Quick Answer
The Korean directions phrases you need most are 왼쪽 (left), 오른쪽 (right), 직진 (straight), 가까워요 (it’s near), and 멀어요 (it’s far). Show these on your phone screen, point at a map, and confirm with a simple 네? (yes?) or 여기요? (here?). You do not need full sentences to get useful directions from a local.
What to Do First
- Open your map app and have the destination name visible in Korean before you ask.
- Point at the map or street, not just at the air, so locals can see what you mean.
- Show the phrase on your phone rather than trying to pronounce it perfectly.
- After you get an answer, repeat the direction word back: 왼쪽? (left?).
- Use your fingers to ask about distance or to check whether a place is close enough to walk.
- If you do not understand the reply, say 다시 한번요 (one more time, please).
- At a subway station, check the exit number sign first, since many landmarks are listed by exit number.
When This Guide Helps
If you need to ask where something is, these Korean directions phrases are the ones that matter most. Use them when you are standing at a street corner, leaving a subway exit, looking for a crosswalk, or checking whether a place is close enough to walk. They also work well with shop staff, taxi drivers, and hotel front desks.
You do not need to read Hangul fluently to use this guide. The phrases below are short enough to show on your phone or repeat by pointing and speaking.
What to Do First
Before you ask, pull up the destination in your map app. Showing the name in Korean makes the exchange much faster. If you are at a subway station, look for the exit number first. Many exits list nearby landmarks, so you may already have the answer.
When you do need help, keep it short. Point at the map, say the place name, and add a direction word or a simple question. If the reply is long, say 천천히요 (slowly, please). Most people will switch to pointing or shorter words.
Korean Directions Phrases You Can Show
These are the core phrases for asking for directions and confirming the route. Show them on your screen or say them out loud.
Basic Direction Words
Asking Where Something Is
Near, Far, and Walking Distance
Crosswalks and Crossing the Street
Polite Phrases to Start and Confirm
Useful Korean Signs or Words
These are the words you will see on signs, subway walls, and map boards. Recognizing even a few saves a lot of confusion.
How to Confirm a Walking Route
After someone gives you directions, repeat the key word back as a question. If they said 왼쪽, say 왼쪽? with a rising tone. If they said 직진, repeat 직진? and point forward. This works even if you only caught one word from a longer reply.
For distance, ask 몇 분이에요? and hold up fingers if needed. If someone says five minutes and you are not sure, show five fingers and they will usually confirm. Korean city blocks can be short, so a five-minute walk is often realistic, but hills and long blocks can stretch it.
At subway exits, numbered exit signs often list nearby landmarks in both Korean and English. Check the exit number before you go up the stairs. That is faster than asking and works even when you cannot read Korean well.
Where to Get Help
Convenience store staff, subway station information desks, hotel front desks, and tourist information centers are the easiest places to ask. The blue information sign with an i usually points to a staffed help desk.
The Korea Tourism Organization runs the 1330 helpline for foreign visitors. It is available in English and can help with directions and location questions.
Naver Maps and Kakao Maps are strong for walking directions in Korea. If possible, search the destination in Korean to match local address data more closely.
Common Mistakes
Mixing up left and right. 왼쪽 and 오른쪽 are easy to confuse when you are rushed, so confirm by repeating the word back.
Thinking 직진 means forever. It usually means go straight until the next landmark, crosswalk, or intersection.
Assuming 가까워요 means very close. It can still mean a 10- to 15-minute walk, so ask 몇 분이에요? if you want a real estimate.
Not checking the exit number. Large stations often have many exits, and choosing the wrong one can add extra walking time.
Asking too many things at once. One direction word at a time is easier for both you and the person helping.
The Short Version
Know 왼쪽 for left, 오른쪽 for right, 직진 for straight, 가까워요 for near, and 멀어요 for far, and you can handle most everyday directions in Korea. Show the phrase on your phone, repeat one word back to confirm, and check the subway exit number before you leave the station.
FAQ
How do I say left and right in Korean when asking for directions?
Left is 왼쪽 and right is 오른쪽. You can say the word by itself, point in the direction, or ask 왼쪽이에요? and 오른쪽이에요? to confirm.
How do I say go straight in Korean?
The common phrase is 직진 for straight ahead. You may also hear 쭉 가세요, which means go straight or keep going that way.
How does a visitor ask if a place is near or far in Korean?
Use 가까워요? to ask if it is near and 멀어요? to ask if it is far. If you want a walking estimate, ask 몇 분이에요?
How does a visitor ask where the crosswalk is in Korean?
Say 횡단보도 어디예요? to ask where the crosswalk is. If someone points you to cross somewhere, they may say 저기서 건너요, meaning cross over there.
What should a visitor show if a visitor cannot pronounce the phrase well?
Show the destination name in Korean, the exit number if you are in a subway station, or a short phrase like 왼쪽, 오른쪽, or 직진. Pointing at the map or street helps a lot.
Note: This guide is for travel navigation in Korea. It is not medical, legal, or emergency professional advice. For urgent situations, contact local emergency services, official staff, or your embassy/consulate as appropriate.
Sources & Verification
- VISITKOREA – Imagine Your Korea — english.visitkorea.or.kr
Last checked: July 30, 2026
