Busan is one of South Korea’s most visitor-friendly cities, but even a handful of Korean phrases will transform your trip. Locals light up when a foreigner makes the effort, and in neighbourhoods like Jagalchi Market or Gukje Market, a few well-placed words can get you a better price, a warmer welcome, and directions that actually make sense. Here are ten essential phrases — with pronunciation, real-world context, and exactly where in Busan you will use them.
The 10 Phrases Every Busan Visitor Should Know
Korean pronunciation looks intimidating on paper, but Busan locals are patient and appreciative. The romanisation below is a rough guide — listen to a quick audio clip before you arrive if you can.
- 안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo) — Hello / Good day. Use this everywhere: entering a restaurant in Seomyeon, stepping into a shop on Gwangbokno Shopping Street, or greeting your guesthouse host near Haeundae. It works morning, noon, and night.
- 감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida) — Thank you (formal). Say this after every transaction. At Jagalchi Fish Market, vendors who hand you a free sample of raw oyster (생굴) will grin when they hear it. A slightly more casual version is 고마워요 (Gomawoyo).
- 얼마예요? (Eolmayeyo?) — How much is it? Critical at Gukje Market (국제시장) near BIFF Square, where prices on clothing, souvenirs, and street food are not always labelled. Street pajeon (파전) pancakes usually run 3,000–5,000 KRW; knowing this phrase lets you confirm before you commit.
- 이거 주세요 (Igeo juseyo) — This one, please. Point at a menu item or street-food stall display and say this. Works perfectly at the tteokbokki stalls lining the alley behind Nampo Station (Line 1), where a portion of spicy rice cakes costs around 3,500–4,000 KRW.
- 화장실이 어디예요? (Hwajangsil-i eodiyeyo?) — Where is the toilet? Public restrooms in Busan subway stations are free and clean, but in busy areas like Haeundae Beach on a summer weekend, you may need to ask a nearby shop. This phrase will save you.
- 영어 할 줄 아세요? (Yeongeo hal jul aseyo?) — Do you speak English? Ask this politely before launching into English. At Busan Station (KTX), tourist information desks are staffed by English speakers, but at smaller noodle shops in Oncheonjang, staff may not be — and asking first shows respect.
- 맵지 않게 해 주세요 (Maepji anchge hae juseyo) — Please make it not spicy. Essential at any dwaeji gukbap (돼지국밥) shop in the Seomyeon or Oncheonjang areas. A standard bowl of pork bone soup costs 9,000–11,000 KRW; the broth base is mild, but the accompanying kimchi and spicy condiments can overwhelm newcomers.
- 계산해 주세요 (Gyesan-hae juseyo) — Bill, please. In most Korean restaurants you pay at the counter after eating, not at the table. But in busier tourist-area establishments near Gwangalli Beach, this phrase flags down the server smoothly.
- 사진 찍어도 돼요? (Sajin jjigeo-do dwaeyo?) — May I take a photo? Use this at Gamcheon Culture Village (감천문화마을), where many of the painted alley art pieces are on private property or adjacent to residents homes. Asking earns smiles instead of frowns.
- 주세요 (Juseyo) — Please give me / I will have… This is the Swiss-army-knife phrase. Point, name the item, add juseyo. Americano juseyo at a cafe in Kyungsung-Bukyoung University area (경성대·부경대역) — where specialty coffee runs 4,500–5,500 KRW — and you are set without needing any more Korean.
Practical Tips for Using These Phrases in Busan
Busan has its own dialect (부산 사투리, Busan satoori), which differs noticeably from Seoul Korean. Locals might respond to your textbook phrase with a slightly different accent or a dialectal word. Do not panic — the meaning is the same, and your effort is always appreciated.
A few ground rules that will keep interactions smooth:
- Speak slowly and clearly. Rushing your pronunciation of 얼마예요 into a blur will not help either of you.
- Use both hands when giving money or receiving change, especially at traditional market stalls. It signals respect.
- Download Naver Map (네이버 지도) and Papago translator before you arrive. Papago handles real-time camera translation of Korean menus — point your phone at any sign in Gukje Market and it overlays an English translation instantly.
- At Busan Subway ticket machines, the interface switches to English by pressing the flag icon. But knowing 얼마예요 still helps at smaller bus stops where machines are Korean-only.
Where in Busan to Practice Your Korean
The best places to road-test these phrases are spots where locals outnumber tourists and patience is high.
Jagalchi Market (자갈치시장) — Korea’s largest seafood market is open daily from roughly 06:00 to 22:00. Vendors here are used to curious visitors. Point at a live crab tank and say 얼마예요? — you will get a quote in KRW right away. A medium-sized snow crab (대게) runs 20,000–40,000 KRW depending on season and size; a grilled mackerel (고등어구이) set at the upstairs restaurant floors costs around 12,000 KRW.
Seomyeon Food Alley (서면 먹자골목) — Busan’s busiest nightlife and dining district. The alleys behind Seomyeon Station Exit 7 are packed with pork belly BBQ spots, street-food carts, and pojangmacha tents. Order grilled pork belly (삼겹살) with 이거 주세요 pointing at the meat display; a two-person portion with banchan typically costs 25,000–35,000 KRW.
Haeundae Beach Area — More international than the rest of Busan, but local cafes and bakeries along Haeundae-ro still reward a simple 감사합니다 with genuine warmth. Grab a hotteok (호떡) from a street stall for 2,000 KRW using 이거 주세요 and you have nailed two phrases in under ten seconds.
Quick Reference: All 10 Phrases at a Glance
Screenshot this list before your trip and keep it on your phone lock screen for the first day in Busan:
- Hello — 안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo)
- Thank you — 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da)
- How much? — 얼마예요? (eol-ma-ye-yo)
- This one please — 이거 주세요 (i-geo ju-se-yo)
- Where is the toilet? — 화장실이 어디예요? (hwa-jang-sil-i eo-di-ye-yo)
- Do you speak English? — 영어 할 줄 아세요? (yeong-eo hal jul a-se-yo)
- Not spicy please — 맵지 않게 해 주세요 (maep-ji an-ke hae ju-se-yo)
- Bill please — 계산해 주세요 (gye-san-hae ju-se-yo)
- May I take a photo? — 사진 찍어도 돼요? (sa-jin jji-geo-do dwae-yo)
- Please / I will have… — 주세요 (ju-se-yo)