Using a subway app is essential for navigating Korea’s extensive and efficient public transportation system. This guide provides the key Korean phrases you need to find, install, and use popular Korean subway applications on your smartphone, making your travels much smoother.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 한국 지하철 앱 설치하기
Pronunciation: han-guk ji-ha-cheol aep seol-chi-ha-gi
Meaning: Installing a Korean subway app
Essential Vocabulary
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Expression: 앱 (어플)
Pronunciation: aep (eo-peul)
Meaning: App (application) -
Expression: 지하철
Pronunciation: ji-ha-cheol
Meaning: Subway -
Expression: 설치하다
Pronunciation: seol-chi-ha-da
Meaning: To install -
Expression: 다운로드
Pronunciation: da-un-ro-deu
Meaning: Download -
Expression: 검색하다
Pronunciation: geom-saek-ha-da
Meaning: To search -
Expression: 앱 스토어
Pronunciation: aep seu-to-eo
Meaning: App store -
Expression: 플레이 스토어
Pronunciation: peul-le-i seu-to-eo
Meaning: Play Store (Android) -
Expression: 와이파이
Pronunciation: wa-i-pa-i
Meaning: Wi-Fi -
Expression: 계정
Pronunciation: gye-jeong
Meaning: Account -
Expression: 업데이트
Pronunciation: eop-de-i-teu
Meaning: Update -
Expression: 삭제하다
Pronunciation: sak-je-ha-da
Meaning: To delete / To uninstall -
Expression: 스마트폰
Pronunciation: seu-ma-teu-pon
Meaning: Smartphone
Finding and Installing the App
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Expression: 앱 스토어에서 ‘지하철’이라고 검색하세요.
Pronunciation: aep seu-to-eo-e-seo ‘ji-ha-cheol’-i-ra-go geom-saek-ha-se-yo.
Meaning: Search for ‘subway’ in the app store. -
Expression: 어떤 지하철 앱이 좋아요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon ji-ha-cheol aeb-i jo-a-yo?
Meaning: Which subway app is good? -
Expression: 이 앱을 다운로드 받고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: i aeb-eul da-un-ro-deu bat-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to download this app. -
Expression: 설치 버튼을 눌러주세요.
Pronunciation: seol-chi beo-teun-eul nul-leo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please press the install button. -
Expression: 앱 설치하는 데 시간이 좀 걸려요.
Pronunciation: aep seol-chi-ha-neun de si-gan-i jom geol-lyeo-yo.
Meaning: It takes some time to install the app. -
Expression: 와이파이에 연결해야 하나요?
Pronunciation: wa-i-pa-i-e yeon-gyeol-hae-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Do I need to connect to Wi-Fi? -
Expression: 앱 설치가 완료되었습니다.
Pronunciation: aep seol-chi-ga wan-ryo-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: The app installation is complete. -
Expression: 앱을 열어보세요.
Pronunciation: aeb-eul yeor-eo-bo-se-yo.
Meaning: Please open the app. -
Expression: 무료 앱인가요?
Pronunciation: mu-ryo aeb-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is it a free app? -
Expression: 앱 권한을 허용해야 해요.
Pronunciation: aep gwon-han-eul heo-yong-hae-ya hae-yo.
Meaning: You need to allow app permissions. -
Expression: 최신 버전으로 업데이트하세요.
Pronunciation: choe-sin beo-jeon-eu-ro eop-de-i-teu-ha-se-yo.
Meaning: Please update to the latest version.
Using the Subway App
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Expression: 출발역과 도착역을 입력하세요.
Pronunciation: chul-bal-yeok-gwa do-chak-yeog-eul im-nyeok-ha-se-yo.
Meaning: Please enter the departure and arrival stations. -
Expression: 가장 빠른 경로를 찾아주세요.
Pronunciation: ga-jang ppa-reun gyeong-ro-reul chaj-a-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please find the fastest route. -
Expression: 최소 환승 경로로 알려주세요.
Pronunciation: choe-so hwan-seung gyeong-ro-ro al-lyeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please show me the route with the fewest transfers. -
Expression: 첫차와 막차 시간을 확인하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: cheot-cha-wa mak-cha si-gan-eul hwa-gin-ha-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to check the first and last train times. -
Expression: 실시간 열차 위치를 볼 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: sil-si-gan yeol-cha wi-chi-reul bol su in-na-yo?
Meaning: Can I see the real-time train location? -
Expression: 이 역에서 몇 번 출구로 나가야 해요?
Pronunciation: i yeog-e-seo myeot beon chul-gu-ro na-ga-ya hae-yo?
Meaning: Which exit number should I take at this station? -
Expression: 역 주변 정보를 보고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: yeok ju-byeon jeong-bo-reul bo-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to see information about the area around the station. -
Expression: 즐겨찾기에 역을 추가할 수 있어요?
Pronunciation: jeul-gyeo-chat-gi-e yeog-eul chu-ga-hal su iss-eo-yo?
Meaning: Can I add stations to favorites? -
Expression: 지하철 노선도를 확대해 주세요.
Pronunciation: ji-ha-cheol no-seon-do-reul hwak-dae-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please zoom in on the subway map. -
Expression: 예상 소요 시간이 얼마나 걸려요?
