Visiting Korean Temples Without Speaking Korean

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) runs the 1330 Korea Travel Helpline, which its VisitKorea page describes as a telephone and real-time chat service. It gives information about traveling in Korea to tourists both inside and outside the country.

The page divides the service into three parts: tourist information, tourist interpretation (access to travel information in multiple languages) and tourist complaints.

Besides an ordinary phone call, the page lists an online voice call, which needs Wi-Fi for the call to be free, and an online chat. It also links the 1330 Messenger, which needs no download, as well as KakaoTalk, Facebook, Line and WhatsApp.

The same page hosts KTO's Complaint Center, which invites visitors to report any inconveniences, suggestions or compliments from their stay in Korea. You can submit a complaint at www.touristcomplaint.or.kr or by phone: 1330 within Korea, or +82-2-1330 from overseas. The page sets out the procedure in steps: the complaint is submitted, relayed to the relevant department and investigated, and then answered once it is resolved.

This page does not list the helpline's operating hours or the languages it supports.

KTO currently operates five Tourist Information Centers that offer basic tourist information and helpful resources, at major locations including HiKR Ground in Seoul, Incheon International Airport and Jeju Jungmun Resort.

In central Seoul, the KTO Tourist Information Center is on the fifth floor of HiKR Ground, 40 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jung-gu. It is listed as open 10:00–19:00 all year round, though hours at HiKR Ground vary by floor. Inquiries go to +82-2-729-9497~9498 in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese, with a note that language assistance may vary depending on the staff's work schedule.

Incheon International Airport has three of the centers. In Terminal 1 the East Wing center is near Exit 5 and the West Wing center near Exit 10, both on the first floor; in Terminal 2 the center is across from Exit 3. All three are listed as open 07:00–22:00, and they share the inquiry line +82-32-743-2600~2 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese).

On Jeju, the Jungmun Resort Tourist Information Center is on the first floor at the entrance to Jeju Jungmun Resort, 38 Jungmungwangwang-ro, Seogwipo-si, and is listed as open 09:00–18:00 all year round.

The page was last updated on September 18, 2026, and notes that information may differ from what it shows.

Visit Seoul, the city's official travel guide, notes that travel can bring unintended mishaps caused by language barriers or by scams from cab drivers or merchants, and points to several places to go for help.

It recommends the Korea Tourism Organization's Seoul Center at 40 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jung-gu, which offers tourism information, from free guidebooks to coupons, in many languages.

Visit Seoul also describes tourism guides in bright red uniforms with the ⓘ logo, known as 'Red Angels'. They can recommend restaurants, shops, tourist attractions and accommodation, and can help with personal problems such as finding lost property. Visit Seoul lists them at Myeongdong, Namdaemun Market, Seochon, Bukchon, Hongdae, the Express Bus Terminal and Gwangjang Market, with hours that vary by area.

For trouble such as taxi or bus fare scams or theft, the Tourist Issue Assistance Center, which Visit Seoul says is operated by the Korea Tourism Organization, can help with tourism information and step in when problems arise. It is at 85 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu (in front of Samil Building), with the phone number +82-2-1800-9008, and is listed as open daily 10:00–19:00 KST; hours may vary, and it is closed on Lunar New Year's Day and over the Chuseok holidays.

Foreign tourists staying in Korea for less than a month can claim cash reimbursement for unjustified losses from shopping, dining or accommodation inside designated Special Tourist Zones such as Itaewon, Myeongdong, Namdaemun and Dongdaemun Fashion Town, up to KRW 500,000 per person. A report must be made within 14 days of the incident, and losses at street stalls or through contractors of transportation companies or travel agencies are not covered. Besides visiting the center or calling its hotline, you can report through the Seoul Dasan Call Center (+82-2-120), 1330, the tourist guides at a tourist information center, or the Tourist Police.

The page says its content is based on information as of October 14, 2026, and is subject to change.

VisitKorea suggests using a Korean transportation card instead of buying a ticket or paying cash for every ride, and names four: Tmoney, EZL, WOWPASS and the Climate Card. They are reloadable prepaid cards that do not require an account, give transfer discounts on public transportation, and most can also be used for payments at stores online and offline.

Tmoney and EZL cards can be bought and loaded at convenience stores nationwide, and work on all public transportation and at affiliated stores that display their logos. If you are under 18 and want discounted fares, you must register your date of birth when you buy the card. Tmoney has the largest number of affiliated stores in Korea.

Mpass is a foreigner-only Tmoney card for the Seoul subway, Seoul city buses and AREX (excluding express trains), for up to 20 rides a day. Passes cost 15,000 won (1 day), 23,000 won (2 days), 30,500 won (3 days), 47,500 won (5 days) and 64,500 won (7 days) and can be bought only with Korean won in cash. The card is valid for 30 days from issue, and buying after 17:00 gives an automatic 3,000 won discount. It also works as an ordinary Tmoney card: reload it wherever Tmoney cards are sold and use it for taxis, express buses, intercity buses or trains. Cards are issued and returned at Tmoney Town near Seoul Station, Exit 10.

