Phrases for the airport

Ask ○○항공 카운터 어디예요? (○○ hanggong kaunteo eodiyeyo, "Where's the ○○ Airlines counter?"). Find your flight number on the departure screens to see the counter area. Some airports, including Incheon, have more than one terminal, so confirm with 몇 터미널이에요? (myeot teomineorieyo, "Which terminal is it?").

A window seat is 창가 자리 (changga jari), and an aisle seat is 통로 자리 (tongno jari). At check-in, say 창가 자리로 주세요 (changga jariro juseyo, "A window seat, please"). To sit with your companion, ask 같이 앉을 수 있어요? (gachi anjeul su isseoyo, "Can we sit together?").

Checked luggage is 부칠 짐 (buchil jim) or 위탁 수하물 (witak suhamul), and carry-on is 기내 반입 짐 (ginae banip jim). If staff ask 부치실 짐 있으세요? (buchisil jim isseuseyo, "Any bags to check?"), tell them how many. Weight and size limits depend on the airline, so check its policy.

A boarding pass is 탑승권 (tapseunggwon), and a passport is 여권 (yeogwon). At security and the gate, you'll often hear 탑승권하고 여권 보여 주세요 (tapseunggwonhago yeogwon boyeo juseyo, "Please show your boarding pass and passport"). Mobile boarding passes on your phone are accepted in many cases.

Ask ○번 게이트 어디예요? (○beon geiteu eodiyeyo, "Where is gate ○?") or 탑승구 어디예요? (tapseunggu eodiyeyo, "Where's the boarding gate?"). Check boarding time with 탑승 몇 시부터예요? (tapseung myeot sibuteoyeyo, "From what time is boarding?"). Gates can change, so keep an eye on the departure screens.

A delay is 지연 (jiyeon) or 연착 (yeonchak), and a cancellation is 결항 (gyeolhang). If you see these on the screens, go to the airline counter and ask 다음 비행기는 언제예요? (daeum bihaenggineun eonjeyeyo, "When is the next flight?"). Follow the airline's guidance on rebooking or compensation.

Go to the lost baggage counter and say 짐이 안 나왔어요 (jimi an nawasseoyo, "My bag didn't come out"). Show your baggage claim tag and boarding pass. If your bag is damaged, say 가방이 망가졌어요 (gabangi manggajyeosseoyo). Leave your contact details and accommodation address so they can reach you.

Ask 짐 찾는 곳 어디예요? (jim channeun got eodiyeyo, "Where do I pick up my bags?"). Airport signs say 수하물 수취 (suhamul suchwi, baggage claim), and the screens list the carousel number next to your flight number. Follow the signs after passing through immigration.

Officers may ask about the purpose of your visit or how long you'll stay. Short answers work: 여행 왔어요 (yeohaeng wasseoyo, "I'm here to travel") or 일주일 있을 거예요 (iljuil isseul geoyeyo, "I'll stay a week"). You can also answer in English. Check official immigration guidance for current procedures and documents.

Customs is 세관 (segwan), and declaring is 신고 (singo). If you have nothing to declare, say 신고할 거 없어요 (singohal geo eopseoyo); if you do, say 신고할 게 있어요 (singohal ge isseoyo). Duty-free limits and prohibited items change, so check the Korea Customs Service's official guidance.

Ask 시내 가는 버스 어디서 타요? (sinae ganeun beoseu eodiseo tayo, "Where do I catch the bus downtown?") or 공항철도 어디서 타요? (gonghangcheoldo eodiseo tayo, "Where do I take the airport railroad?"). Airport buses are often called 리무진 버스 (rimujin beoseu, limousine bus). Check airport information for routes and times.

Ask 환전소 어디예요? (hwanjeonso eodiyeyo, "Where's the currency exchange?"). At the counter, say 환전하고 싶어요 (hwanjeonhago sipeoyo, "I'd like to exchange money") and hand over your cash. Exchange rates and fees differ from place to place, so compare before you exchange.

On international flights, liquids are generally allowed in carry-on bags only in small containers placed in a clear zip-top bag. At security, you may be asked 액체류 있으세요? (aekcheryu isseuseyo, "Do you have any liquids?"). Rules can change, so check official airport and aviation security guidance for exact limits.

It's called 면세점 (myeonsejeom). When departing, you can shop in the duty-free area after security and passport control. Items bought at downtown duty-free shops are often picked up at the airport's 인도장 (indojang, pickup counter), so check the instructions you're given.

출국 (chulguk) means departing the country, and 입국 (ipguk) means entering it. On airport signs, 출국장 (chulgukjang) is the departure area and 입국장 (ipgukjang) is the arrival hall. If someone is picking you up, say 입국장에서 만나요 (ipgukjangeseo mannayo, "Let's meet in the arrival hall").

Use 주세요 (juseyo) for requests: 물 좀 주세요 (mul jom juseyo, "Some water, please") or 담요 주세요 (damyo juseyo, "A blanket, please"). When offered meal choices, pick one, as in 소고기로 주세요 (sogogiro juseyo, "Beef, please"). If you feel unwell, say 속이 안 좋아요 (sogi an joayo, "I feel sick").

Follow signs marked 환승 (hwanseung, transfer). Ask 환승하려면 어디로 가요? (hwanseunghallyeomyeon eodiro gayo, "Where do I go to transfer?"). Check with your airline whether you need to collect and recheck your bags: 짐 다시 찾아야 돼요? (jim dasi chajaya dwaeyo, "Do I need to pick up my bags again?").

If staff say 무게가 초과됐어요 (mugega chogwadwaesseoyo, "It's over the weight limit"), your bag is too heavy. You can say 짐을 좀 뺄게요 (jimeul jom ppaelgeyo, "I'll take some things out") and move items to another bag, or pay an excess fee. Limits vary by airline, so check before you pack.

Ask 분실물 센터 어디예요? (bunsilmul senteo eodiyeyo, "Where's the lost and found?"). Say ○○을 잃어버렸어요 (○○eul ireobeoryeosseoyo, "I lost my ○○") and explain where and when. If you left something on the plane, contact your airline's counter first, since they handle items found on board.

Common airport words include 출발 (chulbal, departure), 도착 (dochak, arrival), 탑승 (tapseung, boarding), 보안 검색 (boan geomsaek, security check), 출입국 심사 (churipguk simsa, immigration) and 수하물 (suhamul, baggage). Most signs include English, but knowing these words helps with announcements and screens.