Pronunciation: ye-sang so-yo si-gan-i eol-ma-na geol-lyeo-yo?
Meaning: How long is the estimated travel time? -
Expression: 알람 설정을 할 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: al-lam seol-jeong-eul hal su in-na-yo?
Meaning: Can I set an alarm (e.g., for arrival)? -
Expression: 영어 설정은 어디서 해요?
Pronunciation: yeong-eo seol-jeong-eun eo-di-seo hae-yo?
Meaning: Where can I change the settings to English?
Korean Culture Notes
Popular Apps: While there are several subway apps, ‘Subway Korea’ (지하철 종결자), ‘KakaoMetro’ (카카오지하철), and ‘Naver Maps’ (네이버지도 – includes subway info) are among the most widely used and reliable options. They often offer real-time information and English language support.
Wi-Fi Availability: Korea boasts excellent public Wi-Fi, especially in subway stations and often on the trains themselves (‘T wifi zone_secure’, ‘KT_Metro’, ‘U+zone’ etc.). This makes downloading and using apps on the go very convenient, even without a Korean SIM card initially.
Offline Maps: Many subway apps allow you to download the map data for offline use. This is incredibly helpful if you anticipate being in areas with poor connectivity or want to save mobile data.
Integrated Information: Modern Korean transit apps often integrate more than just subway routes. They might include bus schedules, transfer information between subway and bus, walking directions, and even taxi-hailing options, providing a comprehensive navigation tool.
Real-time Updates: These apps are usually very quick to update with schedule changes, delays, or station closures, making them more reliable than static paper maps, especially during peak hours or unexpected events.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A tourist (A) is asking a local resident (B) for help finding and installing a good subway app.
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Expression: A: 실례합니다. 한국 지하철 앱을 설치하고 싶은데, 어떤 앱이 좋은지 추천해 주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: sil-lye-ham-ni-da. han-guk ji-ha-cheol aeb-eul seol-chi-ha-go sip-eun-de, eo-tteon aeb-i jo-eun-ji chu-cheon-hae ju-sil su in-na-yo?
Meaning: Excuse me. I want to install a Korean subway app, could you recommend a good one? -
Expression: B: 아, 네. ‘카카오지하철’이나 ‘지하철 종결자’ 앱이 많이 쓰여요. 둘 다 정보가 정확하고 사용하기 편리해요.
Pronunciation: a, ne. ‘ka-ka-o-ji-ha-cheol’-i-na ‘ji-ha-cheol jong-gyeol-ja’ aeb-i man-i sseu-yeo-yo. dul da jeong-bo-ga jeong-hwak-ha-go sa-yong-ha-gi pyeol-li-hae-yo.
Meaning: Ah, yes. The ‘KakaoMetro’ or ‘Subway Korea’ apps are used a lot. Both have accurate information and are convenient to use. -
Expression: A: 감사합니다. 앱 스토어에서 검색하면 되나요?
Pronunciation: gam-sa-ham-ni-da. aep seu-to-eo-e-seo geom-saek-ha-myeon doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Thank you. Can I just search for them in the app store? -
Expression: B: 네, 맞아요. 앱 이름으로 검색하시고 ‘설치’ 버튼 누르시면 돼요. 와이파이 연결되어 있는지 확인하시고요.
Pronunciation: ne, maj-a-yo. aep i-reum-eu-ro geom-saek-ha-si-go ‘seol-chi’ beo-teun nu-reu-si-myeon dwae-yo. wa-i-pa-i yeon-gyeol-doe-eo it-neun-ji hwa-gin-ha-si-go-yo.
Meaning: Yes, that’s right. Search by the app name and press the ‘Install’ button. Make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi. -
Expression: A: 설치했습니다! 이제 어떻게 사용하나요? 경로 검색은 어떻게 해요?
Pronunciation: seol-chi-haet-seum-ni-da! i-je eo-tteo-ke sa-yong-ha-na-yo? gyeong-ro geom-saeg-eun eo-tteo-ke hae-yo?
Meaning: I’ve installed it! How do I use it now? How do I search for a route? -
Expression: B: 앱을 열면 출발역과 도착역을 입력하는 칸이 있을 거예요. 거기에 역 이름을 입력하고 검색하면 경로, 시간, 요금 정보가 나와요.
Pronunciation: aeb-eul yeol-myeon chul-bal-yeok-gwa do-chak-yeog-eul im-nyeok-ha-neun kan-i is-seul geo-ye-yo. geo-gi-e yeok i-reum-eul im-nyeok-ha-go geom-saek-ha-myeon gyeong-ro, si-gan, yo-geum jeong-bo-ga na-wa-yo.
Meaning: When you open the app, there should be fields to enter the departure and arrival stations. Enter the station names there and search, and it will show the route, time, and fare information.
Practice Tips
The best way to get comfortable is by doing! Download one of the recommended apps (like KakaoMetro or Subway Korea) even before you arrive in Korea~ Explore its features, try searching for routes between famous landmarks (e.g., Myeongdong Station to Gangnam Station), and check the station information. Many apps have an English setting, which you can use initially, then try switching to Korean as you learn the vocabulary! Familiarizing yourself with the app layout beforehand will make navigating the real subway system much less daunting. Happy travels!
