered rude to say no. For example, if a friend invites you to their house, or to go to an event, it’s bad manners to refuse. This doesn’t mean that it is necessary to agree to do everything that someone asks, but consideration should be made about how to turn down an offer. An excuse or false agreement is better than a straight up refusal.

This issue is rooted in a subtle aspect of Korean culture known as kibun, which has no English translation, but generally refers to someone’s sense of pride or face. By refusing to agree to something, you damage their kibun and damage the group harmony. Korean people want to avoid that, so they try to agree or find ways to get out of a difficult situation without saying no directly.

There are Korean cultural insights that will help explain this issue later on, including the concept of kibun and how Korean society operates harmoniously. Keep reading to find out more about these and other Korean etiquette rules, customs, and manners.

Korean Etiquette Rules When Dining Out

This next section introduces some important Korean etiquette rules when dining out that will help you if you plan to eat out with Korean friends both in your own country and in Korea.

Several of these rules are common sense or manners, such as not pointing with cutlery, others might seem a bit strange or confusing. Understanding the cultural reasons behind these rules can help make your Korean dining experience more comfortable.

When you’re travelling and eating out with other foreigners, don’t worry too much about these rules. These are guidelines for eating with Koreans and not being rude.If you’re worried about what to say when dining, check out my guide to Korean phrases for eating out. You can find out how to order food, how to talk about what you like and don’t like, how to pay, and lots more.

9: Take Your Shoes Off In Restaurants

It’s bad Korean etiquette to enter a Korean restaurant and walk around with shoes on. It is required to remove them when entering a restaurant and then either walk around in socks, or else slippers will be provided.

The main reason to remove shoes is because traditional restaurants have low tables and people sit on the floor. As everyone sits close together with their feet under the table, this will be uncomfortable and bother others. The other reason to remove shoes is to avoid getting dirt everywhere.

When someone needs to use the bathroom in Korea, there will be a special pair of bathroom slippers they can use so they don’t need to put on their shoes again. Don’t forget to take off the bathroom slippers when leaving the toilet or it’ll certainly cause an unforgettable scene in the restaurant.

10: Help Others Before You Help Yourself

This Korean etiquette rule applies to a couple of things when eating out. First, one person at the table will give out the cutlery (chopsticks and spoon) to other people at the table, serving themselves last. This is usually the youngest person at a work dinner.

The cutlery in Korean restaurants is placed in a box on the table, or in a draw on the side of the table, along with napkins and wet tissues. Place a napkin on the table and then place the cutlery on top to keep the cutlery clean.

The second meaning of this rule is when serving food and drinks. Offer other people food and drinks before yourself. This is especially important in a work setting when dining with senior members of a company or with older relatives.

11: Wait For Elders To Be Seated First

Similar to the previous Korean etiquette rule, it is considered rude to sit down before the more senior or elderly members of the group have been seated.

The senior people will typically take the central area of a table, with less senior members spreading out to the sides. When foreigners join Korean work parties, they may be offered a place in the centre alongside the senior members. This is a sign of respect.

At work events, this means standing near the table and waiting for the senior members of the team to arrive before sitting. Once they arrive, everyone will take their seats.

Korean employees may attend meals early so they can show their enthusiasm by waiting for the boss. This is generally better than turning up late, which could be considered rude.

12: Don’t Eat With Your Fingers Or Lick Them

Using fingers to eat in Korea is bad manners and chopsticks or other cutlery should be used whenever possible. This applies for difficult to eat foods such as chicken wings, ribs, and pork cutlets. This also applies to Korean side dishes, which are called banchan. They’re not finger food.

These foods should be cut up or taken apart when possible, which is a difficult task for people not used to using chopsticks to eat. Fortunately, most Korean meals involve small portions that can be picked up and eaten using chopsticks, as well as sticky rice.

Licking fingers is considered bad manners in Korea and it should be avoided when possible, especially when eating in public. There are wet or dry tissues for cleaning dirty hands and fingers. Tissues can also be used to hide leftover bones, which is politer than leaving them on a plate or table.

13: Don’t Point With Your Chopsticks

Chopsticks are very flexible and can be used to eat a wide range of food with a bit of practice. However, there are some things definitely shouldn’t be done with chopsticks, including the aforementioned taboo of sticking them upright in rice.

Using chopsticks to point at other people is considered rude in Korea and should be avoided. When eating with chopsticks, try to keep them pointed downwards or place them on a plate, bowl, or napkin on the table.

Try to avoid gesticulating wildly with chopsticks when eating. The same rule applies when talking closely with someone else, don’t wave your arms around too much as this is considered rude and disrespecting someone’s personal space.

14: Use Two Hands When Pouring Drinks For Others

When pouring drinks for others, pour with two hands. As with shaking hands, the second hand can be placed on the pouring hand, wrist, arm, or under the arm on the waist.

This is another uniquely Korean etiquette rule that probably originated at the same time as the rule for shaking with two hands. If both hands are visible, one can’t be used to conceal anything dangerous.

15: Don’t Pour Your Own Drinks

As well as pouring drinks with two hands, Korean etiquette states that you shouldn’t pour drinks for yourself. When out with other people, pour their drinks first and then they will return the favour.

Korean work meals typically involve beer and soju. This involves a lot of pouring during the evening and it is common for people to move around the room pouring drinks (usually soju) for other people. The other person will pour a shot of soju for them in return.

This causes a socially harmonious situation where everyone is offering and accepting drinks from each other and is a key part of a Korean work dinner. This can also happen in social occasions, but with less pressure to impress others.

16: Look Away When Drinking A Shot

During work and social events, it is common to make a toast and drink a shot of soju or glass of beer. It is bad manners in Korea to look at other people as you down your shot or beer. The polite way to drink a shot is to turn your face away and drink, then turn back to look at everyone. Staring at someone when drinking is bad manners.

Covering your mouth when drinking in Korea is also considered polite, although it is not as commonly practised as turning away. Drinking from a bottle without it touching your lips, letting it drop into your mouth, is also common in Korea to avoid germs.

17: Clean Up Your Own Mess

At restaurants and cafes in Korea, it is common to clear away your own cups and plates when finished. There is usually a ‘return’ area near the main counter or food delivery area, or a separate counter with recycling and trash.

In cafes, it is normal to return used cups and empty any remaining liquids into a special bin, as well as split different items by material type (plastic / paper). Mugs and glasses can be left in the same area.

If a Korean restaurant offers table service, you don’t need to clean away your own plates. If you have to go up to a counter to order and pay, you might be expected to clean up.

Having to clear your plates away is one of the reasons you shouldn’t tip in Korea, which is the topic of the next part of this Korean etiquette guide.

Should You Tip In Korea?

One question many people ask when travelling to Korea is should you tip? In some countries it’s quite common, but in Korea tipping is not customary at all. Tipping in Korean restaurants and cafes doesn’t happen and there are usually no options to leave a tip.

The price on a menu is the price you’re expected to pay. Tax is included and won’t be added later. It’s not common to see tip jars in Korea, although some bars and independent cafes may have them near the till.

Why don’t people tip in Korea? There are a few cultural reasons why tipping isn’t common. Firstly, it never entered into society and people aren’t used to paying more than the price stated. Prices include staffing costs and therefore tips aren’t necessary.

Providing good service is part of maintaining social harmony and being rude to customers would result in people losing face and society not following its core Confucian ideals. Therefore, there should be no need to tip for good service as it’s always provided.

