South Korea: primary language is Korean — English gets you by in tourist areas, but is inconsistent elsewhere.
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The primary language in South Korea is Korean.
English gets you by in tourist areas, but is inconsistent elsewhere. Common among younger people in Seoul, less consistent with older generations and outside major cities.
Learning "hello," "please," "thank you," "excuse me," and "the check please" in the local language goes a long way anywhere, including South Korea — locals consistently appreciate the effort.
Yes — an offline translation app is genuinely useful in South Korea, especially outside major tourist areas.