WOWPASS is a foreigner-only prepaid card for transportation, payments and currency exchange. You need your passport to buy one, either through the website or app for pickup later at a designated airport location or a kiosk, or on the spot at a kiosk; the page says the kiosks are at major subway stations, hotels and international airports. The kiosks load the card with won or with USD, JPY, CNY and other accepted currencies.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government's Climate Card short-term pass gives unlimited rides on Seoul buses and subways (excluding the Sinbundang Line and GTX) for one to seven days. The physical card costs 3,000 won at Seoul Metro information centers in subway stations and select nearby convenience stores. Passes are loaded at station ticket machines: 5,000 won for one day, 8,000 won for two, 10,000 won for three, 15,000 won for five and 20,000 won for seven. Once loaded, a pass cannot be changed or reloaded until it expires, so plan it around your itinerary.

The page was last updated in August 2026 and lists the 1330 Korea Travel Helpline at +82-2-1330 for Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai and Indonesian.

Subways run in the Seoul metropolitan area (Seoul, Gyeonggi-do and Incheon) and in Busan, Daegu, Gwangju and Daejeon, and the Seoul subway also connects to Incheon, Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon State and Chungcheongnam-do. VisitKorea notes that the lines are color-coded, which makes them easy to navigate. Seoul, Busan and Daegu run several lines, each with its own color, so you can tell them apart by name and color; Daejeon and Gwangju have one line each.

With a transportation card such as Tmoney, you simply tap it at the turnstile, and you can transfer to city buses for free. Transfers between subway lines are free as long as you have not walked out through a turnstile, although an extra fee applies on some sections when you transfer to or from the Sinbundang Line. Without a card, you can buy a single-use ticket at the ticket machine in every station, though it usually costs more than paying by card. The single-use card carries an additional 500 won deposit, which you get back by inserting the card into a deposit refund machine at your destination.

For information in other languages, VisitKorea points to the operators' own websites: Seoul Metro (www.seoulmetro.co.kr), Busan Transportation Corporation (www.humetro.busan.kr), Daegu Transportation Corporation (www.dtro.or.kr) and Daejeon Transportation Corporation (www.djtc.kr) are each listed in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese. It says the Seoul Metro site covers everything from themed tour attractions to detailed subway usage guides in English, Chinese and Japanese, and that its FAQ section helps you prepare for unexpected emergencies.

In an emergency, contact the station staff using the emergency phone installed on every subway station platform, or call the Seoul Metro customer center at +82-1577-1234.

Most subway stations have lockers in small, medium and large sizes, and most lockers offer instructions in multiple languages. You can pay with a bank card or a transportation card, and some lockers also take cash. In major Seoul stations such as Seoul Station, Hongik Univ., Myeong-dong and Gimpo Int'l Airport, the T-Luggage service offers luggage storage and same-day carrying of your bags within a station, between stations, and to and from Incheon International Airport.

The page was last updated on September 19, 2025, and notes that information may differ from what it shows.

VisitKorea notes that buses reach areas that trains cannot. Long-distance buses come in two types. Express buses use expressways for long-distance travel without stopping in cities along the way. Intercity buses use expressways and national highways and make intermediate stops; they have more routes than express buses, including routes that link smaller cities directly, which makes them a good choice for traveling to regional cities. Both charge extra during late-night hours.

Buses have no onboard restrooms, so mid- to long-distance routes include scheduled stops at expressway service areas, called hyugeso. VisitKorea says these rest stops have public restrooms, nursing rooms and tourist information centers, as well as gas stations, restaurants and convenience stores.

Tickets can be bought online through affiliated platforms such as Klook or Hanpass, or at ticket offices or kiosks inside bus terminals, with cash, a credit card or mobile pay. The page lists www.klook.com/korea-bus and go.hanpass.com for express buses and go.hanpass.com for intercity buses, each available in English, Japanese, Chinese and more. If you bought your ticket online, confirm it once more; depending on your destination and booking method, you may have to print it at the ticket office of the departure terminal before boarding.

At the terminal, check your bus's platform number on the screens in the waiting area and board at that platform. You can usually board five to ten minutes before departure.

Express and intercity buses often depart from and arrive at different terminals. Most terminals are in city centers, but in Seoul and some other regions they can be far apart, so check your point of departure again before you set out. A terminal called a jonghap terminal serves both express and intercity routes. In Seoul, VisitKorea lists the Seoul Express Bus Terminal and the Central City Express Bus Terminal (both at Express Bus Terminal Station, Lines 3, 7 and 9), Seoul Nambu Terminal for intercity buses (Nambu Terminal Station, Line 3), and Dong Seoul Terminal for both types (Gangbyeon Station, Line 2). Routes are subject to change, so check in advance.

The page was last updated on June 5, 2026, and notes that information may differ from what it shows.

VisitKorea describes taxis as a convenient choice for destinations that are difficult to reach by subway or bus, or in an unfamiliar area. Most taxis charge by the meter and do not require tips, and you can pay by cash, credit card or transportation card. Taxi stands are found where many people gather, such as bus terminals, major subway stations and large shopping malls; in Seoul you can also call +82-2-120 to ask where the taxi stands are.

