You're at the bus stop. A bus pulls up. You're not sure if it's the right one.
This is the moment most visitors freeze. One sentence fixes it.
The exchange
기사님, 이거 명동역 가나요? gi-sa-nim, i-geo myeong-dong-yeok ga-na-yo? "Excuse me, does this go to Myeongdong Station?"
기사님 is how you address a driver — literally "driver sir." It works for bus drivers, taxi drivers, and delivery drivers. Always a good start.
네, 명동 가요. 얼른 타요! ne, myeong-dong ga-yo. eol-reun ta-yo! "Yes, it goes to Myeongdong. Hop on quick!"
얼른 means "quickly" or "hurry up." Bus drivers say this a lot — not rudely, just efficiently. When you hear it, move.
네, 감사합니다! ne, gam-sa-ham-ni-da! "Okay, thank you!"
손잡이 꼭 잡으세요! son-ja-bi kkok ja-peu-se-yo! "Make sure to hold onto the handrail tight!"
Seoul buses accelerate fast. The driver is looking out for you.
Words to know
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 기사님 | gi-sa-nim | Driver (polite address) |
| 이거 | i-geo | This (bus/train) |
| ~가나요? | -ga-na-yo? | Does it go to ~? |
| 얼른 | eol-reun | Quickly, hurry |
| 손잡이 | son-ja-bi | Handrail, handle |
| 꼭 잡으세요 | kkok ja-peu-se-yo | Hold on tight |
The pattern
기사님, 이거 [destination] 가나요?
Swap in any stop name:
- 홍대입구역 가나요? — Does this go to Hongik University Station?
- 동대문 가나요? — Does this go to Dongdaemun?
- 인사동 가나요? — Does this go to Insadong?
If the answer is no, the driver will usually point or say the number of the bus you need. 몇 번 버스요? (myeot beon beo-seu-yo? — "Which bus number?") is useful to follow up.
How Seoul buses work
Seoul buses run on a color system:
- Blue (파란색) — long-distance routes across the city
- Green (초록색) — local neighborhood routes
- Red (빨간색) — express routes connecting suburbs to downtown
- Yellow (노란색) — loop routes in central areas
The number on the front and side tells you the route. Naver Maps and Kakao Maps both show real-time bus locations, so you can check before the bus arrives.
Paying
Tap your T-money card or credit card when you board — the reader is next to the driver. The fare deducts automatically.
If you're transferring from the subway within 30 minutes, the transfer fare is discounted. Same card, same tap.
카드 되나요? (ka-deu doe-na-yo?) — "Do you take card?" — though all Seoul city buses do.
When you're not sure which stop to get off
Turn on the audio announcements — they call every stop in Korean and English on most routes. Or just track your location on the map.
If you miss your stop: 다음 정류장에서 내릴게요 (da-eum jeong-nyu-jang-e-seo nae-ril-ge-yo) — "I'll get off at the next stop."
What to actually do
- Check the bus number on Naver or Kakao Maps before it arrives
- When the bus pulls up, ask 기사님, 이거 [destination] 가나요?
- Board quickly when you hear 얼른 타요
- Tap your card, grab the handrail
- Watch your stop on the map and tap out when you get off
One sentence at the door — 기사님, 이거 [destination] 가나요? — and you're on the right bus every time.
Seoul's bus network covers everywhere the subway doesn't. K-PATTO teaches 300+ phrases like these through a webtoon story set in Seoul, with native audio on every line. The first ten episodes are free.