This is Korean money.

But the things you need to do are not learning history of Korean money, or the name of the person on the bill. We use many kinds of Pays now. They are not important things to live in Korea. But the most important things will be these even for a short time…

One. Asking price. You should speak ‘How much is this?’ in Korean. This could be important, but it is easier compare to the next one.

Two. Listening numbers. After asking the price of a product, you should listen and calculate with reference to the exchange rate in your mind. If you can bring a friend like me who can listen korean, the problem will be solved. But it won’t be possible everytime and finding reliable helper could take times. Anyway, listening numbers is the key point.

In a shop, you can just point a menu which price is written with your finger, and give money to the clerk. But if you get used to listen to korean numbers, you will have more various experiences and reduces travel stress.

One. Asking price.

Englsih : How much is this?

Korean : igeo eolmayeyo? ( play )

• igeo : this
• eolmayeyo? : How much?

It is important not just playing this audio file. Let’s make them believe you came to korea long before.

Two. Listening numbers.

Simply, it is similar to dollar number counting, but different thing is that English uses thousand units, but Korea uses ten thousand units.

Example 1)

1. English : 5000 dollars = five thousand dollars
2. Korean : 50000 won = oh man won

• English uses plural dollars to exceeding one : five thousand dollars
• Korean uses singular only : oh man won (no wons)
• Korean uses 10000 units instead of 1000 units.
  • 1 : il
  • 10 : sip
  • 100 : baek
  • 1000 : cheon
  • 10000 : man
  • 100000 : sip man
  • 1000000 : baek man
  • 10000000 : cheon man

Example 2)

1. English : 11,000 dollars = eleven dollars
2. Korean : 110000 won = sip il man won (easy.. there is no expressions like eleven, twelve etc.)
   • 1 : il
   • 2 : ee
   • 3 : sam
   • 4 : sa
   • 5 : oh
   • 6 : yuk
   • 7 : chil
   • 8 : pal
   • 9 : gu
   • 10 : sip

Example 3)

1. English : 23 dollars = twenty three dollars
2. Korean : 23 won = ee sip sam won
3. Korean : 230000 won = ee sip sam man won
4. wrong Korean : 23000 won = ee sip sam cheon won (X)

ee man sam cheon won (O) – Korea uses 10000 (man) unit.

Isn’t a little bit easy? It is easy. Remeber three things. 1. Korea uses 10000 (man) units. 2. unit number 3. from one to ten pronounciation.

Please reply if you have any question.