How to Ask for Directions in Korean
Written and reviewed by Jun and Jin, native Korean speakers
Published · How we write & review
After this page, you can ask where something is in Korean, follow the directions you get, and check how far it is.
10-second answer
How do you say asking for directions in Korean?
Asking for directions in Korean centers on one core question — "[place]이/가 어디예요?" (i/ga eodiyeyo, "Where is [place]?") — plus a small set of direction words (왼쪽 oenjjok, 오른쪽 oreunjjok, 직진 jikjin) to understand the answer. Showing a map on your phone alongside these phrases covers almost any situation.
Quick check — did that land?
1. How do you ask "Where is the subway station?"
Lost in Korea?
Full Dialogue Walkthrough
Asking a stranger for directions, then confirming you understood. Try "Practice as You" and answer each line before checking.
저기요, 지하철역이 어디예요?
jeogiyo, jihacheollyeogi eodiyeyo?
Excuse me, where's the subway station?
이 길로 쭉 가세요.
i gillo jjuk gaseyo.
Go straight down this street.
감사합니다!
gamsahamnida!
Thank you!
여기서 멀어요?
yeogiseo meoreoyo?
Is it far from here?
아니요, 5분 정도 걸려요.
aniyo, obun jeongdo geollyeoyo.
No, it takes about 5 minutes.
왼쪽이에요, 오른쪽이에요?
oenjjogieyo, oreunjjogieyo?
Is it on the left or the right?
See also: -세요: The Polite Command Form
Asking Where Something Is
지하철역이 어디예요?
jihacheollyeog-i eodiyeyo?
Where is the subway station?
여기가 어디예요?
yeogiga eodiyeyo?
Where is this (on the map)?
Useful when you're lost and pointing at your own location.
이 근처에 화장실 있어요?
i geuncheo-e hwajangsil isseoyo?
Is there a bathroom nearby?
If the place is a shop or clinic, it helps to recognize the words on its sign — 약국 (pharmacy), 치과 (dentist), 편의점 (convenience store) — and how floors are written (3층, 3F, B1). See reading Korean street signs.
Understanding the Directions You're Given
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 직진 | Go straight |
| 왼쪽 | Left |
| 오른쪽 | Right |
| 횡단보도 | Crosswalk |
| 건너편 | Across the street / on the other side |
| 모퉁이 | Corner |
직진하다가 왼쪽으로 가세요.
jikjinhadaga oenjjogeuro gaseyo.
Go straight, then turn left.
-세요, the polite command form covered on its own page.
건너편에 있어요.
geonneopyeon-e isseoyo.
It's across the street.
Checking Distance and Time
여기서 멀어요?
yeogiseo meoreoyo?
Is it far from here?
걸어서 갈 수 있어요?
georeoseo gal su isseoyo?
Can I walk there?
얼마나 걸려요?
eolmana geollyeoyo?
How long does it take?
If the answer is "take the bus," how to ride a bus in Seoul covers paying, transferring and knowing when to get off.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Not having a backup for complex answers
Even fluent speakers sometimes get long, fast directions — showing your phone map and saying 여기로 어떻게 가요? ("how do I get here?") while pointing at a pin works well as a fallback.
Mistake #2 — Confusing 왼쪽/오른쪽
왼쪽 (left) and 오른쪽 (right) are easy to mix up under pressure — worth deliberately practicing the pair together.
Mini Quiz
2. What does 직진 mean?
3. How do you ask "How long does it take?"
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
Taxi Korean Phrases You'll Actually Need
If directions get too complicated, a taxi is always the reliable fallback — here's how to use one.
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