Planning a Trip

Korean Basic Conversation 3

Chapter 2 · Planning a Trip: Holidays & Itineraries

🧳 Planning a Trip — 여행 계획

Course 3 moves from short exchanges to longer, more independent conversation, and a holiday is the perfect place to start: you have to say why you are going (-(으)려고, -(으)러 가다), how long (2박 3일), and the order of things (-기 전에, -(으)ㄴ 후에). Dialogs now have 4–7 lines with a Hard words note (no romanization under each line), the key-phrase and grammar tables show Hangul and English only, and the vocabulary table keeps the "Say it" column. A short reading text with true/false questions closes the chapter, in the style of a graded reader.

eo = ㅓ (short, open "uh") eu = ㅡ (unrounded "oo") kk, tt, pp, ss, jj = tense (tight, unaspirated) consonants [ ] = how the word is actually said, where it differs from the spelling

① Choosing a Destination — 어디에 갈 거예요?

A: 이번 휴가에 어디에 갈 거예요? Where are you going on your holiday this time?

B: 제주도에 가려고 해요. 바다를 보러 가고 싶어요. I'm planning to go to Jeju. I want to go and see the sea.

A: 며칠 동안 가요? For how many days?

B: 2박 3일이요. 금요일부터 일요일까지요. Two nights, three days. From Friday to Sunday.

A: 비행기 표는 예약했어요? Have you booked the flight?

B: 아직 안 했어요. 오늘 저녁에 하려고요. Not yet. I'm going to do it this evening.

A: 서둘러야 해요. 주말 표는 빨리 매진돼요. You'd better hurry. Weekend tickets sell out fast.

Hard words: 휴가 hyu-ga · 제주도 je-ju-do · 보러 bo-reo · 2박 3일 i-bak sa-mil · 서둘러야 해요 seo-dul-leo-ya hae-yo · 매진돼요 mae-jin-dwae-yo

② Booking a Train — 왕복으로 주세요

A: 부산행 KTX 표를 예약하고 싶어요. I'd like to book a KTX ticket to Busan.

B: 언제 출발하세요? When are you leaving?

A: 이번 토요일 아침 아홉 시쯤이요. This Saturday, around nine in the morning.

B: 아홉 시 십 분 열차가 있어요. 편도세요, 왕복이세요? There's a train at 9:10. One way or return?

A: 왕복으로 주세요. 일요일 저녁에 돌아오려고요. A return, please. I'm coming back on Sunday evening.

B: 부산까지 두 시간 반쯤 걸려요. 카드로 결제하시겠어요? It takes about two and a half hours to Busan. Will you pay by card?

Hard words: 부산행 bu-san-haeng · 출발하세요 chul-bal-ha-se-yo · 열차 yeol-cha · 편도 pyeon-do · 왕복 wang-bok · 결제 gyeol-je

③ Booking a Hotel — 숙소는 예약하셨어요?

A: 숙소는 예약하셨어요? Have you booked your accommodation?

B: 네, 앱으로 호텔을 예약했어요. Yes, I booked a hotel on an app.

A: 체크인은 몇 시부터예요? From what time is check-in?

B: 오후 세 시부터예요. 체크아웃은 열한 시까지고요. From three in the afternoon. Check-out is until eleven.

A: 그럼 도착한 후에 짐을 먼저 맡길 수 있어요? Then can I leave my luggage first after I arrive?

B: 네, 프런트에 부탁하면 돼요. Yes, you just have to ask at the front desk.

Hard words: 숙소 suk-so · 체크인 che-keu-in · 도착한 후에 do-cha-kan hu-e · 맡길 수 있어요 mat-gil su i-sseo-yo · 프런트 peu-reon-teu · 부탁하면 돼요 bu-ta-ka-myeon dwae-yo

④ The Itinerary — 첫날에는 뭐 할 거예요?

A: 첫날에는 뭐 할 거예요? What will you do on the first day?

