The PyeongChang Winter Olympics are approximately one month away, and the anticipation is growing higher and higher. While some people may have been to Korea before, PyeongChang is likely a new place for many–How do you get there? Where are the venues? And once you get there, how do you purchase last minute tickets, or souvenirs to take back home?
We’ve prepared the phrases that you’ll need for enjoying the PyeongChang Olympics so that you will be able to enjoy the games–whether you will be sitting in the stadium watching it live, or in another part of Korea, watching it on TV–don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
Also, don’t forget to download your free cheat sheet – Survival Phrase List for PyeongChang Olympics 2018 – below. (Logged-In Member Only)
Table of Contents
- Getting There
- Buying Tickets
- Location of Stadiums
- Accommodations
- Souvenirs
- Where to Enjoy the Games–even if You’re not in PyeongChang
- Fun Facts about the PyeongChang Olympics
1. Getting There
You’ve landed in Korea! ‘인천국제공항(IncheonGukjeGonghang-Incheon International Airport)’, will likely be the airport you will be landing at when arriving.
The most convenient route will be going directly from the airport to PyeongChang through KTX, Korea’s express train system. The high speed train cuts the traveling time to an hour from Seoul to Pyeongchang and 98 minutes from Incheon Airport to PyeongChang.
First, go to the 안내 데스크(information center)’ after arrival and ask where you can purchase KTX tickets:
평창에 가는 KTX표는 어디에서 살 수 있나요?
PyeongChange ganeun KTXpyoneun eodieseo sal su innayo?
“Where can I purchase KTX tickets?”
If you want to buy one way tickets:
편도 티켓은 얼마예요?
pyeondo tikes-eun eolmayeyo?
“How much are one-way tickets?”
For round trip tickets:
왕복 티켓은 얼마예요?
wangbok tikeseun eolmayeyo?
“How much are round-trip tickets?”
KTX already connects Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Yeosu and Daejeon, so it provides accessibility to PyeongChang from various cities throughout Korea. So if you are in Korea and wish to go to PyeongChang, you can simply book your KTX ticket!
If you wish to book online in advance, there is a website that offers tickets exclusively to foreigners.
Just remember that 진부역’(Jinbu Station) and ‘강릉역’(Gangneung Station) are the two major train stations that are close to the venues, so keep this in mind when you are booking your tickets.
Another option would be taking an ‘시외버스’(inter-city bus) from Seoul–the bus ride takes about 2 hours and will cost you about 10,700-12,200won(approximately 9-11 US dollars).
Buy your bus ticket by asking:
“평창에 가는 버스표 주세요.”
PyeongChange ganeun beoseupyo juseyo
“I’d like a bus ticket for PyeongChang.”
If you want to include the number of tickets you wish to buy, just include the number of tickets you wish to purchase:
“평창에 가는 버스표 두 장 주세요.”
PyeongChange ganeun beoseupyo dujang juseyo
“Please give me two bus tickets for PyeongChang.”
Transfering to a domestic flight is another option, because unfortunately, there is no international airport in PyeongChang. This means that you will need transfer to a connecting flight that takes you to the nearby city of ‘양양(YangYang)’.
Once you are there, you can take the bus by going to the 강릉 시외버스 터미널(Gangneung Intercity Bus Terminal). The bus ride will take approximately 3 hours 13 minutes). If you wish to take the bus, go to the ‘안내 데스크(information center)’ after arrival and ask for the bus terminal:
시외버스 터미널에 어떻게 가나요?
sioebeoseu teomineore eotteokke ganayo?
“How do I get to the intercity bus terminal?”
If you wish to go by taxi, it will take approximately 49 minutes and the fare will likely come up to somewhere between ‘6만5천원-8만원(65,500won-80,000won, or approximately 60-75 dollars), so looking for someone to share the taxi with may be an option.
If you want to take a taxi, ask the driver if he/she is willing to take you to PyeongChang by asking:
평창까지 가주실 수 있나요?
PyeongChangkkaji gajusil su innayo?
“Could you take me to PyeongChang?”
2. Buying Tickets
Although the Olympics are less than one month away, tickets are still available for purchase. However, as the options for purchasing the tickets vary depending on the country you are coming from, you may want to check the PyeongChang Olympics official website for details.
If you wish to purchase tickets directly at the venue, simply go to the ticket booth and ask whether they have tickets available for the day by inquiring:
혹시 오늘 경기 표 살 수 있나요?
hoksi oneul gyeonggi pyo sal su innayo?
