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Taking a Taxi in Korea: Essential Phrases

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Guide

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Travel

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Yanghwa

작성시각

2026년 4월 13일 오후 3:59

Most visitors to Korea end up taking a taxi at least once. Maybe the subway has already stopped. Maybe you are carrying luggage. Maybe it is raining, your phone battery is dying, and you are very done with figuring out bus routes.

The good news is that taking a taxi in Korea is usually straightforward. Taxis are common, meters are standard, and for many everyday rides you do not need a long conversation. But even then, a few Korean phrases help a lot — especially when you need to confirm the destination, ask the driver to wait, mention a payment issue, or say something simple but polite.

This guide focuses on the phrases you are actually likely to use, not textbook lines you will never say from the back seat.

The First Words You Need

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
택시	taeksi	taxi
기사님	gisanim	driver (polite)
여기요	yeogiyo	Over here / Excuse me
안녕하세요	annyeonghaseyo	Hello
감사합니다	gamsahamnida	Thank you
천천히 가 주세요	cheoncheonhi ga juseyo	Please go slowly
세워 주세요	sewo juseyo	Please stop
여기서 내려 주세요	yeogiseo naeryeo juseyo	Please let me out here

If you remember only one address strategy, remember this: having the destination written in Korean is better than trying to pronounce it perfectly. Show the address on your phone if needed. That is normal in Korea.

Getting the Driver's Attention

If you are hailing a taxi on the street, 여기요! is a useful and natural way to get attention. It means something like "Over here" or "Excuse me, here."

Once you get in, a simple 안녕하세요 is enough. You do not need a long greeting.

If you want to sound polite, use 기사님 when addressing the driver. It is the standard respectful term. Avoid calling the driver just "아저씨" unless you really know what tone you are using. 기사님 is safer.

Saying Where You Want to Go

This is the most important part of the whole ride.

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
강남역 가 주세요	Gangnam-yeok ga juseyo	Please go to Gangnam Station
이 주소로 가 주세요	i juso-ro ga juseyo	Please go to this address
여기로 가 주세요	yeogiro ga juseyo	Please go here
명동까지 가 주세요	Myeongdong-kkaji ga juseyo	Please go to Myeongdong
OO호텔로 가 주세요	OO hotel-ro ga juseyo	Please go to OO Hotel

The basic pattern is simple:

[place] + 가 주세요 = Please go to [place].

Examples:

•

서울역 가 주세요. (Please go to Seoul Station.)

•

이 주소로 가 주세요. (Please go to this address.)

•

롯데호텔로 가 주세요. (Please go to Lotte Hotel.)

If your pronunciation is shaky, point to the map or address and say 여기로 가 주세요. That is completely fine.

Saying Landmarks Is Often Easier Than Full Addresses

In Korea, a station name, major hotel, department store, hospital, or apartment complex name is often more useful than a long street address.

For example, instead of trying to say every part of a complicated address, you can say:

•

홍대입구역 가 주세요. (Please go to Hongdae Entrance Station.)

•

신촌 세브란스병원으로 가 주세요. (Please go to Severance Hospital in Sinchon.)

•

이마트 앞에 세워 주세요. (Please stop in front of E-Mart.)

This is practical Korean, not lazy Korean.

Real moment: Late-night ride back to your hotel

It is past midnight in Seoul, the subway is closed, and you are standing outside a restaurant with tired feet. You get into a taxi and show the hotel name on your phone.

You say, "이 호텔로 가 주세요."

The driver nods. A few minutes later, you realize the map pin is slightly behind the main entrance, so as you get closer, you add: "저기 앞에서 세워 주세요." (Jeogi apeseo sewo juseyo — Please stop up ahead over there.)

That is a completely real taxi conversation in Korea. Short, clear, and polite.

Checking If the Driver Understands

Usually the driver will either nod, repeat the destination, or start driving. But if you want to confirm, these phrases help.

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
맞아요?	majayo?	Is that right?
여기 맞아요	yeogi majayo	This is the right place
맞는 것 같아요	manneun geot gatayo	I think this is right
이 길 맞아요?	i gil majayo?	Is this the right road?

You probably will not need to backseat-navigate unless the map looks very wrong. Still, 맞아요? is an easy phrase to keep.

Asking the Driver to Stop or Wait

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
여기 세워 주세요	yeogi sewo juseyo	Please stop here
저기 앞에 세워 주세요	jeogi ape sewo juseyo	Please stop up ahead
여기서 내려 주세요	yeogiseo naeryeo juseyo	Please let me out here
잠깐만 세워 주세요	jamkkanman sewo juseyo	Please stop for a moment
잠깐 기다려 주세요	jamkkan gidaryeo juseyo	Please wait a moment

A quick note: 내려 주세요 literally means "please let me get off" and sounds very natural in taxis.

If you are being dropped near a corner, building entrance, or convenience store, 여기 세워 주세요 is one of the most useful phrases in the whole article.

Real moment: You need the convenience store first

You are heading to your Airbnb, but you realize you need water and a toothbrush. There is a convenience store right before your building.

