Booking Movie Tickets in Korean

Booking movie tickets is a common activity, and knowing how to do it in Korean can enhance your experience in Korea. This guide provides essential Korean expressions for reserving movie tickets, whether online or at the cinema counter. Learn the necessary vocabulary and phrases to confidently navigate the process of watching a film in Korea.

Core Expression

This is the fundamental phrase for the action of booking movie tickets.

• Expression: 영화 티켓 예매하기 (or 영화표 예매하기)
  Pronunciation: yeonghwa tiket yemaehagi (or yeonghwapyo yemaehagi)
  Meaning: Booking movie tickets (예매하다 yemaehada means ‘to book’ or ‘to reserve’ in advance)

Basic Booking Phrases

Start your booking process with these fundamental expressions.

• Expression: 영화표 예매하고 싶어요.
  Pronunciation: yeonghwapyo yemaehago sipeoyo.
  Meaning: I want to book movie tickets.
• Expression: 영화 예매 가능한가요?
  Pronunciation: yeonghwa yemae ganeunghangayo?
  Meaning: Is it possible to book movie tickets?
• Expression: 인터넷으로 예매했어요.
  Pronunciation: inteoneseuro yemaehaesseoyo.
  Meaning: I booked online.
• Expression: 현장에서 예매할게요.
  Pronunciation: hyeonjangeseo yemaehalgeyo.
  Meaning: I’ll book here (at the venue).
• Expression: 매표소가 어디예요?
  Pronunciation: maepyosoga eodiyeyo?
  Meaning: Where is the ticket office?
• Expression: 어떤 영화 보고 싶으세요?
  Pronunciation: eotteon yeonghwa bogo sipeuseyo?
  Meaning: Which movie do you want to watch?
• Expression: 오늘 상영하는 영화 뭐 있어요?
  Pronunciation: oneul sangyeonghaneun yeonghwa mwo isseoyo?
  Meaning: What movies are showing today?
• Expression: 티켓 두 장 주세요.
  Pronunciation: tiket du jang juseyo.
  Meaning: Please give me two tickets.
• Expression: 성인 두 명이요.
  Pronunciation: seongin du myeongiyo.
  Meaning: Two adults, please.
• Expression: 청소년 한 명이요.
  Pronunciation: cheongsonyeon han myeongiyo.
  Meaning: One teenager, please.
• Expression: 어린이 표도 있나요?
  Pronunciation: eorini pyodo innayo?
  Meaning: Are there children’s tickets too?
• Expression: 예매 번호가 뭐예요?
  Pronunciation: yemae beonhoga mwoyeyo?
  Meaning: What is the reservation number?

Asking About Movies and Showtimes

Use these phrases to inquire about specific movies, screening times, and availability.

• Expression: [Movie Title] 보고 싶어요.
  Pronunciation: [Movie Title] bogo sipeoyo.
  Meaning: I want to watch [Movie Title].
• Expression: [Movie Title] 몇 시에 상영해요?
  Pronunciation: [Movie Title] myeot sie sangyeonghaeyo?
  Meaning: What time does [Movie Title] screen?
• Expression: 가장 빠른 상영 시간이 언제예요?
  Pronunciation: gajang ppareun sangyeong sigani eonjeyeyo?
  Meaning: When is the earliest showtime?
• Expression: 다음 상영은 몇 시예요?
  Pronunciation: daeum sangyeongeun myeot siyeyo?
  Meaning: What time is the next screening?
• Expression: 저녁 시간대 표 있어요?
  Pronunciation: jeonyeok sigandae pyo isseoyo?
  Meaning: Are there tickets available for the evening showtimes?
• Expression: 자막 있어요?
  Pronunciation: jamak isseoyo?
  Meaning: Are there subtitles?
• Expression: 한국어 자막으로 보고 싶어요.
  Pronunciation: hangugeo jamageuro bogo sipeoyo.
  Meaning: I want to watch it with Korean subtitles.
• Expression: 영어 자막 상영 있나요?
  Pronunciation: yeongeo jamak sangyeong innayo?
  Meaning: Is there a screening with English subtitles?
• Expression: 이 영화 상영 시간 얼마나 돼요?
  Pronunciation: i yeonghwa sangyeong sigan eolmana dwaeyo?
  Meaning: How long is the running time for this movie?
• Expression: 매진됐나요?
  Pronunciation: maejindwaennayo?
  Meaning: Is it sold out?
• Expression: 아직 자리 있어요?
  Pronunciation: ajik jari isseoyo?
  Meaning: Are there still seats available?
• Expression: 어떤 상영관이에요?
  Pronunciation: eotteon sangyeonggwanieyo?
  Meaning: Which theater (screen number) is it?

Selecting Seats and Payment

These expressions are useful when choosing your seats and handling the payment.

