Essential Korean Greetings You Need to Know

Formal Greetings

안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo)

This is the most versatile greeting. It works in almost every situation — meeting someone new, greeting a coworker, or entering a shop.

Tip: Koreans often give a slight bow when saying 안녕하세요.

감사합니다 (gamsahamnida)

“Thank you” in formal Korean. You’ll use this dozens of times a day in Seoul.

Casual Greetings

안녕 (annyeong)

The casual version of hello — use it only with close friends or people younger than you.

고마워 (gomawo)

Casual “thanks.” Save this for friends!

Quick Reference

Practice

Try using 안녕하세요 next time you walk into a Korean restaurant. Even a small effort goes a long way — Koreans really appreciate it when foreigners try to speak Korean!

다음에 또 봐요! (See you next time!)