Navigating Korea requires understanding its unique address system. This guide explains the essential components and phrases needed to read, write, and use Korean addresses effectively, covering both the newer street name-based system and common terminology.
Table Of Content
Core Terminology
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Expression: 주소 (juso)
Pronunciation: ju-so
Meaning: Address -
Expression: 도로명 주소 (doromyeong juso)
Pronunciation: do-ro-myeong ju-so
Meaning: Street name address (the newer system) -
Expression: 지번 주소 (jibeon juso)
Pronunciation: ji-beon ju-so
Meaning: Lot number address (the older system, still sometimes used)
Basic Address Components
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Expression: 도 (do)
Pronunciation: do
Meaning: Province (e.g., 경기도 – Gyeonggi-do) -
Expression: 시 (si)
Pronunciation: si
Meaning: City (e.g., 서울시 – Seoul-si) -
Expression: 군 (gun)
Pronunciation: gun
Meaning: County (used in provinces) -
Expression: 구 (gu)
Pronunciation: gu
Meaning: District (within a large city, e.g., 강남구 – Gangnam-gu) -
Expression: 읍 (eup)
Pronunciation: eup
Meaning: Town (larger rural division) -
Expression: 면 (myeon)
Pronunciation: myeon
Meaning: Township (smaller rural division) -
Expression: 동 (dong)
Pronunciation: dong
Meaning: Neighborhood (within a Gu or Si) -
Expression: 리 (ri)
Pronunciation: ri
Meaning: Village (within Eup or Myeon) -
Expression: 로 (ro)
Pronunciation: ro
Meaning: Major road/street -
Expression: 길 (gil)
Pronunciation: gil
Meaning: Smaller street/lane (often branching off a ‘ro’) -
Expression: 번지 (beonji)
Pronunciation: beon-ji
Meaning: Lot number (used in the old system) -
Expression: 건물 번호 (geonmul beonho)
Pronunciation: geon-mul beon-ho
Meaning: Building number (used in the new system)
Understanding Street Names and Numbers
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Expression: 이 주소는 어떻게 읽어요?
Pronunciation: i ju-so-neun eo-tteo-ke il-geo-yo?
Meaning: How do you read this address? -
Expression: 여기는 무슨 로예요?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-neun mu-seun ro-ye-yo?
Meaning: What ‘Ro’ (major street) is this? -
Expression: 여기는 무슨 길이에요?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-neun mu-seun gil-i-e-yo?
Meaning: What ‘Gil’ (smaller street) is this? -
Expression: 건물 번호가 어떻게 되나요?
Pronunciation: geon-mul beon-ho-ga eo-tteo-ke doe-na-yo?
Meaning: What is the building number? -
Expression: 이 길을 따라 쭉 가세요.
Pronunciation: i gil-eul tta-ra jjuk ga-se-yo.
Meaning: Go straight along this street. -
Expression: 세종대로 100번길
Pronunciation: se-jong-dae-ro baek-beon-gil
Meaning: Sejong-daero 100beon-gil (Example: 100th ‘gil’ branching off Sejong-daero ‘ro’) -
Expression: 강남대로 396
Pronunciation: gang-nam-dae-ro sam-baek-gu-sim-nyuk
Meaning: 396 Gangnam-daero (Example: Building number 396 on Gangnam-daero ‘ro’) -
Expression: 아파트 이름이 뭐예요?
Pronunciation: a-pa-teu i-reum-i mwo-ye-yo?
Meaning: What is the apartment name? -
Expression: 몇 동 몇 호예요?
Pronunciation: myeot dong myeot ho-ye-yo?
Meaning: What building number and unit number is it? (Used for apartments/multi-unit buildings) -
Expression: 층 (cheung)
Pronunciation: cheung
Meaning: Floor -
Expression: 호 (ho)
Pronunciation: ho
Meaning: Unit number (for apartments or offices) -
Expression: 우편번호 (upyeonbeonho)
Pronunciation: u-pyeon-beon-ho
Meaning: Postal code (zip code)
Asking for and Giving Addresses
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Expression: 주소가 어떻게 되세요?
Pronunciation: ju-so-ga eo-tteo-ke doe-se-yo?
Meaning: What is your address? (Polite) -
Expression: 제 주소는 [주소]입니다.
Pronunciation: je ju-so-neun [ju-so] im-ni-da.
Meaning: My address is [address]. -
Expression: 이 주소로 가주세요.
Pronunciation: i ju-so-ro ga-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please take me to this address. (To a taxi driver) -
Expression: 이 주소를 지도에서 찾아주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: i ju-so-reul ji-do-e-seo cha-ja-ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Could you find this address on the map? -
Expression: 주소를 적어주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: ju-so-reul jeo-geo-ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Could you write down the address for me? -
Expression: 이 근처에 [장소] 주소가 어떻게 되나요?