As the taxi approaches, you say: "저 편의점 앞에 세워 주세요." (Jeo pyeonuijeom ape sewo juseyo — Please stop in front of that convenience store.)

Then, if your friend is still in the cab and you want the driver to wait one minute, you can say: "잠깐 기다려 주세요."

Even if your grammar is simple, the driver will understand what you need.

Talking About Time or Speed

Most of the time, you do not need to discuss speed unless traffic or road conditions make you uncomfortable.

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
천천히 가 주세요	cheoncheonhi ga juseyo	Please go slowly
빨리 가 주세요	ppalli ga juseyo	Please go quickly
안 급해요	an geuphaeyo	I'm not in a hurry
조금 급해요	jogeum geuphaeyo	I'm in a bit of a hurry

Use 빨리 가 주세요 carefully. It means "please go quickly," not "please break traffic laws." In real life, many people would rather say something softer like 조금 급해요 if they want the driver to understand there is some urgency.

Asking About Payment

Many taxis in Korea take cards, and mobile payment is common too. Still, it helps to check in simple situations.

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
카드 돼요?	kadeu dwaeyo?	Do you take cards?
현금만 돼요?	hyeongeumman dwaeyo?	Cash only?
영수증 주세요	yeongsujeung juseyo	Receipt, please
얼마예요?	eolmayeyo?	How much is it?

If you get in and want to confirm card payment before the ride starts, 카드 돼요? is the phrase you need.

At the end of the ride, many drivers will just tell you the amount or point to the meter. But 얼마예요? is always available if you need it.

Talking About Your Final Destination More Precisely

Sometimes saying the area is not enough. You may need to specify building entrances, side streets, or exact pickup spots.

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
이 건물 앞이에요	i geonmul api-yeyo	It's in front of this building
저쪽이에요	jeojjog-ieyo	It's that way / over there
오른쪽이에요	oreunjjog-ieyo	It's on the right
왼쪽이에요	oenjjog-ieyo	It's on the left
여기에서 가까워요	yeogieseo gakkawoyo	It's close from here

These directional phrases are especially useful in the last 30 seconds of a ride.

For example:

•

오른쪽에 세워 주세요. (Please stop on the right.)

•

저 건물 앞이에요. (It's in front of that building.)

•

여기에서 가까워요. (It's close from here.)

If You Need to Say You Do Not Speak Korean Well

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
한국어 잘 못해요	hangugeo jal motaeyo	I don't speak Korean well
천천히 말씀해 주세요	cheoncheonhi malsseumhae juseyo	Please speak slowly
주소 보여 드릴게요	juso boyeo deurilgeyo	I'll show you the address

These are very helpful backup phrases. You do not need perfect pronunciation. And in reality, many taxi rides in Korea are quiet. Some drivers enjoy chatting; others do not. Both are normal.

Common Taxi Questions You Might Hear

Here are a few things a driver may say to you.

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
어디로 가세요?	eodiro gaseyo?	Where are you going?
이쪽으로 갈까요?	ijjogeuro galkkayo?	Shall I go this way?
여기 맞아요?	yeogi majayo?	Is this the right place?
카드 있으세요?	kadeu isseuseyo?	Do you have a card?
영수증 드릴까요?	yeongsujeung deurilkkayo?	Would you like a receipt?

If you hear 어디로 가세요?, just say the destination or show it on your phone.

If you hear 여기 맞아요?, the driver is asking whether you have arrived at the correct place.

A Short Sample Ride

Here is what a very normal simple ride might sound like:

•

Driver: 어디로 가세요?

•

You: 이 주소로 가 주세요.

•

Driver: 네.

•

You near the destination: 저기 앞에 세워 주세요.

•

Driver: 여기 맞아요?

•

You: 네, 맞아요. 감사합니다.

That is enough Korean for a successful taxi ride.

Practical Taxi Tips That Matter More Than Fancy Korean

First, if possible, use a map app and keep the destination visible. The clearest Korean sentence in the world is still less useful than the correct address.

Second, look at the taxi sign and meter. Standard taxis are common, and the meter should be running.

Third, if you have luggage, just point and ask politely if needed. Many situations can be handled with a short phrase plus gesture.

Fourth, do not worry if the conversation is minimal. Silence in a taxi is normal.

Fifth, if you are in a rush, be clear but polite. Korean taxi conversations usually reward direct simplicity more than complicated grammar.

The Three Phrases to Memorize First

If you only memorize three lines, make them these:

이 주소로 가 주세요. — Please go to this address.

저기 앞에 세워 주세요. — Please stop up ahead.

카드 돼요? — Do you take cards?

Those three alone cover a huge percentage of real taxi situations.

Final Thought

Taking a taxi in Korea does not require advanced Korean. It requires a few high-value phrases, a polite tone, and a usable destination.

So do not aim for a perfect long conversation. Aim for clear, calm Korean that gets you where you need to go.

When you can say 이 주소로 가 주세요 with confidence, taxi rides in Korea get much easier very fast.

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