Indeed, tipping one person would require tipping others, or else societal disharmony may occur. Tipping everyone isn’t practical, so the best option is not to tip at all.

Should you tip in Korea? No.

Leaving a tip in a Korean restaurant can result in the money being returned or awkwardness for the person receiving the tip. Avoiding awkwardness in Korean society is going to be more valuable than a tip.

If you live in Korea and want to thank someone for providing a service, like installing a washing machine or fixing your computer at work, small gifts are usually given. Small gifts include a baked good, a bottle of juice, and things like that.

When Can You Tip In Korea?

Despite tipping generally being avoided in Korea, there are times when tipping is allowed. Upmarket restaurants and hotels will sometimes add a service charge when dining or drinking there. This is a mandatory ‘tip’ rather than an accepted gratuity.

The other time when tipping is acceptable in Korea is when someone provides a personal service, such as a tour guide. Tour guides, who are used to working with foreigners, are often happy to accept tips and giving them a tip can really help them.

If you’re not sure if a tour guide accepts tips, you can ask them. Try to be discrete and wait until the end of the tour before approaching the subject of tipping.

Socialising Culture & Etiquette In Korea

Want to feel comfortable when socialising with friends in Korea? Want to avoid making other people embarrassed and uncomfortable when you go out together or visit their home?

These Korean etiquette rules for socialising will show you how to make friends in Korea and avoid upsetting others. A good first impression will certainly go a long way to breaking down cultural barriers and showing the other person you understand their culture.

These rules are a bit more relaxed than what you’d expect to find in a professional setting, such as an office, or when meeting someone’s family. In reality, these rules could be completely ignored by some Korean people, typically the younger generations, but it never hurts to be prepared and err on the side of caution when in a new culture.

18: Avoid Personal Names Until Introduced

When meeting someone for the first time, it’s best to refer to them by their title (doctor, teacher, etc.) or their family name (Mr. Kim, Mrs. Song, etc.) Using someone’s first name shows a familiarity with that person that could be considered rude.

Using a professional title is a sign of respect and, traditionally, professionals such as teachers and doctors were well respected members of society. This isn’t so applicable when greeting a tour guide or hotel employee, or even a friend you met online.

The safest option when meeting someone in Korea is to use their formal title or full name until they’ve used your personal name or you feel it’s safe to call them by their first name. When you’ve been introduced, you should be familiar enough to use first names.

19: Bow Or Shake Hands To Greet People

To make a good first impression in Korea, give a two-handed hand shake or a small bow. A bow is a safe option for greeting strangers and is practical when greeting lots of people at once. A deep bow is not necessary when greeting people, a small tip forward is enough.

When socialising with Korean friends, a hand shake is a more comfortable option and shows friendliness. A bow is also fine, especially when holding things. If in doubt, let the Korean person make the first move so you know what they’re comfortable with.

20: Avoid Close Physical Contact

Handshakes and bows are acceptable greetings, but greeting someone with close physical contact, such as hugging or grabbing hands or arms, is bad Korean etiquette.

Hugging strangers is certainly bad manners in Korea and will most likely make the other person extremely uncomfortable, especially when in public. Close physical contact is generally reserved for friends and family.

Once you’ve become friends with someone in Korea, you can set your own boundaries. If you’re both comfortable hugging or other close physical contact, then it’s fine. Close physical contact between couples is a bit different and will be discussed later.

21: Respect Other People’s Personal Space

Similar to avoiding close physical contact when in Korea, it’s also good manners to respect other people’s personal space. This means not standing too close to them, waving your arms around near others, or generally moving your body in a way that could make others uncomfortable.

For example, if you’re socialising with Korean friends, don’t keep touching someone’s shoulder or waving your arms around in front of them. Korean people generally wouldn’t do it unless very close to another person as it could cause them to lose face.

Due to traditional Korean societal norms, which will be explained in more detail later, invading someone’s personal space not only embarrasses that person, it could also cause disharmony in the group and result in an uncomfortable situation.

22: Bring A Gift When Invited To Someone’s House

When someone is invited to a Korean person’s home, it’s good manners to bring a gift for the host. This is a sign of respect and gratitude to the person for being invited to their personal place. Bringing a gift will help you make friends and will please the host.

Good gifts for visiting someone’s house in Korea include baked goods, sweet treats, or a small bouquet of flowers. Something that can be used at that time is generally acceptable. Don’t spend too much, however, as this places a social burden on the other person. Wrapping is always welcome.

Check out the gift giving section at the end of this article to learn customs and etiquette rules that will help you choose the right gift and give it correctly.

23: Give And Receive With Two Hands

Giving and receiving gifts in Korea should be done with two hands. Present the gift to the other person, extending it forward and wait for the other person to accept it.

In Korea, it’s considered impolite to open the gift in front of the gift giver, so don’t be surprised if they place it somewhere out of sight or take it to another room to open. If the gift is something to be eaten right away, it’ll probably be taken to the kitchen so it can be served on a plate.

24: Remember To Return The Favour

A key concept of Korean culture is societal harmony. This is seen in many parts of Korean culture, including gift giving. If a Korean person receives a gift, especially in public, they feel obliged to return the favour.

If you want to show you understand Korean customs, return the favour and give a gift after someone gives you a gift. However, try not to spend more than they did, otherwise this places the burden back on the other person to buy yet another, more expensive gift.

Etiquette Rules When In Public

Worried about making cultural faux pas while out and about in the busy streets of Seoul? Want to know how to ride on public transport without upsetting anyone?

This next set of Korean etiquette rules will help you behave like a model member of Korean society when travelling and exploring in public. From public transport to public displays of affection, there are many areas where you’ll need to be careful in Korea.

As a foreigner, you won’t be expected to know these rules and Korean people will probably tolerate must culturally insensitive actions you take. But wouldn’t it be great to show that you understand and appreciate Korean culture by following these etiquette rules?

25: Don’t Take Reserved Seats On Public Transport

Korean subways and buses have reserved seats for people in need. It’s good manners to let people who need these seats take them. This includes the elderly, sick, young children, and pregnant women.

The end sections of subway carriages are reserved for travellers in need, while the seats closest to the door, as shown in the picture above, are reserved for pregnant women. On Korean buses, the reserved seats are usually brightly coloured.

Be respectful when you travel in Korea and avoid using these seats.

26: Be Careful With Food And Drinks

When eating and drinking outdoors in Korea, be mindful of your actions. There are not many public bins in Korea and people are expected to carry their trash home with them.

You shouldn’t leave litter on the ground just because you can’t find a bin. This is true when hiking in Korea as there are no bins on the mountain paths. One of my top Korean Hiking Tips is to bring a small plastic bag for food trash. This tip applies when out in Korea, too.

Another important consideration when eating and drinking is to be careful when using public transport. Seoul recently made it illegal to eat and drink on public buses. It’s still legal on trains, but try to be courteous and avoid smelly foods and take your trash with you.

27: Don’t Walk While Eating Or Drinking

Another way to cause offence when in public in Korea is to eat or drink whilst walking. It is considered rude and people are advised to stay still or sit down when eating or drinking.

This makes sense when you consider the danger of doing multiple things at once in a busy country where people move around quickly. It’s easy to bump into people or make a mess when moving and eating.

28: Avoid Public Displays Of Affection

One of the Dangers Of Dating In Korea is that you can easily offend people by showing public displays of affection (PDA). Although not as strictly enforced as in some countries, public displays of affection such as kissing and hugging are frowned upon in Korea.

