Cube Traveler

Taxi: Though Seoul is a major cosmopolitian city, the taxis are reasonably affordable. For about 5-8 minute cab ride, expect to pay about 2,500-3,300 won, which is equivalent of $2.90. But some taxi drivers are opportunists and may take detour routes with the foreigners, which the fare may end up costing more. Also Tipping is not neccessary. When commuting in a taxi, these following tips and Korean expressions may be helpful. Koreans do not give directions by the street names or specific addresses. It’s better to study the subway and city maps and give directions in reference to the subway stops, districts, or famous buildings and landmarks (major hotels, big parks, department stores, etc). Note for the following: Letter “A” is pronounced in two ways = A (apple) or A (Autumn).

On young ha(Autumn) say(apple) yo = on young ha say yo = Hello (formal)

Yuk(as in expresion:that is gross, tastes terrible)= Station = Itaewon Yuk

Me-guk saram (a=autumn)= USA american. Canada saram = Canadian

Location + Ka(autumn) Ju say(apple) Yo = Itaewon Ka ju say yo = Itaewon please go to

Choke’em tall(autumn) ka(autumn) ju say(apple) yo = Choke’em tall ka ju say yo = Please go a little more

Whenchook = Left

O-rrenchook= Right

Kay soo (Spanish cheese= Queso) ka say yo = Please go straight(formal) or geechin (informal)

Bali Bali (like island of Bali,indonesia) = Fast, fast

Choke’em mon yo = One minute please ( If you can’t find the right amount of money right away)

Yogi (like yogi bear cartoon character)= Stop here

Cab driver asks “o-de ( read the letters phonetically O+D)?” = Where?

E hay(for horse) ga(autumn) un ka(autumn) yo = E hay ga un ka yo=I don’t understand

Kam sa ham ni da (all A’s= Autumn) = Thank you

SUBWAY: It’s a top notch. It’s extremely reliable, efficient, and user-friendly. For the preparation of the summer Seoul Olympics in late 80’s, the city modernized and upgraded the subway system to showcase it to the world. All the station signs are written in trilingual - Korea, English, and Japanese. It rarely gets packed like you would envisioned in Tokyo, Japan. Very affordable- 900 won with a card or 1000 won with a ticket. From any subway station booth, pick-up a map and buy a “T-money” card if you are planning to stay for a least a week or more. Give 10,000 won to the staff to have it credited. Or buy a ticket each time : make sure to keep the ticket. You’ll need it when you exit at the your destination station. REMINDER: When you transfer to a different line, it can be a bit time consuming. A lot of time is wasted on waiting. Also, the lines do not thoroughly cover all of the city and its surrounding regions,therefore, your routes may not be most direct and time effecient (the double edge sword of the public transportation)

LOCAL INNER CITY BUS: Forget it if you are a visitor. It’s a little more difficult to learn and master; unless of course, you are traveling with a local or speak and read Korean.

IN A RESTAURANT:Koreans typically eat same types of food for all meals: the staples are rice, soup, kim chee (red pepper paste fermented cabbage) and other vegetable side dishes(3-6 different assortments). For lunch and dinner, adding meat or fish as the main entree. The side dishes and kim chee are commonly shared by all. For affordability, pork is very popular. Beef can be very expensive. Practice your chopstick skills. Most restaurants do not provide forks. Also, the chopsticks in Korea are more difficult to use since they are made very thinly( like a linguini noodle) and with steel. Tipping is not a common practice, so it’s unneccessary.

Food/Water + Ju say(apple) yo = Pi Bim Bap(autumn) ju say yo =Pi Bim Bap Please give me

Hana (A’s=autumn) = 1

Do gay (like homosexual gay man) = 2

Do gay Pi Bim Bap Ju say yo= 2 Pi Bim Bap please give me

Moo- ul = water. Very difficult to pronounce: Mo ( like beginning part of a cow mooing: posititon your lips like you are ready to kiss)+ul( curl your tougue up)= But one word spoken with one syllable.

Mac (like big mac)-ju =beer

So-ju= Korean whiskey made chemically of ethanol. It tastes terrible but very cheap

Gong-gi Pap ( pronounced as in “pap” smear) = cooked rice

Since you are not able to read the menu:

Food/drink + e so yo( do you have) = Pi Bim Bap e so yo? Pi Bim Bap do you have?

Nay= Yes    Ane (Autumn) a(apple) yo= ane a yo= no

Food/drink + up so yo = don’t have= Pi Bim Bap up so yo= Pi Bim Bap don’t have

Common Korean Food:

Ramyeun = same as in the states: cheap noodles

Pi Bim Bap (as in Cow boy Bee Bop Movie): Rice topped with veggetables, egg, and red pepper paste

Man Do (as in Jamaican “man”): Like pot stickers with veggies and pork

Kim Chee Bok’em Bap (a=autumn) = Fried Rice with Kimchee and topped with an egg

Bul go gi = stir fried style beef with green onion, sesame seeds with soy sauce

Soon Du Boo = Tofu stew with red pepper (not spicy) sauce

Kim Bap (autumn)= like maki rolls in Japanese restaurants. veggies, ham, rice rolled up in a seaweed laver and cut into biting sizes.

Udong = Thicker noodle soup found in Japanese restaurants

Kar Guk Sue= Chinese noodle soup with clear broth

So (beef) or Dway gi (pork) Kal Bi = most popular with the foreigners. barbequed on your table. Served with lettuce, red pepper paste, rice, and  side dishes. On the lettuce, add some rice, cooked meat, and then top with the paste.

Sam gal sal (all A’s= autumn): Very similar to Kal bi, except the meat is pork; the same cut as the bacon, but the cut appears more fatty in korea

Dang(apple) Dong Jigay(apple)= stew with tofu and veggies like squash and made with miso paste

Kim Chee Jigay= stew with kimchi, tofu, and pork

The following are found only in Chinese style Korean restaurants: Chinese restaurants in Korea are very different from our idea of one. If you see a restaurant with a sign written in Chinese characters, it’s most likely to be a chinese restaurant:

Ja Jang(A’s =Autumn) Myeun= Noodles with black bean sauce

Jam(A=Autumn) Bong = Spicy seafood noodle soup. Warning: Octopus is included- common seafood in Korea

Chop Chay(a=apple)= clear thin noodles (made out of potatoes) stir fried with soy sauce and thinly sliced beef and veggies