International taxis, introduced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2009, are driven by drivers who can speak one or more foreign languages such as English, Japanese or Chinese. They were set up to help travelers get to their destinations from Incheon International Airport, Gimpo International Airport or Seoul, come in various sizes, and offer airport pick-up and drop-off by reservation in advance or on request at the International Taxi Information Desk in Incheon International Airport. They also have their own app for booking, hailing and paying. VisitKorea lists the website www.intltaxi.co.kr and reservations at reserve@intltaxi.co.kr or +82-1644-2255.

International taxis use a different fare system: from the airport to Seoul you are charged according to a fare table divided by regional sections, and for trips within or out of Seoul you pay the meter plus a 20% surcharge. For regular taxis, the page gives a base fare of 4,800 won in Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do and Gwangju for the first 2 kilometers, and says a late-night fare usually applies from 22:00 to 04:00.

If hailing a taxi is not an option, you can use a call taxi. Apps are usually the most convenient way, because you can check a fare estimate in advance, though a small call fee may be charged on top of the fare. VisitKorea mentions k.ride, a foreigner-only version of Kakao T operated by Kakao Mobility, available in English, Chinese and Japanese; it allows social login through Google or Apple and accepts overseas credit cards. It also notes that Uber Taxi is available in Korea through the regular Uber app, which offers automatic message translation for communicating with the driver.

Tourist taxis, available in popular destinations such as Seoul, Gangneung and Jeju, have drivers who also act as guides. They require advance reservation, and VisitKorea recommends checking for multilingual options before confirming. The 1330 Korea Travel Helpline can give you a list of tourist taxis and companies by region.

The page was last updated on January 22, 2026, and notes that information may differ from what it shows.

Jogyesa in Seoul is one temple that publishes its own directions in English: its official website has an English 'Access' page, which gives the address as 55, Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

By subway, the page directs you from Jonggak Station on Line 1, Exit 2, walking down along the road for 300 meters, or from Anguk Station on Line 3, Exit 6: walk down for 150 meters, cross the street, and walk down another 150 meters.

For buses, it lists the stop numbers and routes: stop 01-202 (Jogyesa) for routes 109, 151, 162, 606 and 1020; stop 01-201 (Jogyesa) for 151, 162, 172, 401, 406, 704 and 7022; stop 01-267 (Jogyesa) for 5000A, 5000B, 5005, 5500-2, 9000, 9200 and 9401; and stop 01-893 (Insa-dong, Aventree Hotel) for route 6005.

The page gives separate phone lines for English and Korean: +82 2-768-8523 (ENG) and +82 2-768-8660 (KOR).

It also introduces nearby attractions in English: Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Hanyang City Wall, Insa-dong, Cheonggyecheon, Bukchon Hanok Village and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. It describes Gyeongbokgung, established in 1395, as the royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty where kings held morning audiences. It notes that Insa-dong is a vehicle-free zone on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, with performances and traditional cultural events on weekends, and that Bukchon has over 860 traditional Korean houses (hanok).

Musangsa, the Seung Sahn International Zen Center at Hyangjeoksan-gil 129, Eomsa-myeon, Gyeryong-si, Chungcheongnam-do, publishes its weekly program in English. Its official 'Weekly Program' page says the center is open to anybody who seeks the true meaning of life and its direction, regardless of race, religion, nationality and age.

Except during retreats, Musangsa offers meditation practice in the mornings and evenings, always free of charge, and asks you to arrive 10 minutes before the start. The listed schedule is 108 bows at 4:25, morning chanting at 5:00 and sitting meditation at 5:40; a daily rice offering chanting from 10:00 to 11:00; and evening chanting at 18:00 followed by sitting meditation at 19:00. Morning chanting needs no registration, but you should contact the office in advance if you also want to join the meditation. Chanting takes place in the main Buddha Hall and Zen meditation in the Meditation Hall; visitors may enter the Buddha Hall only, and entry into all other buildings is prohibited.

The Sunday Zen practice combines sitting meditation with Dharma talks and a chance to ask questions of the Zen Master, JDPS and Sunims, and runs every Sunday in person and online via Zoom: sitting meditation at 1:00 pm, then Dharma talks and Q&A at 2:30 pm. The page says talks and instructions are given in Korean and English at the same time, and that first-time participants receive meditation instruction before the 1 pm start, which may be omitted online. The program is free and open to the public, and donations are welcome. Apply in advance through Musangsa's Facebook Messenger, Instagram DM or office@musangsa.org.

The Monday Zen Meditation Class runs from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm every Monday and is open to all, regardless of experience. A semester includes meditation, Dharma talks, kong-an interviews, hiking and Q&A with teachers, available in English and Korean. Semesters usually run for five months, from March to July and from September to January, with a one-month break in between, and applications go to the temple office before the start date.

Not every program is bilingual: the Sunday Pali Sutra Study Class (1:30–4:00 pm in the Buddha Hall) is listed as Korean only. Separately, the in-person Sunday Dharma Talk is currently held only on the first Sunday of each month, with rice offering chanting at 10 am and the Dharma talk at 11 am.