Korea is a conservative society and such displays will offend some people, older generations in particular. One way that couples get around this is by wearing couples clothing, showing that two people are in love enough to coordinate their clothing choices.

To avoid being rude in Korea, it is useful to know that public displays of affection can cause offence and upset some people. To show respect, try not to be too public with your shows of affection. Get some matching clothes for you and your partner instead.

29: Don’t Blow Your Nose

Blowing your nose is considered rude in Korea, especially when done loudly and in public. Korean people tend to sniff a blocked nose instead of blowing it, even if that doesn’t actually solve the problem.

I’m not sure how this etiquette issue started, whether it is seen as unhygienic to blow your nose or if people never thought to carry a handkerchief with them for such emergencies and just got used to sniffing. It’s confusing as pocket tissues are sold in many places.

Whatever the case, from my experience, Korean people seem to be more comfortable sniffing instead of blowing and will look in disgust if you blow your nose, especially in a public place such as a restaurant or on public transport.

30: Patience Is A Virtue And Queueing Is The Way

Korea is a polite society where pushing and shoving for your own benefit is considered rude and damages the harmony of society. Quietly queueing and waiting your turn is the norm in Korea and it is common to see organised lines waiting at subway, bus, and train stations, as well as in shops.

Trying to push ahead in a queue, or not waiting your turn is frowned upon in Korea. If you’re visiting Korea, it’s best to follow the example set by locals and be patient.

However, there is one big exception to this rule, which I’ll talk about next.

Ajummas: The Exception To The Etiquette Rules

You may have read these Korean etiquette rules and come to the conclusion that Korea is a wonderfully harmonious place where everyone is kind and polite in public.

While this is mostly the case for normal Koreans, there is one exception – the ajumma. Ajumma is the name given to middle-aged and above Korean women (typically over 50) who are the queens of Korean society.

After years of following strict etiquette rules and putting up with society, ajummas have earned the right to ignore the rules that keep society civilised and will instead push their way onto buses, shove you out of the way in a queue, talk loudly in public, and wear offensively bright clothing.

If you’re a fan of Korean dramas, you’ve no doubt seen plenty of ajummas before. Jean Yoon’s character in Kim’s Convenience is an ajumma (her name was Umma), albeit a bit more civilised than you might find in the wild.

Korea is definitely one of the safest and nicest places to be in public, but remember to beware the ajumma. Watch out for her colourful garb and keep a wide berth when possible. See the picture above for the identifying features of a Korean ajumma.

Korean Work Culture & Etiquette

These final Korean etiquette rules and cultural insights are especially important if you’re travelling to Korea for business, or if you’re an expat in Korea like myself.

Understanding Korean etiquette and manners is perhaps more important in a business environment than when travelling as a tourist as the Korean business world is built on respect, hierarchy, and honesty. If you want to get ahead working or doing business in Korea, remember to show deference, especially to your seniors, and be friendly and honest to others.

Socialising outside of the office is a big part of work life, and many of the rules covered in the socialising section of this guide apply to business socialising, too. Often more strictly than in a purely social setting.

Read on to find out how to make a good impression at work in Korea and show you understand Korean work culture and etiquette.

31: Accept & Give Business Cards With Two Hands

As mentioned several times before, it is best to give and receive with two hands in Korea, either with two hands at once, or with one hand resting on or under your arm.

With business cards in Korea, hold or receive the business card with both hands at the edge or the card and leave room for the other person to touch the other half of the card.

When given a business card, be sure to show respect to the card by looking at it and then treating it carefully. Don’t bend or dirty the card. Leave it on the table or place it in your wallet for safekeeping.

32: Use Formal Titles

Korean work places are traditionally very formal places where proper titles should be used, especially with senior members. Try to avoid using first names until someone has used yours, and even then stick to formal titles if the other person is your senior.

Full names, with the surname first, is the safest option if you don’t know someone’s formal title in a company. If you’re travelling to Korea for business, it might be worth learning a few titles for the people you are likely to deal with, such as ‘director’ or ‘manager’.

When sending emails, write your full name and refer to the other person by their full name, too. Try to avoid using just your first name as this might be seen as too casual.

33: Wait For The Boss To Eat Or Drink

Hierarchy is important and Koreans expect respect to be shown to senior members. This can be done by waiting for them to take their seat first, as well as by waiting for them to eat and drink first.

At a Korean work meal or social event, the most senior member of the company will make a toast at the start and then take a drink. Other members should then also take a drink. Drinking before this is considered rude in Korea and can be disrespectful to the boss.

It is also expected that the most senior member will start eating first, and then other people can start eating. Similarly, when that person finishes the meal and is ready to leave, the whole team may be expected to leave, even if they haven’t finished eating.

34: Be Prepared To Sing Or Make A Speech

When invited out for a formal work event, such as a dinner or team bonding session (known in Korea as ‘membership training’), it is common for people to be asked to give a speech during a meal. Several speeches are usually made during the course of a meal.

As a foreigner in Korea, it’s likely that you’ll be invited to make a speech. Embrace the chance to practice a bit of Korean and the respect that is shown to you when asked. It’s a good chance to impress others and to create a good image in the company.

After-work parties often end up at a noraebang (Korean singing room) and you’ll almost certainly be expected to sing. Give it a go, even if you’re not a good singer. People will appreciate you willingness to join in and be part of the team.

Or your singing will be so bad that your boss will tell you never to sing in public again, which happened to me one time.

35: Group Harmony Is Number 1

Group harmony in a Korean work environment is very important and is the key to understanding a lot of the cultural differences between working in Korea vs. other countries.

Achieving group harmony involves following strict hierarchy rules and avoiding problematic situations, such as speaking against your superiors, not following orders, or being dishonest.

This aspect of Korean business culture can be difficult for non-Koreans to understand as it can go against what may be seen as common sense. For example, disagreeing with someone’s idea in a team meeting (especially the bosses) is seen as causing disharmony, even when it may be a better option.

If you want to know more about group harmony in Korean culture, this is discussed in more detail later on in this article.

How To Show Respect In Korea

Showing respect is the key to creating and maintaining a harmonious society, especially one where hierarchy is so important and individualism is surreptitiously frowned upon.

Here are three ways to show respect in Korea, including shaking hands correctly, bowing, and giving gifts. There are set rules that should be followed in each circumstance to avoid causing disrespect.

Learning these three simple ways to show respect will demonstrate that you’re sensitive to Korean cultural values and can help you fit into Korean society.

Korean Handshake Etiquette

Here are a few simple steps to help you master perfect Korean handshake etiquette.

• When greeting people in Korea, shake hands with both hands.
• Shake with your right hand.
• Place your left hand on the top of the wrist of your right arm or on the elbow.
• If the other person places their left hand on your hand, do the same.
• Bow forward slightly during the handshake with your head pointed downwards.
• Avoid direct eye contact if shaking hands with a senior work colleague or in a professional environment.
• Don’t squeeze too hard.

To avoid being rude when shaking hands, don’t put your non-shaking hand in your pocket. Leaving it by your side won’t be considered offensive, but it’s politer to shake with both hands.

Bowing Etiquette In Korea

Bowing is a common way to greet people in Korea and to show respect in formal situations. Here are some simple steps to help you master a respectful Korean bow.

• Place your hands clasped together in front of you.
• Keep your head down to avoid eye contact.
• Bow forwards to about 45 degrees.
• Hold the bow for a few seconds.

