Learn Basic Korean for Travel: How to Buy a Transportation Card

1. Your First Essential Task in Korea: Getting a Travel Card

Welcome to Korea! One of the very first things you'll want to do after arriving is get a local transportation card, often called a "T-money" card. This simple piece of plastic is your key to unlocking the country's amazing public transit system. It lets you tap-and-go on subways, buses, and even taxis, giving you the freedom to explore independently. This makes buying your card one of the most practical and important first conversations you'll have.

Don't worry if you can't read the Korean alphabet (Hangeul) yet. This task is incredibly simple, and this guide is here to walk you through the exact conversation you'll need. We'll break down each phrase with easy-to-read Romanization and explain what everything means, so you can walk into any convenience store with confidence.

2. Watch the "How to Buy a Transportation Card" Short

Hearing the language is the best way to get a feel for the natural rhythm and pronunciation. The short video below presents the entire conversation in a clear, real-world context. It’s a quick and essential first step before we break down the dialogue.

Watch the short video below from our Everyday Korean series and practice the conversation first.

3. The Complete Conversation: Buying Your Card Step-by-Step

This section deconstructs the entire dialogue from the video. By studying each line, you'll learn not only what you need to say but also what the convenience store clerk will likely say back to you. This way, there are no surprises! Pay close attention to the lines in bold—those are your parts.

Please note: Romanization may not always match actual Korean pronunciation exactly. Learning Hangul is the best way to understand real Korean sounds, but if that is not possible right now, try to listen closely to the audio and repeat what you hear as much as you can.

Clerk: How can I help you? / Is there something you need?

Korean: 필요한 거 있으세요?

Romanization: Pi-ryo-han geo i-sseu-se-yo?

You: One transportation card, please.

Korean: 교통 카드 하나 주세요.

Romanization: Gyo-tong ka-deu ha-na ju-se-yo.

Clerk: How much should I charge it for?

Korean: 얼마나 충전해 드릴까요?

Romanization: Eol-ma-na chung-jeon-hae deu-ril-kka-yo?

You: Please charge it with 10,000 won.

Korean: 만 원 충전해 주세요.

Romanization: Man won chung-jeon-hae ju-se-yo.

Clerk: How would you like to pay?

Korean: 결제는 어떻게 하시겠어요?

Romanization: Gyeol-je-neun eo-tteo-ke ha-si-ge-sseo-yo?

You: I'll pay by card.

Korean: 카드로 할게요.

Romanization: Ka-deu-ro hal-ge-yo.

Clerk: Please insert your card here.

Korean: 여기 카드 넣어 주세요.

Romanization: Yeo-gi ka-deu neo-eo ju-se-yo.

Clerk: The payment is complete.

Korean: 결제 다 됐습니다.

Romanization: Gyeol-je da dwaet-seum-ni-da.

Clerk: Please take out your card.

Korean: 카드 빼 주세요.

Romanization: Ka-deu ppae ju-se-yo.

4. Key Vocabulary & Expressions

Mastering just a few core words and expressions can unlock a surprising amount of understanding and flexibility. The table below contains the most high-value vocabulary from our conversation. Focus on these, and you'll be able to handle this situation with ease.

Korean	Romanization	Meaning
교통 카드	Gyo-tong ka-deu	Transportation card
하나	Ha-na	One
주세요	Ju-se-yo	Please give me
충전	Chung-jeon	Charge / Top-up
만 원	Man won	10,000 won
결제	Gyeol-je	Payment
카드	Ka-deu	Card

Language Insight: Your Korean Super-Phrases

From that list, 주세요 (Ju-se-yo) is the most powerful phrase you can learn as a traveler. It's a polite and universal way to say "Please give me..." You can use it in countless situations. Just point at an item—a bottle of water, a snack, a souvenir—and say 이거 주세요 (I-geo ju-se-yo), which means "Please give me this." It's that simple!

Another key is understanding 만 원 (Man won). Korean currency is counted in units of ten thousand (만, man). So, 10,000 won is 만 원 (man won), 20,000 won is 이만 원 (i-man won), and 30,000 won is 삼만 원 (sam-man won). Knowing this will help you handle larger amounts of cash with confidence.

Knowing the words is the first step. Next, let's learn a bit about the culture and logistics to make your experience even smoother.

5. Pro Traveler Tips: Using Your Card Like a Local

A successful interaction is about more than just saying the right words. These essential tips will help ensure the process of buying and using your card is smooth, fast, and stress-free, just like a local.

• Available Everywhere: You can buy and recharge your transportation card at virtually any major convenience store chain in Korea, such as GS25, CU, and 7-Eleven. They are on almost every corner in cities, so you'll never be far from one.

• Remember the Card Fee: The physical card itself has a one-time purchase fee, usually 3,000 won. So, when you ask for a card charged with 10,000 won, expect the total cost to be closer to 13,000 won. Please note that if you choose a card with a character design collaboration, the price can be 5,000 won or more.

• More Than a Transit Pass: Your transportation card is also a debit card! You can use the balance to pay for items at convenience stores, in many vending machines, and even for some taxi fares. It's incredibly convenient for small purchases.

With these tips in mind, let's solidify your new knowledge with a few practice questions.

6. Practice Your Skills: What Would You Say?

This is the most important step: moving from knowing the phrases to actually using them. These simple exercises are designed to build the muscle memory and confidence you need to handle this situation in the real world. Let's give it a try!

1. You walk into a convenience store. How do you ask the clerk for one transportation card?

2. The clerk asks you, "How much should I charge it for?" You want to add 10,000 won. What is the most direct reply?

3. You want to pay with your credit card. What do you say?

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Answers:

1. 교통 카드 하나 주세요. Gyo-tong ka-deu ha-na ju-se-yo.

2. 만 원 충전해 주세요. Man won chung-jeon-hae ju-se-yo.

3. 카드로 할게요. Ka-deu-ro hal-ge-yo.

Great job! By completing this practice, you've taken a huge step toward communicating effectively in Korea.

7. Your Journey into Everyday Korean

Congratulations! You've just learned a complete, practical Korean conversation that you can use on day one of your trip. Learning Korean through essential, real-life situations like this is the most effective and rewarding way for travelers to get started. You've not only learned phrases but also gained the confidence to navigate a key part of daily life in Korea.

— Talkhey

TalkHey aims to be the go-to online platform for teens and adults worldwide who want to learn Korean, helping them confidently achieve their language goals through personalized and flexible lessons, whether they're just starting or looking to master advanced skills.