“Is it possible to buy tickets for today’s game?”
If you want to buy tickets for another day:
“다른 날 표 살 수 있나요?”
dareun nal pyo sal su innayo?
“Could I buy tickets for another day?”
If you would like to ask if there are tickets for other events, you could ask:
“다른 경기 표는 없나요?”
dareun gyeonggi pyoneun eomnnayo?
“Are there tickets for other games?”
If you bought tickets already and want to receive at the ticket booth:
“인터넷으로 표 샀는데 지금 받을 수 있을까요?”
Inteoneseuro pyo sanneunde jigeum badeul su isseulkkayo?
“I bought tickets online. Can I get them now?”
3. Location of Stadiums
There are 13 venues where the events will take place, with the Games gathering around the two main venues–the mountain resort of ‘알펜시아’(Alpensia: for outdoor sports such as skiing and bobsled, and the coastal city of ‘강릉’(Gangneung) for indoor sports such as hockey, curling and figure skating.
Source: architectureofthegames.net
4. Accommodations
Once you have made it to PyeongChang, you will likely need to check in. To confirm your reservation, you may need to ask:
“체크인 하고 싶은데요.”
chekeuin hago sipeundeyo.
“I’d like to check in.”
If you want to ask if breakfast is included, you could ask:
“조식도 포함되나요?”
josikdo pohamdoenayo?
“Is breakfast included?”
If you wish to ask for help, the concierge at the hotel/resort you are staying at will probably know the best places to eat, or be able to give directions to get to the stadium. Here are some phrases that you could use to ask for help:
“도움을 받고 싶은데요.”
doumeul batgo sipeundeyo.
“I’d like some help.”
“맛있는 식당 추천 해주세요.”
Massineun sikdang chucheon haejuseyo.
“Please recommend a delicious restaurant.”
“___ 경기장에 가고 싶은데 택시를 불러주세요.”
___ gyeonggijange gago sipeunde taeksireul bulleojuseyo.
“I’d like to go to the ___ stadium, please call me a taxi.”
“___ 경기장에 가고 싶은데 어떻게 가야 하나요?”
gyeonggijange gago sipeunde eotteokke gaya hanayo?
“I’d like to go to the ___ stadium, how do I get there?”
5. Souvenirs
Source: wikipedia
If you wish to bring back a souvenir from the Olympics, why not the mascots of the Games? There are two official ‘마스코트(masukoteu)-”mascots”’ for the games–’수호랑’(Soohorang) and ‘반다비’(Bandabi)–Soohorang is a white tiger and Bandabi is an Asiatic black bear.
There is an official online store with cute character items that range from water bottle holders to indoor slippers.
‘평창 롱패딩’(pyeongchang longpaeding)-”Long padded coats” are also available and selling like hotcakes at 롯데백화점(loddebaeghwajeom)=”Lotte Department Store”, the official sales partner of the Olympics, so going to the department store may be a good way to get not just souvenirs, but other popular Korean products such as ‘페이셜 팩’(peisyeol paek)=”facial masks”, ‘화장품’(hwajangpum)=”cosmetics”), or ‘김’(gim)=”seaweed snacks”.
Also, don’t forget to download your free cheat sheet – Survival Phrase List for PyeongChang Olympics 2018 – below. (Logged-In Member Only)
6. Where to Enjoy the Games–even if You’re not in PyeongChang
If you don’t have the time to actually visit PyeongChang, one good option would be to go to a local pub and enjoy the games–some fun areas in Seoul include ‘이태원’(Itaewon) and ‘홍대’(Hongdae)–there are various bars and pubs which will likely have sign posts showing that they will be showing the games ‘라이브’(laibeu)=”real time”–walk around until you see a pub you fancy–then just walk in, order a glass of beer and cheer for your country or favorite player!
7. Fun Facts about the PyeongChang Olympics
- This is the first Winter Olympics hosted by Korea.
- To avoid confusion with the North Korean capital Pyongyang, the PyeongChang resort changed its name by capitalizing the ‘C’.
- This was Korea’s third attempt to host the Winter Olympics–PyeongChang lost by just three votes to Vancouver for the 2010 Olympics, and four votes to Sochi for the 2014 Games.
- A record 102 medals will be awarded in 15 disciplines.