When bowing to someone in a higher position, increase the bow a bit.

Bows typically don’t go more than 90 degrees in Korea and a deep bow like that is reserved for very formal occasions, such as when Moon Jae In met Kim Jong Un in North Korea.

Bowing At Korean Weddings

Traditional Korean wedding ceremonies involve lots of bowing, especially between the bride and groom as they complete various rituals, such as ‘hapgeunrye‘, which involves the couple drinking from a copper cup and represents the mixing of the two families.

There is also a section of the wedding called ‘paebaek‘, where the bride and groom will sit on their knees and bow down with their head touching the floor (grand bow) and then bow with their head slightly above their arms (half bow). This is to show the importance of family to the couple.

Japanese And Korean bowing Are Not The Same

Bowing is common in both Japan and Korea, but the methods of bowing are not the same and can actually cause offence for some sensitive people in either country.

A famous example of this is from a Japanese McDonald’s advert that showed ‘Korean bowing’ instead of typical Japanese bowing. Some Japanese viewers were outraged about the bowing technique used.

Japanese bowing, known as ‘ojigi‘ in Japanese, involves bowing with your hands at your sides. Korean bowing, known as ‘jeol‘ in Korean, involves placing your hands together in front of your stomach.

Deep bowing up to 180 degrees, which is typically reserved for public apologies in Japan, is not so common in Korea. If you bow too deeply, Korean people may think you’re ‘acting Japanese’.

Be careful bowing when travelling East Asia.

Korean Gift Giving Culture

Gifts are exchanged in Korea for various social and work situations, such as when visiting someone’s house, for birthdays and holidays, and when starting a new job.

Here are some simple steps to help you respectfully give and receive gifts in Korea.

• Use two hands to give & receive gifts.
• Wrap the gift to make it look nice – visuals are important.
• Use light colours for wrapping, avoid red and dark colours.
• Don’t spend too much as you oblige the other person to spend as much.
• Don’t open the gift immediately unless encouraged to by the giver.
• Show your appreciation by commenting on the nice wrapping.

The rules will differ depending on the person giving or receiving the gift and some people, especially younger generations, may not care about any of these rules.

What Gifts Should You Give In Korea?

Good gifts to give in Korea include baked goods, sweets, and flowers. Bakeries in Korea usually have gift sets that are perfect for visiting someone’s house. Department stores are also a good place to buy gifts in Korea.

Suitable gifts from your own country can include local foods and snacks that aren’t available in Korea. However, be sure that you don’t bring in any ‘live’ food such as fruit or veg as it’s illegal to bring them into Korea. Chocolates, sweets, and teas are fine to bring into Korea.

If you’re working in Korea and want to make a good impression, bring in some traditional Korean rice cakes for your coworkers to share. However, they may prefer something from your own country or something sweet to eat instead.

When gifting to multiple people, such as in an office, individually wrapped, separate items are the best. Not only is it more hygienic, it also allows you to place a gift on each person’s desk, which is a common way to share gifts at work in Korea.

On November 11th, be sure to give a box of Pepero to your coworkers and friends as it’s Pepero Day In Korea. These cheap gifts are a great way to impress others and a delicious snack that can be enjoyed with coffee.

What Gifts Should You Avoid In Korea?

There are some gifts that are culturally sensitive and may make Korean people uncomfortable These include sharp objects, such as knives, because these items symbolise ‘cutting ties’ and this is the opposite of what you want to do when giving a gift.

Gifts in sets of four and cards written in red ink are also inappropriate in Korea because the number 4 and red ink both symbolise death. Red wrapping paper isn’t a good idea.

Don’t spend too much on a gift. Expensive gifts place a burden on the receiver to gift back a similarly expensive gift and might make them feel bad if they can’t match the cost of the gift.

Manners When Speaking Korean

This final Korean cultural consideration is one that will become apparent when you start to learn Korean or live in Korea – how to speak Korean without being rude.

The Korean language has been heavily influenced by Confucian values and social hierarchies, resulting in different forms of speech for different people within society.

The Korean language has 3 different forms – informal, formal, and respectful.

Informal and formal Korean, are mostly the same, with different conjugations to show varying levels of respect. Usually, the shorter the word ending, the less formal it is.

The respectful form is reserved for elders and superiors at work or in society. It’s also used by businesses and shops to show respect towards customers.

The respectful form of the language has unique vocabulary that you’ll need to learn. For example, the word ‘name’ is 이름 (i-reum) in informal and formal Korean, but is 성함 (seong-ham) in respectful Korean.

Here are the two forms of the verb ‘eat’ in informal, formal, and respectful Korean:

• Informal – 먹어 (meog-eo)
• Formal – 먹어요 (meog-eo-yo)
• Respectful – 드세요 (deu-se-yo)

As a tourist who might only know a few basic Korean travel phrases, you don’t need to worry too much about which form you use. However, if you want to learn Korean to live in Korea, you’ll definitely need to be aware that using the informal form of Korean with elders or superiors will be considered rude. If in doubt, use the most polite form you know.

Two Korean honorific titles that can help you show respect to strangers are -님 (-nim) and -씨 (-sshi). Nim is added to someone’s job title. Sshi is added to someone’s name and works like Mr. or Mrs. in English. You can add sshi to the first or last name.

If you’re interested in learning Korean and knowing more about the difference between the 3 types of language, I would recommend the Inner Circle Course With 90 Day Korean. You can get personalised feedback from tutors and lots of support and materials to help you learn Korean more efficiently.

Essential Korean Culture Insights

To appreciate these Korean etiquette rules, it is necessary to understand some basic principles about Korean culture and how it is different from other cultures.

There are 4 main aspects of Korean culture that have helped to shape and define etiquette, customs, and manners in Korea:

• Group Harmony
• Respect for Elders
• The Concept of Face
• Nationalism

These 4 key points only touch the surface of Korean culture, but should give you a basic introduction into what makes Korea so unique.

If you’d like a deeper insight into life in Korea, and some of the challenges and benefits you can experience, check out my article about Expat Life In Korea.

Group Harmony Vs. Individual Needs

The teachings of Confucius, a Chinese philosopher who lived around 2,500 years ago, have had a noticeable effect on Korean society since his descendants moved to Korea in the 14th Century.

Today, many morals and values in Korean society have the mark of Confucius, who promoted societal harmony, compassion, and empathy above individual needs and wants. So much so that Korea is known as the most Confucian country in the world.

I won’t give a detailed explanation of Confucian values, but it’s important to know that he believed people should put others before themselves. You can see this in the kindness towards friends and strangers in Korea, as well as in work environments where conflict is avoided at all costs.

People who disrupt the group harmony with their individual issues might be frowned upon. There is a saying that the nail that stands up gets hammered down. This helps create a harmonious society, but it can also cause problems for individualistic personalities.

As a traveller, this shouldn’t be an issue for you, but it’s important to know about so you can understand these Korean etiquette rules.

Respect For Your Elders

As with many cultures, respect goes upwards in age. This means that older people are respected more than younger ones. Due to Confucian teachings, age is even more important in Korean society.

Age in Korea can dictate the way you act or behave to someone, who gets to get on the subway first, who eats dinner first, and even who pays for meals when you’re out.

You might be asked your age so that people can figure out where you fit in the hierarchy. People will want to know what they can call you and if they should use certain language when talking to you. Therefore, you shouldn’t be surprised if this question comes up a few times. It can be shocking to be asked your age, especially if this is considered rude in your own country.