• Expression: 좌석 선택할 수 있나요?
  Pronunciation: jwaseok seontaekhal su innayo?
  Meaning: Can I choose my seats?
• Expression: 좋은 자리로 주세요.
  Pronunciation: joeun jariro juseyo.
  Meaning: Please give me good seats.
• Expression: 가운데 자리로 주세요.
  Pronunciation: gaunde jariro juseyo.
  Meaning: Please give me seats in the middle.
• Expression: 앞쪽/뒤쪽 자리 괜찮아요?
  Pronunciation: apjjok/dwitjjok jari gwaenchanayo?
  Meaning: Are seats in the front/back okay?
• Expression: 통로 쪽 자리 있어요?
  Pronunciation: tongno jjok jari isseoyo?
  Meaning: Are there aisle seats available?
• Expression: 이 자리로 할게요.
  Pronunciation: i jariro halgeyo.
  Meaning: I’ll take this seat.
• Expression: 총 얼마예요?
  Pronunciation: chong eolmayeyo?
  Meaning: How much is it in total?
• Expression: 카드로 계산할게요.
  Pronunciation: kadeuro gyesanhalgeyo.
  Meaning: I’ll pay by card.
• Expression: 현금으로 계산할게요.
  Pronunciation: hyeongeumeuro gyesanhalgeyo.
  Meaning: I’ll pay with cash.
• Expression: 할인 카드 있어요?
  Pronunciation: harin kadeu isseoyo?
  Meaning: Do you have a discount card?
• Expression: 포인트 적립해 주세요.
  Pronunciation: pointeu jeongniphae juseyo.
  Meaning: Please add points (to my membership).
• Expression: 영수증 주세요.
  Pronunciation: yeongsujeung juseyo.
  Meaning: Please give me the receipt.

Korean Culture Notes

Understanding these cultural points can make your Korean cinema experience smoother.

• Online Booking is King: Most Koreans book movie tickets online through cinema websites (CGV, Lotte Cinema, Megabox) or apps. Booking in advance, especially for popular movies or weekend showtimes, is highly recommended.
• Seat Selection: You almost always select your specific seats when booking, both online and at the counter. Koreans often prefer middle seats towards the back for optimal viewing.
• Couple Seats: Many cinemas offer ‘couple seats’ – wider seats or partitioned seating designed for two people, often located at the back. They cost slightly more but offer more privacy.
• Cinema Food: Popcorn and soda are standard, but Korean cinemas often offer a wider variety of snacks like churros, squid, and even beer. Bringing outside food might be restricted depending on the cinema chain.
• Punctuality: While commercials and trailers run for about 10-15 minutes before the actual movie starts, arriving on time or slightly early is generally expected.

Real Conversation Example

This dialogue shows a typical interaction when booking movie tickets at the counter.

• Situation: A customer (A) wants to buy tickets for a movie at the cinema counter from an employee (B).

• Roles:

  • A: Customer
  • B: Cinema Employee

• Expression: A: 안녕하세요. 영화표 예매하고 싶어요.
  Pronunciation: annyeonghaseyo. yeonghwapyo yemaehago sipeoyo.
  Meaning: Hello. I’d like to book movie tickets.

• Expression: B: 네, 어떤 영화 보시겠어요?
  Pronunciation: ne, eotteon yeonghwa bosigesseoyo?
  Meaning: Yes, which movie would you like to watch?
• Expression: A: ‘서울의 봄’ 보고 싶어요. 오늘 저녁 시간대 표 있나요?
  Pronunciation: ‘seourui bom’ bogo sipeoyo. oneul jeonyeok sigandae pyo innayo?
  Meaning: I want to watch ‘12.12: The Day’. Are there tickets available for this evening?
• Expression: B: 네, ‘서울의 봄’ 저녁 7시 상영 아직 자리 있습니다. 몇 분이세요?
  Pronunciation: ne, ‘seourui bom’ jeonyeok ilgop si sangyeong ajik jari itseumnida. myeot buniseyo?
  Meaning: Yes, there are still seats available for the 7 PM screening of ‘12.12: The Day’. How many people?
• Expression: A: 성인 두 명이요. 좌석 선택할 수 있나요?
  Pronunciation: seongin du myeongiyo. jwaseok seontaekhal su innayo?
  Meaning: Two adults. Can I choose the seats?
• Expression: B: 네, 화면 보시고 원하시는 좌석 선택해 주세요. 초록색이 선택 가능한 좌석입니다.
  Pronunciation: ne, hwamyeon bosigo wonhasineun jwaseok seontaekhae juseyo. choroksaegi seontaek ganeunghan jwaseogimnida.
  Meaning: Yes, please look at the screen and choose the seats you want. The green ones are available.
• Expression: A: 그럼 H열 7번, 8번으로 주세요.
  Pronunciation: geureom H yeol chilbeon, palbeoneuro juseyo.
  Meaning: Then please give me H7 and H8.
• Expression: B: 네, H열 7번, 8번 맞으시죠? 총 28,000원입니다. 어떻게 결제하시겠어요?
  Pronunciation: ne, H yeol chilbeon, palbeon majeusijyo? chong im
  an palcheon wonimnida. eotteoke gyeoljehasigesseoyo?
  Meaning: Okay, H7 and H8, correct? The total is 28,000 won. How would you like to pay?
• Expression: A: 카드로 할게요.
  Pronunciation: kadeuro halgeyo.
  Meaning: I’ll pay by card.
• Expression: B: 네, 카드 이쪽에 꽂아주세요. 여기 티켓이랑 영수증입니다. 상영관은 5관입니다. 즐거운 관람 되세요!
  Pronunciation: ne, kadeu ijjoge kkojajuseyo. yeogi tiketirang yeongsujeungimnida. sangyeonggwaneun ogwanimnida. jeulgeoun gwallam doeseyo!
  Meaning: Okay, please insert your card here. Here are your tickets and receipt. The screening is in Theater 5. Enjoy the movie!

Practice Tips

Ready to try booking your own tickets? Here are some tips!

• Try navigating a Korean cinema website (like CGV or Megabox) even if you don’t complete the booking. Familiarize yourself with the layout and vocabulary~
• Role-play the conversation example with a friend or language partner. Practice both the customer and employee roles!
• Next time you’re near a cinema in Korea, look at the movie posters and showtime boards. Try reading the titles and times.
• Listen carefully when Koreans around you talk about movies or booking tickets. You’ll pick up natural expressions! Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be booking movie tickets like a pro~!