Guides · Fan culture
Korean Phrases for K-pop Fans: Concerts, Merch, Cafes, Taxis (2026)
Quick answer
- You only need three patterns: [thing] 주세요 (please give me), [place]로 가 주세요 (please go to) and 돼요? (is it OK?).
- End your sentences with 요. It keeps them polite with staff, drivers and other fans.
- 최애 (choeae) is the Korean word for your bias. 포카 (poka) means photocard. 응원봉 (eungwonbong) is a light stick.
- Stuck? Call 1330, the Korea Tourism Organization helpline.
How to use these tables
The "Say it" column is a reading guide based on Korea's official romanization. We adjusted some spellings to match real pronunciation, so they can differ slightly from a textbook.
Spoken Korean won't match any spelling exactly, so don't worry about being perfect. If a phrase won't come out, show this page on your phone.
The Korean column is written for that.
Three patterns cover most trips:
- [thing] 주세요 (juseyo): please give me. 영수증 주세요 means "a receipt, please".
- [place]로 가 주세요 (ro ga juseyo): please go to. Use 으로 (euro) after a place name ending in a consonant other than ㄹ.
- 돼요? (dwaeyo?): is it OK, does it work? 카드 돼요? means "does card work?"
Basics
| Korean | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕하세요. | annyeonghaseyo | Hello. |
| 감사합니다. | gamsahamnida | Thank you. |
| 죄송합니다. | joesonghamnida | I'm sorry. |
| 저기요. | jeogiyo | Excuse me (to get attention). |
| 잠시만요. | jamsimannyo | Excuse me, coming through. |
| 한국어 잘 못해요. | hangugeo jal motaeyo | I don't speak Korean well. |
| 영어 되는 분 계세요? | yeongeo doeneun bun gyeseyo? | Does anyone here speak English? |
| 일본어 되는 분 계세요? | ilboneo doeneun bun gyeseyo? | Does anyone here speak Japanese? |
| 화장실 어디예요? | hwajangsil eodiyeyo? | Where's the restroom? |
At the concert venue
| Korean | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 입구가 어디예요? | ipguga eodiyeyo? | Where's the entrance? |
| 티켓 수령은 어디서 해요? | tiket suryeong-eun eodiseo haeyo? | Where do I pick up my ticket? |
| 예매번호 여기 있어요. | yemaebeonho yeogi isseoyo | Here's my booking number. |
| 여권 여기 있어요. | yeokkwon yeogi isseoyo | Here's my passport. |
| 이 줄 입장 줄이에요? | i jul ipjang jurieyo? | Is this the line to go in? |
| 제 자리가 어디예요? | je jariga eodiyeyo? | Where's my seat? |
| 여기 제 자리인 것 같아요. | yeogi je jari-in geot gatayo | I think this is my seat. |
| 물품 보관소 어디예요? | mulpum bogwanso eodiyeyo? | Where's the cloakroom? |
| 해외에서 왔어요. | haeoeeseo wasseoyo | I came from abroad. |
| 사랑해요! | saranghaeyo! | I love you! |
Bring your original passport on show day, because ticket pickup and ID checks may need it. Rules differ by show, so read your ticket notice first.
In the merch line
| Korean | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 여기가 줄 끝이에요? | yeogiga jul kkeuchieyo? | Is this the end of the line? |
| 이 줄 MD 줄이에요? | i jul emdi jurieyo? | Is this the merch line? |
| 대기 번호 어디서 받아요? | daegi beonho eodiseo badayo? | Where do I get a waiting number? |
| 이거 아직 있어요? | igeo ajik isseoyo? | Do you still have this? |
| 품절이에요? | pumjeorieyo? | Is it sold out? |
| 1인당 몇 개까지 살 수 있어요? | irindang myeot gaekkaji sal su isseoyo? | How many can one person buy? |
| 응원봉 하나 주세요. | eungwonbong hana juseyo | One light stick, please. |
| 카드 돼요? | kadeu dwaeyo? | Can I pay by card? |
| 현금만 돼요? | hyeongeumman dwaeyo? | Is it cash only? |
Official merch booths set their own payment rules, and the notice for each show has the details. Carry a physical card and some cash.
At a cafe or birthday cafe
| Korean | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 아이스 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요. | aiseu amerikano han jan juseyo | One iced Americano, please. |
| 따뜻한 걸로 주세요. | ttatteutan geollo juseyo | A hot one, please. |
| 생일카페 왔어요. | saengil kape wasseoyo | I'm here for the birthday cafe. |
| 특전 받을 수 있어요? | teukjeon badeul su isseoyo? | Can I get the freebies? |
| 선착순 특전 남았어요? | seonchaksun teukjeon namasseoyo? | Are first-come freebies left? |
| 컵홀더 받을 수 있어요? | keopholdeo badeul su isseoyo? | Can I get a cup holder? |
| 사진 찍어도 돼요? | sajin jjigeodo dwaeyo? | May I take photos? |
| 예약했어요. | yeyak haesseoyo | I have a reservation. |
| 포장이요. / 먹고 갈게요. | pojang-iyo / meokgo galgeyo | To go, please. / For here. |
At a birthday cafe, the organizer's poster sets the rules. Read it before you ask for freebies.