Although age and respect for the elderly are still an important part of Korean culture, there are also issues related to elderly poverty and the neglect of elderly parents by their children. If you’ve watched Squid Game, you might know what I’m talking about.

When you visit Korea, try to treat elders with respect, as I hope you would do anyway.

Kibun, Nunchi & Face

If you want to understand some of the more subtle aspects of Korean culture and etiquette, it’s useful to know a bit about kibun and nunchi. These will really help you avoid upsetting people unintentionally.

Kibun has no direct translation in English, but is a mixture of someone’s pride, face, dignity mood, feelings, and state of mind. When you attack or hurt someone’s kibun, you cause them to lose face. This reflects badly on that person within Korean society.

As mentioned, Korean society is based on group harmony, which involves mutual trust and respect. In order to protect this harmony, you should be aware of other people’s kibun, even if that means telling a small lie or doing something you’re not comfortable with.

Nunchi is the ability to determine someone’s mood and to know what needs to be done in order to avoid damaging their kibun. This is basically the ability to maintain peace within society. You can achieve nunchi by looking at other people’s body language and listening to how they speak. Even if someone doesn’t directly tell you something, they could be subtly suggesting it.

Kibun and nunchi are hard concepts to grasp and if you’re visiting Korea, don’t worry about them much. It’s useful to consider that people may agree to do things they’re uncomfortable with for the sake of maintaining kibun, or they may try to avoid conflicts at any cost.

Nationalism Is Strong In South Korea

Korea has a high level of nationalism and people take pride in their country and national symbols, such as the Taegugki (national flag). Part of the reason for this stems from a history of battling between stronger, larger neighbours (Japan and China), as well as the ongoing conflict with North Korea.

Without covering the whole of Korean history, nationalism has been promoted to reinforce Korea’s national pride and unique identity. Having been occupied by Japan until 1945, the consequences of which were quite severe, Korea has worked hard to make its place in the world and to regain national pride.

Now, Koreans can be proud of their growing economic, cultural, and sporting achievements on the world stage. If you want to make friends in Korea, it’s always good to point out these achievements

Learn More About Korean Culture

If you’ve enjoyed this article about Korean etiquette, culture, and manners and want to know more about Korean culture, then check out some of my other articles.

South Korean Cultural Facts: Discover 50 amazing facts about Korean culture, offering insights into the history or Korea, Korean people, Korean nature, and more.

Unique Korean Experiences: Create an unforgettable Korean bucket list with these 50 uniquely Korean experiences and activities.

I strongly encourage you to check out some translated Korean novels, too. These are excellent ways to not only learn about Korean culture in an interesting way, but to also discover more subtle, hidden aspects of life in Korea. Try applying the etiquette tips covered in this article when you read them, too.

Korean Etiquette FAQs

Finally, here are a few FAQs about Korean etiquette, culture, and manners, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you.

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Korean Food & Drink

From simple greetings to shopping, eating out, travelling around, and even asking for help, these simple Korean phrases pack a lot of punch and are easy enough to learn before travelling to the Land of the Morning Calm. They’re easy to learn and go a long way.

Korean is a unique language with letters that look unfamiliar, but it’s actually easier to learn than English. A few basic Korean phrases and words go a long way. Now read on to start learning these easy Korean words and phrases and begin your journey to language success.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Understanding These Basic Korean Phrases

These basic Korean phrases for travellers have been split into 6 sections to cover the various places where you might need some Korean when travelling in Korea. There’s also a bonus section about Korean numbers.

Essential Phrases – basic phrases to talk to people and be polite.

Greetings – how to greet people, ask about others, and start chatting.

Ordering Food & Drink – how to order food, ask questions, and give thanks.

Getting Around – how to use public transportation and understand directions.

Shopping – how to check for prices, ask for discounts, and complete a sale.

Emergencies – how to ask for help in an emergency and to describe problems.

Korean numbers – how to say and understand Korean numbers.

Before covering these basic Korean phrases, I want to point out some key points about the phrases used here, how to use them, and how to speak Korean.

The Korean Writing System

For those who have never studied Korean and are used to a latin script, like English, the Korean writing system (hangul) can seem very confusing. It’s actually one of the easiest to learn and you can pick it up with a few days of practice. I really recommend learning hangul, it’ll make your trip to Korea so much easier and let you read signs, menus, displays, and lots more.

Phrases With Blank Spaces

Some sentences have blank spaces so you can add what you want in that phrase. For example, ‘I’ll have a ____’. This is a useful phrase (covered in section 3) where you can add in whatever it is you want to buy, eat, or drink.

How To Pronounce These Basic Korean Phrases

To make it easier to learn these basic Korean phrases, I’ve included a pronunciation guide for each section.

Korean words are made up of groups of syllables, e.g. kim–chi (김-치) Therefore, the pronunciation guide is in syllable groups. If you pronounce the words as you would in English, you’ll be able to speak Korean, even if you don’t understand what the words mean.

To understand how to pronounce these Korean words more naturally, try to remember these pronunciation rules:

‘eu‘ is pronounced like ‘oo’ in ‘boot’ but without rounding your lips.

‘ae‘ is pronounced like ‘ay’ in ‘pay’.

‘oo‘ is pronounced like ‘oo’ in ‘zoo’.

‘kk‘, ‘gg‘, ‘tt‘ and other double consonants are pronounced more strongly than a single consonant.

‘ah‘, ‘eh‘, ‘oh‘, ‘uh‘ are pronounced softly (like a in apple, not a in ace)

Who Is This Guide For?

These basic Korean phrases are designed for people who don’t speak Korean. Many phrases are simplified, some particles are dropped where the meaning is obvious, and grammar is usually in the polite form.

When we use English, we can use many phrases for the same thing. For example, ‘Give me a pizza‘, or ‘I’ll have a pizza‘, or just ‘Pizza, please‘. The meaning is the same, but the way we say them differs.

The same applies with Korean. I’ve used basic Korean phrases for the various topics covered here. This is not only to help you learn them more easily, but also so that Koreans can understand you.

If you’re interested in learning how to speak Korean and want an excellent course that will start you on your journey, I highly recommend 90 Day Korean. You can learn more about their Korean language learning courses with the link below.

Now let’s look at the first 10 basic Korean phrases, covering the essentials.

1: Essential Korean Phrases

If you’re only going to remember one set of basic Korean phrases, it should probably be this one. These are the most basic Korean words and phrases and if you can master these, you’ll be one step closer to travelling more easily.

These will help you be polite and show the locals that you’re willing to learn a little bit of language when you visit their country. This can open the door to conversations and more. Plus, it’s always nice to be polite when you travel.

Understanding These Essential Basic Korean Phrases

In this section I’ll explain some of the Korean words from this list that will help expand your vocabulary.

주세요 (ju-se-yo) – Please

This is a very flexible word and can be used in many situations. It directly translates to ‘please give me‘. Add any word in front of it (e.g. pizza) and you can ask for something you want to buy, receive, or learn about.

안녕 (an-nyong) – Hello & Goodbye

This is the short (informal) version of both 안녕하세요 (hello) and 안녕히 가세요 (goodbye) and can be used in both situations. 2 for the price of 1!

괜찮아요 (kwen-cha-na-yo) – OK

This is my favourite Korean word, one which I use many times each day. It’s very flexible and you can use it when you want to say you’re OK, refuse something, or tell someone that, yes, you do know how to use chopsticks.

Do you want a receipt?
괜찮아요 (no, thanks).

