I speak English only. Will I face problem in S. Korea? e.g. @ the airport, daily life?

The airport and subway systems all have English. After that, you can certainly survive, but life will become infinitely easier if you learn a few basic Korean phrases.

Also, it's very easy to learn the Korean alphabet (hangeul) since it's phonetic, unlike Chinese. This will make it possible to read place names as well as the endless "Konglish" here. Here are a few examples - taxi, bus, sauna, pizza, banana, orange, apart (apartment), ect. All same in Korean as in English (with a Korean accent).

Check out

http://korean.sogang.ac.kr/

if you want to learn some basics.

However, although I have found it very rewarding to learn some basics, I work with many foreign teachers here who know barely any Korean and they seem to get by fine.

you will make it, at some point you will hear your self and you'd be delighted at your impressive command of the English language (between the toughest to study). If there's a kin source center on your city, they could have ESL instructions -which you possibly do no longer likely choose- and could connect you with somebody who'll take time to fulfill with you and bypass over the finer factors you're attempting to get administration of. Conversational English is superb discovered by using being interior the process people chatting away, so making touch with a source center could be one rapid way of doing that. superb needs, i comprehend you will do splendidly. you have the force and a great number of the understanding already.

I'm an American teaching English to schoolchildren in Seoul. I came here just about 6 weeks ago and the only Korean I knew was "Kamsa Hamnida" which means "thank you."

Singapore Airlines has a really nifty entertainment system and you can use it to learn some basic phrases while you're flying over. I learned the basic number system that way in just a couple of hours.

With numbers, sign language and an occasional "kamsa hamnida," you can get by fairly well.

Assuming you're coming to teach, make certain that you choose a school where there are other western teachers. That way you automatically have a few people who can show you the ropes, teach you some basic, simple phrases and you'll have someone to spend some time with. Some people make the mistake of coming here to teach for a school that has no other foreign teachers. This is especially bad if the school isn't in Seoul. In Seoul, you AT THE VERY LEAST, always have the ability to whip up to Itaewon (the foreigners' neighborhood) to go to bars & restaurants and meet other English speakers.

You'll pick up a useful phrase here and there: "Supche" which is "easy" - helpful in convincing kids to do their homework. "Aniyong Hasiyo" which means "Hello, Good Morning, Good Afternoon" & "Good Evening" all wrapped into one phrase. "Isso porrida" is "I forgot." My most recent acquisition is "Kamgi Golosiyo" or "I have a cold."

Finally, when all else fails and you're stuck somewhere without a western-looking face in sight, you can always flag down the nearest teenager. Koreans are big about helping foreigners in a jam and most Korean teens speak at least PASSABLE English. Speak slowly and clearly and avoid complicated words and structures. Usually, they'll understand and can and will help you. If you spot someone who appears to be college age, that's even better because they tend to have some of the best English skills in the country.

The subway is clearly marked in English as are most streets and virtually all government buildings. Also, most cabs have what they call a "free translation" service. Really, what it means is that if you hail a cab and can't communicate with the driver in Korean, they'll call their office and you can speak with one of their employees who does speak (at least passable) English. I haven't resorted to this yet, but it's comforting to know it's available.

There are two EXTREMELY frustrating things about Korea, in my opinion:

1) The lack of what many westerners consider the most basic of necessities: flouride toothpaste and descent deodorant. As far as toothpaste, I can't explain it. Just make sure to bring with you at least a full-year supply of your favorite. The only western-style toothpaste I've found here is "Arm & Hammer Flouride Plus Whitening" which is OKAY, but not my favorite brand. It's here but not always easy to find. As far as deodorant, there are some interesting articles on the web explaining why very few Koreans have body odor. When the rare Korean is discovered with BO, he or she usually undergoes surgery to remove the offending sweat gland. Anyway, about the only place in Korea you'll find western deodorants/antiperspirants is in Itaewon (previously mentioned) but don't expect to be able to find your favorite brand. You're better of just bring your own year's supply of your favorite brand. Otherwise, you may end up begging someone from home to mail you a supply (which is what I ended up doing).

2) The way many Koreans roll their eyes and just flatly refuse to even ATTEMPT to understand when you try to speak THEIR language to them. It fascinates and astounds me at the same time. In most other countries, if you make even the vaguest attempt at the local lingo, the locals squeal in delight and do anything/everything to understand and accomodate. In Korea, you sometimes get an "Aniyo" which means "No" and wave and they're off or a "No speak English" and that's it. Very frustrating but I'm learning to live with it. Also, there are many other Koreans who don't behave this way so I don't mean to generalize about Koreans. Some are just the nicest people in the world and some (just like in any country, anywhere) are jerks.

the airport is really no biggie.....the secong you step outside is a problem if you don't speak even basic korean expressions. Unless you always have a friend with you who could speak or is a native korean, then you're ok. But I suggest, you should try at least learning the language a bit, for survival. You'd appreciate the country as well....

Jerry B was a little off in some of his pronunciations, and in some of his analysis.

I'm a fluent English and Korean speaker, so I'll help make the following pronunciations a little more accurate:

"Supche" , or "easy", is better pronounced "shwip-jay"

"Aniyong Hasiyo", "Hello", sounds more like "ahn-young ha-sey-yo"

"Isso porrida", "I forgot.", sounds like "ee-jo bo-ryi-oh-so-yo"

Ending anything with just "da" and not "soom-ni-da" is a little bit rude unless you're speaking to a kid.

"Kamgi Golosiyo" or "I have a cold." sounds more like "Kamgi ko-lee-o-so-yo"

As for Koreans not acknowledging your attempts to speak Korean, that is totally unfounded. I've not met one person to date who has waved me off, and because I'm white, they typically expect me to only know English, so most times Koreans are delighted that foreigners, especially non-Asian ones, are trying to learn to communicate in their language. The only problem you may run in to is that some of them can become over-zealous and start rambling off in Korean if you don't make it clear that you only know a few phrases. If that happens, try saying "Han-goook-oh chal mot hey-yo. Young-oh ah-sey-yoh?", which means "I don't speak Korean well. Do you know English?"

Many Koreans around Seoul know at least a few words and phrases in English, and if nothing else, body language is pretty much universal. As the other guy said, younger, college-aged Koreans are pretty versatile with English, and even if you are adept at Korean, they will mostly answer you in English because they want to work on their English skills. The biggest key is to be patient, listen hard (sometimes their accents in English can get the best of you), and don't be afraid to ask them to repeat something.

1

but once your outside, your probably gonna have some trouble

get a korean/english translating book with you just in case

and also learn some basic korean languages

good luck

You really need to know some basic expressions or you will always be depending on a Korean friend for help.

yes

you can try body language to communicate..

korean are good with it..