Pronunciation: i geun-cheo-e [jang-so] ju-so-ga eo-tteo-ke doe-na-yo?
Meaning: What is the address of [place] near here? -
Expression: 주소를 다시 한번 확인해 주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: ju-so-reul da-si han-beon hwa-gin-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Could you please confirm the address one more time? -
Expression: 배달 주소가 맞는지 확인해주세요.
Pronunciation: bae-dal ju-so-ga man-neun-ji hwa-gin-hae-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please check if the delivery address is correct. -
Expression: 여기 주소가 어떻게 되죠?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi ju-so-ga eo-tteo-ke doe-jyo?
Meaning: What is the address here? -
Expression: 상세 주소를 알려주세요.
Pronunciation: sang-se ju-so-reul al-lyeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please tell me the detailed address (including unit number, floor, etc.). -
Expression: 도로명 주소로 알려주세요.
Pronunciation: do-ro-myeong ju-so-ro al-lyeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please tell me the street name address. -
Expression: 지번 주소로 알려주세요.
Pronunciation: ji-beon ju-so-ro al-lyeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please tell me the lot number address.
Korean Culture Notes
Korea officially transitioned to the ‘도로명 주소’ (do-ro-myeong ju-so), or street name address system, nationwide in 2014 to standardize addresses and make navigation easier, especially for foreigners and emergency services. Before this, the ‘지번 주소’ (ji-beon ju-so), based on land lot numbers, was primarily used. While the new system is standard, you might still encounter the old system, particularly with older generations or in some rural areas.
When writing or giving an address, the order is generally from largest administrative unit to smallest: Province/Metropolitan City (도/시), City/County/District (시/군/구), Town/Township/Neighborhood (읍/면/동), Street Name (로/길), Building Number, and finally, detailed information like Apartment Name (아파트 이름), Building Number (동), and Unit Number (호) or Floor (층).
Including the apartment complex name (if applicable) and the specific building (동) and unit number (호) is crucial for deliveries and finding locations within large complexes. Simply providing the street address might not be enough.
Navigation apps like Naver Maps (네이버 지도) and Kakao Maps (카카오맵) are extremely popular and efficient in Korea. Inputting the ‘도로명 주소’ (do-ro-myeong ju-so) usually provides the most accurate results for finding locations and getting directions.
Postal codes (우편번호 – u-pyeon-beon-ho) in Korea are now 5 digits long, having changed from the previous 6-digit system. Always use the current 5-digit code for mail and deliveries.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Person A is asking a passerby (Person B) for directions using a written address.
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Expression: A: 실례합니다. 이 주소 좀 찾아주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: sil-lye-ham-ni-da. i ju-so jom cha-ja-ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: A: Excuse me. Could you help me find this address? -
Expression: B: 네, 보여주세요. 아, 여기 강남대로 396번지네요.
Pronunciation: ne, bo-yeo-ju-se-yo. a, yeo-gi gang-nam-dae-ro sam-baek-gu-sim-nyuk beon-ji-ne-yo.
Meaning: B: Yes, please show me. Ah, this is 396 Gangnam-daero. -
Expression: A: 여기서 많이 먼가요?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-seo ma-ni meon-ga-yo?
Meaning: A: Is it far from here? -
Expression: B: 아니요, 멀지 않아요. 이 길 따라 쭉 가시면 오른쪽에 큰 건물이 보일 거예요. 그 건물이에요.
Pronunciation: a-ni-yo, meol-ji a-na-yo. i gil tta-ra jjuk ga-si-myeon o-reun-jjo-ge keun geon-mul-i bo-il geo-ye-yo. geu geon-mul-i-e-yo.
Meaning: B: No, it’s not far. If you go straight along this road, you’ll see a large building on your right. That’s the building. -
Expression: A: 아, 네! 감사합니다!
Pronunciation: a, ne! gam-sa-ham-ni-da!
Meaning: A: Ah, okay! Thank you! -
Expression: B: 네, 조심히 가세요.
Pronunciation: ne, jo-sim-hi ga-se-yo.
Meaning: B: Yes, take care.
Practice Tips
Understanding the Korean address system takes a little practice! Try looking up addresses of famous landmarks or cafes in Korea online using Naver Maps or Kakao Maps~ Pay attention to the order: 시/도, 구/군, 로/길, 건물번호. Practice reading them aloud.
When you receive mail or packages, look closely at how the address is written. Try writing your own address in Korean format. If you have Korean friends, ask them to check it for you! The more you see and use Korean addresses, the more familiar they will become~ Good luck!