Can I sit here?
괜찮아요 (yes, you may).

Are you sure you can eat spicy food?
괜찮아요! (sure I can!).

2: Korean Phrases For Greeting People

Now that you know how to be polite, why not learn a few words to introduce yourself and start a simple conversation?

These basic Korean phrases for greeting people will help you stand out when meeting people for the first time. After all, a nice greeting can go a long way to breaking down cultural barriers and getting to know more about Korean people when you visit Korea.

If in doubt, you can greet people with a simple ‘hello’ (an-nyong-ha-se-yo) from the previous list. I usually use this when I meet a stranger or get in a bus or taxi.

Understanding These Greeting Phrases

In this section I’ll explain some of the Korean words from this list that will help expand your vocabulary.

영어 (yong-oh) – English language

This is the word for the English language (Korean is han-gook-oh – 한국어). Even if you can’t remember the complete phrase to ask if someone speaks English, you should be able to convey that you want to speak in English with just ‘yong-oh‘.

You might be surprised at how many people can speak English in Korea and once you’ve asked them, they will often open up and start talking more. If you’re lucky, that’ll be in English, too.

뭐예요? (mwo-ye-yo?) – What is this?

This is a really useful basic Korean phrase that can be used to ask what something is. If you want to know the name of something, simply point and say 뭐예요? – the other person should understand that you don’t know what it is.

천천히 (chon-chon-hee) – Slowly

This word is perfect for when you want someone to slow down, such as when someone is talking too fast or your taxi driver is driving too fast.

Another useful basic Korean phrase to remember in these situations is palli-palli (빨리빨리), which means ‘hurry up’. Korea has been described as a palli-palli culture – always busy!

3: Korean Phrases For Dining Out

You can’t travel to another country and not try the Delicious Korean Dishes! Korea has a wide range of culinary treats just waiting for you.

Fortunately, many restaurants have picture menus, like the one above. They often have English translations, too, which can really help.

If in doubt, point to something and say ‘ju-se-yo‘ (please). This simple Korean phrase will help you get what you want most of the time.

Understanding These Phrases For Dining Out

In this section I’ll explain some of the Korean words from this list that will help expand your vocabulary.

매워요 (may-wo-yo) – Spicy

This is a Korean word you’ll definitely want to learn if you love spicy food (or can’t stomach it). When a Korean dish is red, it’s more than likely going to be spicy. If you want a spicy dish, you can point at a dish and ask mae-wo-yo? (is this spicy?).

알레르기가 있어요 (al-le-loo-gi-ga iss-o-yo) – I have an allergy

If you need to say you ‘have an allergy to something’, then say the thing you’re allergic to, followed by this phrase. For travellers with special dietary needs, it would be a good idea to find the word of the food you’re allergic to before travelling.

Want More Dining Out Phrases?

For more basic Korean phrases about eating out and ordering food, including more about health and dietary requirements in Korean, check out this article with 60 more Korean phrases for eating out.

4: Korean Phrases For Transportation

Travelling in Korea is a lot easier than you might think. Many signs at airports, train stations, subways, and on buses, are in English. They’re sometimes in Chinese and Japanese, too.

Korea is a very modern country when it comes to transport and there are a lot of different transport options, including high speed trains (KTX), subways, and buses.

These phrases will help you avoid getting lost and help you find your way around. Remember, if you get really stuck, you can always use gestures.

Understanding These Korean Phrases For Transportation

In this section I’ll explain some of the Korean words from this list that will help expand your vocabulary.

어디예요? (oh-dee-ye-yo?) – Where is?

This basic Korean phrase is very helpful not only for transportation, but also shopping and when you need to find a toilet in Korea.

Want to go to Gyeongbokgung Palace? Point to a picture of it and ask ‘oh-dee-ye-yo?‘. These other Korean phrases will help you understand the directions, too.

가주세요 (ga-ju-se-yo) – Please go (somewhere).

This phrase is used to ask someone to ‘take you somewhere’. As mentioned, ‘ju-se-yo‘ means ‘please’. The ‘ga’ part of this phrase is from ‘ga-da‘, the verb for ‘to go’.

You can use ga-ju-se-yo whenever you want to go somewhere. Usually in a taxi. Jump in, tell the driver ‘Seoul-yog (Seoul Station) ga-ju-se-yo‘ and they’ll take you straight there.

Save Money On Transportation

When you travel in Korea, don’t forget to pick up a T-Money Card. This transportation card makes travelling around Korea a real breeze and you can also use it to pay for things in shops and restaurants. Why not practice using these Korean phrases when ordering a taxi from Kakao Taxi in Korea.

5: Korean Phrases For Shopping

Shopping in Korea will be a lot easier with these basic Korean phrases, whether you’re in a department store or trying to buy some delicious Korean street food.

Learning to give your opinion about how cheap or expensive something is shows the shop owner you know a good price and can get you a big discount.

The traditional markets in Korea are great places to get some bargains on local and international brands. You’ll also find some of the best food available here and a window into traditional Korean culture.

Understanding These Korean Phrases For Shopping

In this section I’ll explain some of the Korean words from this list that will help expand your vocabulary.

얼마예요? (ol-ma-ye-yo?) – How Much?

This is a basic Korean phrases you can use for so much – ordering food, shopping, asking for taxi fees, and more. Want to haggle for a new bag in the market? Ol-ma-ye-yo? Want to know the cost of a train to Busan? Ol-ma-ye-yo?

싸요! (ssa-yo!) & 비싸요! (bi-ssa-yo!) – That’s cheap! & That’s Expensive!

You can use these Korean phrases in the traditional markets when you want to haggle. After asking how much something is (and hearing it’s too much), reply with ‘bi-ssa-yo!’ and start to walk away. The vendor, no doubt impressed by your Korean skills, will start to haggle, and lower the price (if you’re lucky).

6: Korean Phrases For Emergencies

Crime rates in Korea are very low, but you can never be too careful. Hopefully you will never need to use these emergency Korean phrases, but they are here for you just in case.

If you need to get some medicine, then visit one of the many pharmacies located throughout any city. You can’t miss them, they have a big green + sign outside.

There are separate numbers for emergency services in Korea.

Dial 112 for the police

Dial 119 for fire & medical services

Dial 1339 for COVID-19 support

Dial 1330 for tourist support

Understanding These Korean Phrases For Emergencies

In this section I’ll explain some of the Korean words from this list that will help expand your vocabulary.

도와주세요 (do-wa-ju-se-yo) – Please help me

This basic Korean phrase isn’t just for emergencies. If you have heavy luggage and you want to ask for help carrying it down the stairs, you can say ‘do-wa-ju-se-yo‘ (in a calm voice). A kind Korean person will surely help out.

의사 (wi-sa) – Doctor

If you need to speak to a doctor, you can use this word to ask for help. Doctors can often speak English, at least for discussing medical problems.

약국 (yak-gook) – Pharmacy

As mention, you can find a pharmacy by looking for a big green cross sign. You’ll also see the word ‘약‘ on the sign. Look for these if you need medicine.

7: How To Say Korean Numbers

There are two ways to say numbers in Korean, known as the Korean system and the Chinese system. The Korean system only goes up to 99. The Chinese system is generally used more, which is why I’ll tell you about those numbers.

Whichever system you use, Koreans will be able to understand you as they mean the same thing, they might just grumble you’re using the wrong system.

Find out about how the Korean numbering system works in this article.

You can see how to say and read the Korean numbers from 1 to 10,000 in the table below.