In a taxi
| Korean | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 여기로 가 주세요. | yeogiro ga juseyo | Please go here. (show the map) |
| 인천공항 1터미널로 가 주세요. | incheon gonghang il teomineollo ga juseyo | To Incheon Airport Terminal 1, please. |
| 얼마나 걸려요? | eolmana geollyeoyo? | How long will it take? |
| 여기서 세워 주세요. | yeogiseo sewo juseyo | Please stop here. |
| 미터기 켜 주세요. | miteogi kyeo juseyo | Please turn on the meter. |
| 트렁크 열어 주세요. | teureongkeu yeoreo juseyo | Please open the trunk. |
| 티머니로 결제할게요. | timeoniro gyeoljehalgeyo | I'll pay with T-money. |
| 영수증 주세요. | yeongsujeung juseyo | A receipt, please. |
Saying a place name is hard. Find it on Naver Map or KakaoMap, then show the Korean name or address to the driver.
At an album or merch store
| Korean | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 이 앨범 있어요? | i aelbeom isseoyo? | Do you have this album? (show a photo) |
| 이거 얼마예요? | igeo eolmayeyo? | How much is this? |
| 이거 주세요. | igeo juseyo | I'll take this, please. |
| 버전 고를 수 있어요? | beojeon goreul su isseoyo? | Can I choose the version? |
| 포토카드 포함이에요? | potokadeu pohamieyo? | Is a photocard included? |
| 특전 있어요? | teukjeon isseoyo? | Is there a store bonus? |
| 정품이에요? | jeongpumieyo? | Is this genuine? |
| 택스리펀 돼요? | taekseuripeon dwaeyo? | Can I get a tax refund? |
| 여권 필요해요? | yeokkwon piryohaeyo? | Do you need my passport? |
| 교환돼요? | gyohwandwaeyo? | Can I exchange this? |
Not every store offers tax refunds, so ask before you pay. Keep your receipt for exchanges and refunds.
Fan words you'll see and hear
| Korean | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 최애 | choeae | Your bias: your No. 1 member |
| 차애 | chaae | Your second favorite |
| 입덕 | ipdeok | Becoming a fan |
| 탈덕 | taldeok | Leaving a fandom |
| 덕질 | deokjil | Fan activities, the whole hobby |
| 성덕 | seongdeok | A "successful fan" who met their idol or works with them |
| 포카 | poka | Photocard |
| 응원봉 | eungwonbong | Light stick |
| 응원법 | eungwonbeop | Fan chant for a song |
| 떼창 | ttechang | The crowd singing along |
| 막내 | mangnae | The group's youngest member |
| 첫콘 / 막콘 | cheotkon / makkon | First / last show of a run |
| 선예매 | seonyemae | Presale |
| 피켓팅 | piketing | Fierce ticket race |
| 취켓팅 | chwiketing | Hunting for cancelled seats on official sites |
| 컴백 | keombaek | A new release and its promotions |
| 음방 | eumbang | TV music show |
| 팬싸 | paenssa | Fan-signing event |
| 굿즈 | gutjeu | Merch |
| 생카 | saengka | Birthday cafe |
| 사생 | sasaeng | A "fan" who stalks an idol's private life. Never do this |
Words on signs and notices
| Korean | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 품절 | pumjeol | Sold out (goods) |
| 매진 | maejin | Sold out (tickets) |
| 선착순 | seonchaksun | First come, first served |
| 현장 판매 | hyeonjang panmae | On-site sale |
| 사전 예약 | sajeon yeyak | Advance booking |
| 1인 1매 | irin ilmae | One ticket per person |
| 입장 / 출구 | ipjang / chulgu | Entrance / Exit |
| 촬영 금지 | chwaryeong geumji | No photos or filming |
| 본인 확인 | bonin hwagin | ID check |
| 수령 | suryeong | Pickup |
| 휴무 | hyumu | Closed today |
| 교환·환불 불가 | gyohwan hwanbul bulga | No exchanges or refunds |
Ticket and merch notices are often only in Korean, so these words help you scan them. Your browser's translate tool can handle the rest, but check dates and limits against the original Korean.
If you get stuck
- 1330 Korea Travel Helpline: dial 1330 in Korea or +82-2-1330 from abroad. Hours differ by language, so listen to the menu and pick one.
- Life-threatening emergency: call 112 for police or 119 for fire and ambulance.
- Fake tickets or strange sellers: don't try to solve it in Korean with a stranger. Buy only from official sellers, and see our concert tickets guide.
FAQ
What does 최애 mean?
최애 (choeae) means your favorite member, the same as "bias" in English fandom. 차애 (chaae) is your second favorite.
What should I say to staff at a concert in Korea?
Show your ticket and say 입구가 어디예요? (where's the entrance?) or 티켓 수령은 어디서 해요?
(where do I pick up my ticket?). Have your passport ready.
Staff usually point the way, so you don't need to catch a long answer.
How do I tell a taxi driver where to go in Korean?
Show the Korean address on a map app and say 여기로 가 주세요 (yeogiro ga juseyo). This works better than saying the name out loud.
Can I use Korean fan slang with staff?
Keep slang for fans. With staff, use the full words: 포토카드 instead of 포카, and 생일카페 instead of 생카.
Everyone will still understand you, and it sounds more polite.
Sources
- The Korea Herald: Photocards in fan culture (January 2025)
- National Institute of Korean Language: Revised Romanization rules
- VISITKOREA: 1330 Travel Helpline
- National Institute of Korean Language, Urimalsaem: 최애
- National Institute of Korean Language, Urimalsaem: 덕질
- National Institute of Korean Language, Urimalsaem: 입덕
- National Institute of Korean Language, Urimalsaem: 떼창
Last checked: 2026-10-31