The words you'll meet.
Korean travel words for food, customs, getting around, and the moments that make a place easier to understand.
Glossary inventory updated Aug 9, 2026. Entries are explanatory context, not source-verified Place facts.
Food & drink
Korea's iconic fermented vegetable dish, most commonly made with napa cabbage and Korean red pepper flakes...
Samgyetang삼계탕Korean ginseng chicken soup: a whole young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, ginseng, garlic, and jujube, simmered...
Banchan반찬Small side dishes served alongside rice in Korean cuisine. Typically includes kimchi, pickled vegetables, seasoned...
Boknal복날The three traditionally hottest days of the Korean summer calendar. Many people eat hot restorative dishes such as...
Pojangmacha포장마차The orange-tented street-food stalls and carts that appear after dark, serving tteokbokki, fishcake skewers, grilled...
Makgeolli막걸리Traditional Korean rice wine with a milky, slightly sweet and tangy flavor. Often enjoyed with Korean pancakes...
Soju소주A Korean distilled spirit sold in many styles and strengths. It is often served in small glasses with shared meals;...
Culture
A uniquely Korean concept of deep emotional bonding, attachment, and affection that develops over time. It's the...
Jjimjilbang찜질방A Korean bathhouse that may also include a shared, clothed sauna-and-rest area. Facilities, hours, prices, late-night...
Nunchi눈치The art of reading the room and understanding unspoken social cues. Essential for navigating Korean social...
Hanbok한복Traditional Korean clothing characterized by vibrant colors and simple lines. Women wear a jeogori (jacket) and chima...
Architecture
Traditional Korean house characterized by a heated floor system (ondol), curved tile roof (giwa), and wooden frame...
Bukchon Hanok Village북촌한옥마을Historic neighborhood in Seoul featuring hundreds of traditional Korean houses (hanok) between Gyeongbokgung and...
Ondol온돌Traditional Korean underfloor heating system that circulates warm air beneath stone floors. This uniquely warm living...
Giwa기와Traditional Korean roof tiles with a distinctive curved shape. The concave and convex tiles interlock to create the...
People
Getting around
Apps & tech
Korea's dominant search engine and web portal, used by most Koreans instead of Google. Essential for finding local...
Kakao카카오Major Korean tech company behind KakaoTalk (messaging), KakaoMap, KakaoTaxi, and more. Their services are essential...
KakaoTalk카카오톡A widely used Korean messaging app. Travelers may encounter KakaoTalk contact details for local businesses,...