Learning Korean At Home

I hope you’ve found these basic Korean phrases useful and can use them to explore Korea and interact with the locals a bit more easily.

Learning a foreign language can be a massive undertaking, one that you need to devote a lot of time and effort to be successful at. But it can also be very rewarding, make you smarter, and help you travel more easily.

If you’re interested in learning how to speak Korean, then I’d personally recommend the inner circle course with 90 Day Korean – it’s the course I have been using to learn Korean.

Of course, there is more than one way to learn a language. I practice Korean in a variety of ways. Here are some of the best apps and courses for learning Korean.

• Korean Class 101
• Talk To Me In Korean
• Memrise

Papago and Google Translate are translation apps that will translate words into Korean and also show you how to say them. I prefer Papago as it is more accurate and wrote an article about how to use Papago to show you how to get the most out of this essential translation app.

One final Korean word for you to learn – ‘hwaiting‘ 화이팅, which is Korean for ‘fighting’ – or ‘you can do it’! Fighting!

Do You Need To Learn Korean?

No. You don’t have to learn Korean, but it will definitely help you. Even expats like myself who have lived here for a long time don’t necessarily have to learn Korean to enjoy being in Korea. If you want to know more about whether or not you need Korean to survive living in Korea, check out my article about whether you need to learn Korean to live in Korea.

Learn More About Korea

Understanding a language is a lot more than learning a few basic Korean phrases. You also need to understand some of the cultural and societal reasons that people speak and behave in the way they do.

Here are some of my best articles about Korean culture that will give you interesting insights into Korean society, people, and help you prepare to visit the Land of the Morning Calm.

Are you interested in understanding Korean etiquette? It’s really helpful to know more about how and why people behave the way they do in Korea. Impress your friends at home or in Korea with these South Korean culture facts. You might be shocked at some of these interesting facts.

If you’re worried about planning a trip to Korea, check out my pre-travel tips for Korea.

Support In My Korea

Thanks for reading. If you want to help me to create more great content in the future, why not buy me a coffee? A strong coffee helps me write more and is a simple way to show gratitude for this free content.

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In this article I’m going to delve into the Korean superstition of fan death. Fan death is responsible for many a sweaty night during hot Korean summers and has been blamed for more than a few cold-blooded murders over the years.

What is Korean fan death and how did it all get started? Is there any scientific evidence behind the myth of fan death and the apparent deaths of innocent Koreans looking to stay cool? How can you stay safe from Korean fan death?

I’ll cover all of that, and more, right here. I’ll also offer a few cultural (and maybe comic) insights into how this myth developed and hopefully give you the answers you need to sleep soundly at night. Or maybe give you a few nightmares of murderous home appliances?

Please note: this is a real myth, but I may use a bit of sarcasm and silliness in my writing. Whilst I may be poking fun at this aspect of Korean culture, I have a lot of love for Korea and Korean culture. You can see that in my other Korean culture articles.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

What Is The Korean Fan Death Myth?

I hope you have a cup of tea handy and maybe a blanket to hide behind. It’s time to learn the tale of one of Korea’s most notorious killers – the electric fan!

The Korean fan death myth is quite simple. When you sleep at night with an electric fan running, you might not wake up again in the morning. The fan will silently kill you in the night!

Death by fan.

Mors certa, hora incerta, as the Latin speaking Koreans may quip – death is certain, its hour is uncertain. It would probably be about 4 a.m. on a hot summer’s night, though. Korean summers are horribly hot and many people use air conditioners or electric fans to keep their bedrooms cool.

They should probably read my guide to Surviving Korean Summer, to be honest.

The misconception that fans are lethal ne’er-do-wells has been around since the introduction of the first electric fans to Korea in the 1920’s. Since then, stories of asphyxiation, face paralysis, and nausea have been repeated by the media and by the general public ad nauseam until the myth has seemingly become fact.

The media, bless them and their love for the truth, keep the myth alive by placing a few stories each summer telling the sad tale of another lost soul who has succumbed to the terror of Korean fan death.

One such story (of many) is this one in The Korea Herald:

“A man reportedly died on Monday morning after sleeping with an electric fan running. The 59-year-old victim, only known by his surname Min, was found dead with the fan fixed directly at him.”

The Korea Herald, July 2011

No evidence, apart from the obvious culprit mentioned in the story. Stories like these only help exacerbate the fear of fans and keep this curious urban legend alive in Korea. Thanks to stories like this, fans in Korea are now sold with warnings on them and every one has a timer as a ‘life-saving feature’.

I was even cautioned about the risk of Korean fan death in the EPIK orientation when I started Teaching English in Korea. If it’s in the orientation, it must be serious!

A Bit About Korean Homes

In case you’re not familiar with Korean homes, let me introduce some of the basic features of modern Korean accommodation.

Many people live in quite cosy (small) apartments with not-that-great ventilation. Some are single-room apartments, others have a few rooms but are a far cry from the two-storey houses that I’m used to in England.

The tall tower blocks don’t ventilate that well due to the small windows that don’t open wide. Air-flow is a real issue. That’s one of the reasons I leave my doors and windows open during the day when I’m home. They also tend to get very cold in winter and hot in summer due to a lack of proper double glazing and insulation.

Korean summers are HOT! It’s often above 20 degrees at night and never really cools down. Korean houses need to somehow mitigate both the heat and the cold (and yet don’t really do either).

I know there are many tropical places that probably suffer from the heat, too. However, when you go from a sweaty Korean summer to a frigid Korean winter in just a couple of months, with winter nights as cold as -15 Celsius, it’s hard to adapt to either condition.

In modern Korea, most houses have air conditioning units to keep them cool. However, with few natural resources, Korean electricity is really expensive and running the air-con during summer can cost an arm and a leg. That’s why some prefer to run an electric fan instead.

But that comes with its own dangers…

How The Korean Fan Death Myth Started

I’ve talked to several Koreans and they’ve all repeated the same idea – fans can (will) kill you. Everyone seems to remember a story they heard of someone dying from a fan some time in the past, but no one can actually give any details, aside from the obvious cause of death.

The electric fan did it. Guilty as charged!

As mentioned, electric fans and fan death have been around in Korea since the 1920s. Korean people have endured a hundred years of murder and mayhem. This new technology, as with all things new and complicated, was received with skepticism and warnings of potential dangers. Just as 5G technology is apparently giving everyone a coronavirus, fans were suspected of causing nausea, asphyxiation, and even death.

The Korean government went so far as to issue this life-saving warning about electric fans in 2006:

“If bodies are exposed to electric fans or air conditioners for too long, it causes [the] bodies to lose water and [causes] hypothermia. If directly in contact with [air current from] a fan, this could lead to death from [an] increase of carbon dioxide saturation concentration [sic] and decrease of oxygen concentration. The risks are higher for the elderly and patients with respiratory problems. From 2003 [to] 2005, a total of 20 cases were reported through the CISS involving asphyxiations caused by leaving electric fans and air conditioners on while sleeping. To prevent asphyxiation, timers should be set, wind direction should be rotated, and doors should be left open.”

So what about the science behind the Korean fan death myth? Is there any evidence that these unfortunate fatalities were caused by the cooling breeze of a friendly fan? Here’s a few of the common theories about fan death and the science behind them.

The Science Behind Korean Fan Death

Here are the 4 main ‘scientific’ explanations for Korean fan death and why running an electric fan at night might be the last thing you do.