B: 공항에 도착한 후에 점심을 먹으러 갈 거예요. 흑돼지를 먹어 보려고요. After arriving at the airport I'll go for lunch. I'd like to try the black pork.

A: 둘째 날은요? And the second day?

B: 한라산에 가려고 해요. 출발하기 전에 날씨를 확인해야 해요. I'm planning to climb Hallasan. Before leaving I must check the weather.

A: 맞아요. 산은 날씨가 아주 중요해요. Right. The weather is very important in the mountains.

Hard words: 일정 il-jjeong · 첫날 cheon-nal · 흑돼지 heuk-dwae-ji · 한라산 hal-la-san · 출발하기 전에 chul-bal-ha-gi jeo-ne · 확인해야 해요 hwa-gin-hae-ya hae-yo

⑤ Packing — 짐은 다 쌌어요?

A: 짐은 다 쌌어요? Have you packed everything?

B: 아니요, 아직이요. 출발하기 전에 쌀 거예요. No, not yet. I'll pack before leaving.

A: 우산하고 충전기를 꼭 챙기세요. Be sure to take an umbrella and a charger.

B: 네. 신분증도 챙겨야 해요. 국내선도 필요하니까요. Yes. I have to take my ID too, since it's needed even for domestic flights.

Hard words: 쌌어요 ssa-sseo-yo · 충전기 chung-jeon-gi · 챙기세요 chaeng-gi-se-yo · 신분증 sin-bun-jjeung · 국내선 gung-nae-seon · 필요하니까요 pi-ryo-ha-ni-kka-yo ("because it's needed")

⑥ Two Friends (casual) — 같이 갈래?

A: 여행 계획 다 세웠어? Have you finished planning your trip?

B: 응! 제주도에 2박 3일 가려고. 숙소도 예약했어. Yeah! I'm going to Jeju for 2 nights, 3 days. I've booked the hotel too.

A: 부럽다! 뭐 하러 가? I'm jealous! What are you going there to do?

B: 맛집도 가고 바다도 보러 가려고. 너도 같이 갈래? Eat at good restaurants and see the sea. Do you want to come too?

A: 가고 싶은데 일해야 돼. 다음엔 꼭 같이 가자! I'd love to, but I have to work. Next time, let's go together!

Hard words: 세웠어 se-wo-sseo · 부럽다 bu-reop-tta · 하러 ha-reo · 맛집 mat-jjip · 야 돼 ya dwae (casual 야 해요)

🗝️ Key Phrases — 중요한 표현

Situation	Polite	Casual
Where are you planning to go?	어디에 가려고 해요?	어디 가려고?
How many nights and days?	몇 박 며칠이에요?	몇 박 며칠이야?
Two nights, three days.	2박 3일이에요.	2박 3일이야.
A return ticket, please.	왕복 표 한 장 주세요.	왕복 한 장 줘.
What time does it leave?	몇 시에 출발해요?	몇 시에 출발해?
I'd like to book a room.	방을 예약하고 싶어요.	방 예약하고 싶어.

🔤 Three Verbs for Trips — 동사

Verb	Everyday polite (-요)	Formal (-ㅂ니다)	Casual
to leave; to set off (떠나다)	떠나요	떠납니다	떠나
to book (예약하다)	예약해요	예약합니다	예약해
to come back; to return (돌아오다)	돌아와요	돌아옵니다	돌아와

🧱 Four Tools for Planning

1. "In order to / intending to" — -(으)려고

Add -려고 to a stem that ends in a vowel and -으려고 to a stem that ends in a consonant. It says the purpose behind the next action: 여행하려고 휴가를 냈어요 ("I took leave in order to travel"), 바다를 보려고 제주도에 가요. With 하다 it means "I plan to…": 제주도에 가려고 해요 ("I'm planning to go to Jeju"). Both parts of the sentence share the same subject. A stem ending in ㄹ keeps its ㄹ and takes no 으: 놀다 → 놀려고. In casual speech, the shortened …려고. can stand alone as an answer, as in dialog 6.

