Electronics

1. 휴대폰

   Hyu-dae-pon

   Mobile phone

   Usage

   Show it at a repair shop or SIM counter. "Haen-deu-pon" means exactly the same and is just as common

2. 태블릿

   Tae-beul-lit

   Tablet

   Usage

   A loanword from English "tablet"

3. 노트북

   No-teu-buk

   Laptop

   Usage

   From "notebook" — Koreans do not say "laptop". Security will ask you to take it out of your bag

4. 충전기

   Chung-jeon-gi

   Charger

   Usage

   Cafés and convenience stores will sometimes lend you one. Korea runs on 220V with round two-pin type C plugs

5. 충전 케이블

   Chung-jeon ke-i-beul

   Charging cable

   Usage

   Sold in convenience stores. Showing the actual connector is faster than explaining

6. 보조배터리

   Bo-jo-bae-teo-ri

   Power bank

   Usage

   Literally "auxiliary battery". It must never go in checked luggage — carry it on

7. 변환 플러그

   Byeon-hwan peul-leo-geu

   Plug adapter

   Usage

   Essential for Japanese devices, since Korea uses round two-pin sockets. The nickname "dwae-ji-ko" (pig's nose) also works

8. 콘센트

   Kon-sen-teu

   Power socket

   Usage

   "Kon-sen-teu eo-di i-sseo-yo" asks where the socket is. Korean cafés usually have one at every seat

9. 건전지

   Geon-jeon-ji

   Dry-cell battery

   Usage

   Sizes are named in English (AA, AAA). Sold in convenience stores

10. 와이파이

    Wa-i-pa-i

    Wi-Fi

    Usage

    Korea has excellent public Wi-Fi, including on the metro and in buses

11. 와이파이 비밀번호

    Wa-i-pa-i bi-mil-beon-ho

    Wi-Fi password

    Usage

    Show it in a café and staff will point at the receipt or the sign on the wall

12. 유심

    U-sim

    SIM card

    Usage

    Korea says "u-sim" (from USIM) rather than "sim card". Sold at the airport and in convenience stores

13. 메모리 카드

    Me-mo-ri ka-deu

    Memory card

    Usage

    Sold in Yongsan's electronics arcades and at big-box stores. Show it with the capacity you need

14. 이어폰

    I-eo-pon

    Earphones

    Usage

    On the metro, using earphones rather than a speaker is expected. Convenience stores sell them

15. 스피커

    Seu-pi-keo

    Speaker

    Usage

    A Bluetooth speaker is "beul-lu-tu-seu seu-pi-keo"

16. 카메라

    Ka-me-ra

    Camera

    Usage

    "Sa-jin jji-geo-do dwae-yo" asks whether you may take a photo. Phones sold in Korea cannot mute the shutter sound

17. 손전등

    Son-jeon-deung

    Flashlight

    Usage

    Needed for night hikes and blackouts. Many people just say the loanword "peul-lae-si"

18. 에어컨

    E-eo-keon

    Air conditioner

    Usage

    "E-eo-keo-ni go-jang-na-sseo-yo" — the air conditioning is broken — is a phrase you will use at the front desk

19. 리모컨

    Ri-mo-keon

    Remote control

    Usage

    Show it at the front desk when you cannot find the air-con or TV remote

20. 선풍기

    Seon-pung-gi

    Electric fan

    Usage

    Budget rooms sometimes have one instead of air conditioning

21. 냉장고

    Naeng-jang-go

    Refrigerator

    Usage

    Also for asking to store medicine. Most Korean homes also have a dedicated "gim-chi-naeng-jang-go" for kimchi

22. 텔레비전

    Tel-le-bi-jeon

    Television

    Usage

    In everyday speech Koreans usually shorten it to "ti-bi"

23. 전자레인지

    Jeon-ja-re-in-ji

    Microwave

    Usage

    Every convenience store has one and you heat your own lunchbox. Pair it with "de-wo ju-se-yo" — please heat it up

24. 전기포트

    Jeon-gi-po-teu

    Electric kettle

    Usage

    Found in nearly every room. Also called "jeon-gi-ju-jeon-ja"

25. 세탁기

    Se-tak-gi

    Washing machine

    Usage

    Show it to ask whether you can use one at a guesthouse. A laundromat is "ppal-lae-bang"

26. 드라이기

    Deu-ra-i-gi

    Hair dryer

    Usage

    Ask the front desk if there is none in the room. Every jjimjilbang has them by the sinks

27. 보일러

    Bo-il-leo

    Boiler (hot water and floor heating)

    Usage

    In Korean homes one boiler supplies both hot water and the ondol underfloor heating. "Bo-il-leo-ga an dwae-yo" covers having neither heat nor hot water

28. 비데

    Bi-de

    Electronic bidet seat

    Usage

    Common in Korean hotel and café toilets. The control panel is often Korean-only, so show this if one is broken

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