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Korean Vocabulary #22 – Public Services & Community Places: Essential Korean Words for Everyday Life


1️⃣ Introduction


Learn 15 essential Korean words for public and community places —perfect for daily life, travel, or handling errands in Korea.


You’ll need these words when mailing a package, visiting a library, or finding a hospital.



2️⃣ Vocabulary List


No.

Korean

Pronunciation

Meaning

1

우체국

u-che-guk

post office

2

경찰서

gyeong-chal-seo

police station

3

소방서

so-bang-seo

fire station

4

시청

si-cheong

city hall

5

도서관

do-seo-gwan

library

6

병원

byeong-won

hospital

7

약국

yak-guk

pharmacy

8

은행

eun-haeng

bank

9

주민센터

ju-min-sen-teo

community center

10

우편함

u-pyeon-ham

mailbox (one's)

11

쓰레기장

sseu-re-gi-jang

garbage dump / waste station

12

체육관

che-yuk-gwan

gymnasium

13

박물관

bang-mul-gwan

museum

14

공공화장실

gong-gong-hwa-jang-sil

public restroom

15

주차장

ju-cha-jang

parking lot


Example Sentences


💬 Example Sentences


  1. 저는 우체국에 가요.(jeo-neun u-che-gu-ge ga-yo.)

    → I go to the post office.


  2. 경찰서가 어디에 있어요?(gyeong-chal-seo-ga eo-di-e i-sseo-yo?)

    → Where is the police station?


  3. 소방서 옆에 은행이 있어요.(so-bang-seo yeo-pe eun-haeng-i i-sseo-yo.)

    → There’s a bank next to the fire station.


  4. 저는 시청에서 일해요.(jeo-neun si-cheong-e-seo il-hae-yo.)

    → I work at the city hall.


  5. 도서관에서 책을 빌려요.(do-seo-gwa-ne-seo chae-geul bil-lyeo-yo.)

    → I borrow books at the library.


  6. 병원에 가야 해요.(byeong-wo-ne ga-ya hae-yo.)

    → I have to go to the hospital.


  7. 약국에서 약을 샀어요.(yak-gu-ge-seo ya-geul sa-sseo-yo.)

    → I bought medicine at the pharmacy.


  8. 은행은 아침 9시에 열어요.(eun-haeng-eun a-chim a-hop-si-e yeo-reo-yo.)

    → The bank opens at 9 a.m.


  9. 주민센터에 등록했어요.(ju-min-sen-teo-e deung-no-khae-sseo-yo.)

    → I registered at the community center.


  10. 우편함에서 편지를 꺼냈어요.

    (u-pyeon-ha-me-seo pyeon-ji-reul kkeo-nae-sseo-yo.)

    → I took a letter out of the mailbox.


  11. 쓰레기장은 공원 뒤에 있어요.(sseu-re-gi-jang-eun gong-won dwi-e i-sseo-yo.)

    → The garbage dump is behind the park.


  12. 체육관에서 운동해요.(che-yuk-gwa-ne-seo un-dong-hae-yo.)

    → I exercise at the gym.


  13. 저는 박물관을 구경했어요.(jeo-neun bang-mul-gwa-neul gu-gyeong-hae-sseo-yo.)

    → I visited the museum.


  14. 공공화장실을 찾아요.(gong-gong-hwa-jang-si-reul cha-ja-yo.)

    → I’m looking for a public restroom.


  15. 주차장에 차를 세웠어요.(ju-cha-jang-e cha-reul se-wo-sseo-yo.)

    → I parked my car in the parking lot.



3️⃣ Expression Tips & Cultural Notes


  • “~에 가요” (go to) is the most natural way to describe visiting places.Ex: “도서관에 가요” → I go to the library.


  • Public institutions in Korea often end with “-관 / -서 / -청.”

    • 도서관 (library), 경찰서 (police station), 소방서 (fire station), 시청 (city hall).


  • In Korean, people say “주민센터” (community center) instead of “동사무소,” which is the older term.


  • Cultural tip: In Korea, you can do many services (like registration, local support) at your nearest 주민센터.




3️⃣ Mini Practice



Fill in the blanks.


  1. 저는 ________에 가요. (I go to the post office)


  2. ________가 어디에 있어요? (Where is the police station?)


  3. ________ 옆에 은행이 있어요. (There’s a bank next to the fire station)


  4. 저는 ________에서 일해요. (I work at the city hall)


  5. ________에서 책을 빌려요. (I borrow books at the library)


  6. ________에 가야 해요. (I have to go to the hospital)


  7. ________에서 약을 샀어요. (I bought medicine at the pharmacy)


  8. ________은 아침 9시에 열어요. (The bank opens at 9 a.m.)


  9. ________에 등록했어요. (I registered at the community center)


  10. ______에서 편지를 꺼냈어요.( I took a letter out of the mailbox.)


  11. ________은 공원 뒤에 있어요. (The garbage dump is behind the park)


  12. ________에서 운동해요. (I exercise at the gym)


  13. 저는 ________을 구경했어요. (I visited the museum)


  14. ________을 찾아요. (I’m looking for a public restroom)


  15. ________에 차를 세웠어요. (I parked my car in the parking lot)



Answers


  1. 저는 우체국에 가요.(jeo-neun u-che-gu-ge ga-yo.)→ I go to the post office.


  2. 경찰서가 어디에 있어요?(gyeong-chal-seo-ga eo-di-e i-sseo-yo?)→ Where is the police station?


  3. 소방서 옆에 은행이 있어요.(so-bang-seo yeo-pe eun-haeng-i i-sseo-yo.)→ There’s a bank next to the fire station.


  4. 저는 시청에서 일해요.(jeo-neun si-cheong-e-seo il-hae-yo.)→ I work at the city hall.


  5. 도서관에서 책을 빌려요.(do-seo-gwa-ne-seo chae-geul bil-lyeo-yo.)→ I borrow books at the library.


  6. 병원에 가야 해요.(byeong-wo-ne ga-ya hae-yo.)→ I have to go to the hospital.


  7. 약국에서 약을 샀어요.(yak-gu-ge-seo ya-geul sa-sseo-yo.)→ I bought medicine at the pharmacy.


  8. 은행은 아침 9시에 열어요.(eun-haeng-eun a-chim a-hop-si-e yeo-reo-yo.)→ The bank opens at 9 a.m.


  9. 주민센터에 등록했어요.(ju-min-sen-teo-e deung-rok-hae-sseo-yo.)→ I registered at the community center.


  10. 우편함에서 편지를 꺼냈어요.(u-pyeon-ha-me-seo pyeon-ji-reul kkeo-nae-sseo-yo.)→ I took a letter out of the mailbox.


  11. 쓰레기장은 공원 뒤에 있어요.(sseu-re-gi-jang-eun gong-won dwi-e i-sseo-yo.)→ The garbage dump is behind the park.


  12. 체육관에서 운동해요.(che-yuk-gwa-ne-seo un-dong-hae-yo.)→ I exercise at the gym.


  13. 저는 박물관을 구경했어요.(jeo-neun bang-mul-gwa-neul gu-gyeong-hae-sseo-yo.)→ I visited the museum.


  14. 공공화장실을 찾아요.(gong-gong-hwa-jang-si-reul cha-ja-yo.)→ I’m looking for a public restroom.


  15. 주차장에 차를 세웠어요.(ju-cha-jang-e cha-reul se-wo-sseo-yo.)→ I parked my car in the parking lot.



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