Stem	-(으)려고	Example
가다	가려고	부산에 가려고 표를 샀어요. I bought a ticket intending to go to Busan.
먹다	먹으려고	흑돼지를 먹으려고 일찍 갔어요. I went early to eat the black pork.
보다	보려고	친구를 보려고 서울에 가요. I'm going to Seoul to see a friend.

2. "Go (or come) in order to…" — -(으)러 가다 / 오다

With a movement verb (가다, 오다, 다니다), the purpose is expressed with -(으)러: 점심을 먹으러 가요 ("I'm going to have lunch"), 바다를 보러 왔어요 ("I came to see the sea"), 쉬러 갈 거예요. Same attachment rule as above. The difference: -(으)러 is only for movement verbs, while -(으)려고 works with any verb. A friend asks 뭐 하러 가? ("what are you going there to do?").

3. Before and after — -기 전에 and -(으)ㄴ 후에

-기 전에 means "before doing" and always attaches to the plain stem (no vowel rule): 출발하기 전에 짐을 싸요 ("I pack before I leave"). -(으)ㄴ 후에 means "after doing": add -ㄴ 후에 to a vowel stem and -은 후에 to a consonant stem: 도착한 후에 점심을 먹어요 ("after arriving I have lunch"). A stem ending in ㄹ drops it: 놀다 → 논 후에. After a plain noun, use 전에 and 후에 directly: 점심 전에, 여행 후에. The tense is given only by the last verb in the sentence.

Pattern	Meaning	Example
-기 전에	before…ing	예약하기 전에 가격을 확인해요. Before booking I check the price.
-(으)ㄴ 후에	after…ing	체크인한 후에 쉴 거예요. After checking in I'll rest.
-(으)ㄴ 다음에	after…ing (the same, a little more spoken)	밥을 먹은 다음에 출발해요. We leave after we eat.
noun + 전에 / 후에	before / after a noun	여행 전에 짐을 싸요. I pack before the trip.

4. Nights, days and dates — 박, 일, 부터, 까지

A Korean trip is described as N박 N+1일: 박 counts nights and 일 counts days, both with Sino-Korean numbers: 1박 2일 (one night, two days), 2박 3일 (read 이 박 삼 일), 3박 4일. To say "from… to…" use 부터 and 까지 (introduced in Korean Basic Conversation 2, Chapter 8: Doctor): 금요일부터 일요일까지. Ask 몇 박 며칠이에요? or 며칠 동안 가요? ("for how many days?").

English	Korean
day trip	당일 여행
one night, two days	1박 2일
two nights, three days	2박 3일
from Friday to Sunday	금요일부터 일요일까지
one-way / return (ticket)	편도 / 왕복
departure / arrival	출발 / 도착

📖 Reading — 읽기: 지은 씨의 제주도 여행

지은 씨의 제주도 여행 지은 씨는 다음 주에 제주도에 가려고 해요. 금요일에 출발하고 일요일에 돌아올 거예요. 출발하기 전에 비행기 표와 숙소를 예약했어요. 제주도에 도착한 후에 먼저 점심을 먹으러 갈 거예요. 그리고 바다를 보러 해변에 갈 거예요. 둘째 날에는 한라산에 올라가려고 해요. 산에 가기 전에 날씨를 확인해야 해요. 지은 씨는 이번 여행이 정말 기대돼요.
Word list: 해변 (beach) · 올라가다 (to climb up) · 기대되다 (to look forward to) · 둘째 날 (the second day)

True or false? (맞으면 O, 틀리면 X)

1. 지은 씨는 제주도에 갈 거예요.
2. 지은 씨는 금요일에 돌아올 거예요.
3. 지은 씨는 출발한 후에 숙소를 예약했어요.
4. 지은 씨는 둘째 날에 한라산에 가려고 해요.