Please note: none of these have conclusively been proven with scientific evidence and any fan (sorry) of science will know that some of these are quite improbable.

1: Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when your body temperature drops below a safe level, usually caused by inadequate temperature control.

Your body slows its natural metabolic rate while it sleeps at night, making people more sensitive to temperature, which explains why you might suddenly wake up if there’s a cold breeze in the night.

Fans are intended to cool your body down in the sweltering summer heat, a task that is praiseworthy in these highly humid summer days where it can get up to 25 degrees at night. People believe that fans operating in a closed room can cool your body so much that it causes hypothermia, thus helping you to shuffle off this mortal coil.

Sadly, scientists have pointed out that fans aren’t really capable of doing this and the reduction in body heat is negligible at best. It would require a drop of 10 degrees or so to cause hypothermia. Fans barely do enough to cool me down as it is!

However, some sources believe that those with existing conditions, such as heart problems of alcoholism, may suffer more from a drop in temperature at night. This exacerbates their existing conditions and causes death.

2: Hyperthermia (Heat Stress)

Hyperthermia (heat stress) is quite the opposite of being chilled to death by a fan with hypothermia.

This cause of death occurs as the electric fan causes you to warm up when air warmer than your body temperature is blown directly at you, placing additional stress on your body to cool down and causing heat exhaustion.

This is the most probable cause of fan death, as there’s a lot of warm air in the room at night in Korea. After all, the reason we risk using fans at night is they create cool air to keep us snug and not too hot. But with our bodies having an average temperature of 37 degrees, the air in the room would have to be higher than that.

The American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued warnings about sleeping with electric fans in closed rooms when there is no ventilation. However, the EPA also says that using a fan is fine as long as you open the window and it’s cooler outside than inside.

3: Asphyxiation

Asphyxiation basically occurs as you breathe over and over with the fan of death pointing at you.

It’s suggested that the fan blows the oxygen (O2) away, resulting in more carbon dioxide (CO2) getting into your lungs. The fan is blowing oxygen away from your mouth and you find it harder and harder to breathe. This leads to eventual asphyxiation.

The problem with this idea is that fans actually help the gases in the air mix and the room would have to be completely sealed. Or you sleep in a coffin? In which case you probably have other things to worry about.

4: Asbestos

As you probably know, asbestos is not a good thing to inhale while you’re sleeping (or awake). Taking asbestos fibres into your body leads to diseases such as asbestosis and cancer.

In Korea, as with many countries, asbestos was used in construction as it was flame retardant and readily available. In fact, it’s still used in some buildings in Korea and the school I used to work in still had it until a couple of years ago.

Anyway, the dust and fibres produced from asbestos can get into the air and be conveniently blown around by our favourite spinning wheel of death – the electric fan.

This is a real issue and if you’re in a cramped Korean bedroom with a small fan blowing the dust and fibres around and into your face, they could end up in your lungs. However, this is a long term sickness and you’re not going to suddenly wake up (or not) dead the next day from asbestos.

It can take decades for asbestos related cancers to show themselves. If you’re worried about asbestos, you should probably think less about how you’re cooling your house and more about what’s in the walls!

So Is Fan Death Real?

Well, I’m eternally skeptical when it comes to things like this, and there may be a more obvious answer to the emergence of fan death as an urban legend in Korea.

After all, it’s only in Korea where fans can seemingly do you in. Why is that?

It’s no secret that Korea is an island with limited energy resources and in the 1970’s the world was dealing with volatile oil supplies and prices, resulting in high energy costs for Korea. It’s suggested that, as a means to save energy, the Korean government fanned (excuse the pun) the fears of fan death to help reduce energy consumption during summer.

If you spread the word that fans will kill you, fewer people are likely to use them and you’ll save the country a load of energy (and money). That does mean that people have to suffer through the cruel Korean summer heat, but what’s that in comparison to national energy issues?

News coverage like this extract from an article in 1997 hasn’t helped to dispel this noxious myth:

“On Friday in eastern Seoul, a 16-year-old girl died from suffocation after she fell asleep in her room with an electric fan in motion. The death toll from fan-related incidents reached 10 during the past week. Medical experts say that this type of death occurs when one is exposed to electric fan breezes for long hours in a sealed area.“

The Korea Herald, July 1997

However, it was long before this time that fan death became part of the Korean psyche. There are reports of stories of electric fans doing away their innocent users as far back as 1927 (link in Korean) in an article titled “Strange Harm from Electric Fans”.

My Fan Death Myth Conclusion

So, is Korean fan death real, or is it just an urban myth that’s been used to sell papers and save energy? Is it only prevalent in Korea because they’re the only ones wise enough to suspect the bladed beasts of death? Are we all living in ignorance about a mass murder that we look at so fondly, but is ready to kill us in our millions?

I don’t think so.

I’ve slept with a fan (and air conditioning) blowing at my face and I’m still alive. Sure, it’s uncomfortable and can dry your breathing holes, but that’s about as bad as it gets. Or maybe I just like living dangerously?

If you’re Korean, maybe you know more about this than I do and would be happy to share your insights into this phenomenon in the comments?

Read on to find out some of my essential tips to survive Korean fan death.

How To Protect Yourself From Fan Death

Here are a few tips to help you survive the summer heat in Korea and avoid being killed by the bladed master of death sitting in the corner of the room.

1: Sleep in the kitchen and leave your freezer and fridge doors open to create a naturally cool environment.

2: Sell your apartment and invest in a tent. You’ll always feel fresh and cool when surrounded by nature.

3: Learn Russian and move to Siberia where it’s not quite as hot during summer.

4: Adopt a cute penguin and train it to fan you with a large leaf or paper fan. This will be far more energy efficient and you won’t have to worry about it murdering you in the night. Maybe…

5: For tourists, visit in one of the other Amazing Seasons In Korea.

Should I Be Worried About Fan Death?

I’d never heard about fan death until I moved to Korea. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any signs in any of the countries I’ve visited warning me not to trust these deceptive machines.

Have you?

As far as I know, it’s only people in Korea who are susceptible to fan death. Therefore, if you live in another country other than Korea, you’re probably ok. However, we’ve all seen how terrors can spread from one country to another, pandemics spreading globally is so 2020s!

If you’re worried, then ditch the fan and learn to deal with the heat. Stay safe, stay cool…but not by an electric fan.

Learn More About Korean Culture

If you’ve enjoyed learning about Korean fan death and want to know more about unique Korean culture and history, then check out some of my other articles.

They are perfect for learning more about the rich and diverse culture present in South Korea and will help you make sense of your journey here.

Fun Facts About South Korea: Impress your friends and learn more about the Land of Morning Calm with this interesting Korean facts.

Guide To Korean Etiquette: Never make any Korean cultural faux pas with these useful etiquette tips.

Expat Life In Korea: Thinking of moving to Korea to live and work? See what expat life in Korea is really like – the highs and the lows.

And for the best information about travelling to Korea, be sure to check out these travel guides:

Unique Korean Attractions: Here are 50 unmissable Korean attractions and activities that you’ll want to add to your South Korea bucket list.

Cost To Travel In Korea: Korea isn’t as cheap as it used to be. Find out what went up in price and how to budget for your travels.

Thanks, and stay safe from fans!

Support In My Korea

Thanks for reading. If you want to help me to create more great content in the future, why not buy me a coffee? A strong coffee helps me write more and is a simple way to show gratitude for this free content.

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Weird Korean Foods: 15 Unique Korean Dishes You Might Love

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