Show answers

1. O · 2. X (she returns on Sunday; she leaves on Friday) · 3. X (she booked before leaving, 출발하기 전에) · 4. O

📖 Vocabulary — 어휘

#	Korean	Say it	English	Type
1	여행	yeo-haeng	trip; travel	noun
2	휴가	hyu-ga	holiday; leave from work	noun
3	일정	il-jjeong	schedule; itinerary	noun
4	숙소	suk-so	accommodation	noun
5	출발	chul-bal	departure	noun
6	도착	do-chak	arrival	noun
7	왕복	wang-bok	return trip; round trip	noun
8	편도	pyeon-do	one-way trip	noun
9	표	pyo	ticket	noun
10	열차	yeol-cha	train	noun
11	비행기	bi-haeng-gi	aeroplane	noun
12	공항	gong-hang	airport	noun
13	짐	jim	luggage; load	noun
14	해변	hae-byeon	beach	noun
15	맛집	mat-jjip	a restaurant known for good food	noun
16	떠나다	tteo-na-da	to leave; to set off	verb
17	돌아오다	do-ra-o-da	to return; to come back	verb
18	챙기다	chaeng-gi-da	to pack; to make sure to bring	verb
19	예약하다	ye-ya-ka-da	to book; to reserve	verb
20	기대되다	gi-dae-doe-da	to look forward to	verb

Booking Trains and Planes (details change; verify before you book) The KTX from Seoul to Busan takes roughly 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes depending on the train. Tickets are generally released about a month before departure. One 2026 guide reports that Korail's ticketing app was renamed Korail+ that year, so check the current name in your app store. Visitors with a foreign passport can buy a KR Pass (not available to Korean nationals) if they plan several long train trips. Flights from Seoul Gimpo to Jeju take roughly an hour, and in 2025 it was reported as the world's busiest air route. Even domestic flights require photo ID at check-in (a passport for a foreigner).

Hotels, Apps and Maps Hotel check-in is usually in the afternoon (often around 3 pm) and check-out in the late morning (11 am to noon), though each hotel varies. Late check-out is normally charged, and some booking listings require the guest checking in to be an adult of 19 or older. Many Koreans book rooms with apps like 야놀자 (Yanolja) and 여기어때 (Yeogi Eottae). For directions, Naver Map and Kakao Map are the reliable choices; Korea approved Google's request to export detailed map data in early 2026, but it was not yet confirmed that Google Maps navigation works fully, so keep a Korean map app as backup.

As Heard in Dramas — 드라마에서 Jeju is a favourite drama and film setting, and a modern trend is 제주도 한 달 살기 ("living in Jeju for a month"). Characters who need a break announce 휴가 낼게요 ("I'll take some leave") or, when they are fed up, 여행이라도 가야겠어요 ("I should at least go on a trip"). A friend who says 같이 갈래? is inviting you to come along.

Grammar Pointer The wish -고 싶어요 and the invitation -(으)ㄹ래요 are from Korean Basic Conversation 2, Chapter 3 (Plans), the obligation -아/어야 해요 from Chapter 12 (When Things Go Wrong), and 부터 / 까지 from Chapter 8 (Doctor). The purpose forms -(으)려고 and -(으)러 are new here and return in Chapters 3 and 5 of this course.

✍️ Try It Yourself — 연습

Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.

1. Say "I'm planning to go to Jeju for two nights and three days."

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제주도에 2박 3일 가려고 해요.

2. Say "I'm going to Busan to see my friend."

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친구를 보러 부산에 가요. (or 친구를 보려고 부산에 가요.)

3. Say "Before leaving, I have to check the weather."

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출발하기 전에 날씨를 확인해야 해요.

4. Say "After arriving at the hotel, I'm going to rest."

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호텔에 도착한 후에 쉴 거예요.

5. At the ticket counter, ask for a return ticket to Busan on Saturday morning.

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토요일 아침 부산행 왕복 표 주세요.

6. Ask a friend casually, "What are you going to Jeju to do?"

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제주도에 뭐 하러 가?