Forget "Excuse Me": How to Get Attention in Korea Like a Local

 If you open an intro Korean textbook, you’ll likely see the phrase Sillyehamnida (실례합니다) translated as “Excuse me.”

Technically true. But if you’re sitting at a buzzing Korean BBQ spot in Seoul waiting for a server and whisper Sillyehamnida, two things will happen:

1. No one will hear you over the sizzle of pork belly.
   
   
2. Even if they do, it sounds unnaturally formal—almost like you're about to deliver bad news.
   
   

👉In real life, locals rely on a much snappier, all-purpose phrase: Jeogiyo (저기요).

Here is how to use it without feeling awkward, order what you need, and navigate Korea’s unique dining etiquette.

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The Dialogue: Ordering at a Busy K-BBQ Joint

Meet Alex, who just walked into an energetic restaurant in Hongdae.

• Alex: 저기요! 주문할게요.
  
  
  (Jeo-gi-yo! Ju-mun-hal-ge-yo.)
  
  
  “Over here! We’re ready to order.”
  
  
• Server: 네, 손님! 어떤 걸로 드릴까요?
  
  
  (Ne, son-nim! Eo-tteon geol-lo deu-ril-kka-yo?)
  
  
  “Yes, welcome! What can I get for you?”
  
  
• Alex: 삼겹살 2인분하고 콜라 하나 주세요.
  
  
  (Sam-gyeop-sal i-in-bun-ha-go kol-la ha-na ju-se-yo.)
  
  
  “Two servings of pork belly and one Coke, please.”
  
  
• Server: 네, 바로 준비해 드릴게요. 물은 셀프입니다!
  
  
  (Ne, ba-ro jun-bi-hae deu-ril-ge-yo. Mul-eun sel-peu-im-ni-da!)
  
  
  “Right away. Water is self-service!”
  
  
• Alex: 아, 네! 감사합니다.
  
  
  (Ah, ne! Gam-sa-ham-ni-da.)
  
  
  “Got it, thank you!”
  
  

✓ Key Breakdown: When to Say What

Jeogiyo (저기요) vs. Sillyehamnida (실례합니다)

The golden rule is simple: Are you calling someone over, or are you physically trying to move past someone?

• Use 저기요 (Jeo-gi-yo): Literally translates to "Over there." It’s an attention-grabber. Use it to call a server, flag down someone on the street who just dropped their AirPods, or get a clerk’s eyes on you at a convenience store.
  
  
• Use 실례합니다 (Sil-lye-ham-ni-da) or 잠시만요 (Jam-si-man-yo): Think of this as the physical “Excuse me / Pardon me.” Use it on a packed Line 2 subway train when you need to squeeze through a crowd to reach the exit doors.
  
  

The Survival Formula: [Noun] + 주세요 (Ju-se-yo)

This is the single most useful grammar pattern for any traveler or expat. In English, you might say, "Could I please get another fork whenever you have a second?" In Korean, drop the fluff and just state the item plus Ju-se-yo ("Please give me").

What you need	Korean Phrase	Pronunciation
The menu	메뉴판 주세요	Me-nyu-pan ju-se-yo
Some water	물 좀 주세요	Mul jom ju-se-yo
Extra side dishes	반찬 좀 더 주세요	Ban-chan jom deo ju-se-yo
The receipt	영수증 주세요	Yeong-su-jeung ju-se-yo

Pro Tip: Drop the word 좀 (jom - a little bit) right before juseyo. Saying “Mul jom juseyo” softens the command and makes you sound warm, polite, and completely fluent.

 

✓ Korean Culture Hack: Don't Wave Your Hands Just Yet

In Western dining culture, waving or calling out loudly across a dining room feels intrusive. Servers check on you every few minutes with a friendly, "How are those first few bites tasting?"

In Korea, dining works on a completely different rhythm: Zero interruptions until you ask for them.

The Call Button (The "Ding-Dong")

Look down at the corner of your table or on the wooden tissue box. See a small plastic disc with a bell icon?

• If it's there: Press it once. A chime will ring across the ceiling display, and your server will appear instantly. Do not yell Jeogiyo if a button is staring right at you.
  
  
• If it’s not there: Raise one hand casually to about chest height, make eye contact, and say “Jeogiyo~” with a friendly, rising intonation.
  
  

"Self" Culture (물은 셀프)

If you spot a sign reading 물은 셀프 (Mul-eun sel-peu), do not sit waiting for a water pitcher. Walk over to the metallic filtration machine, grab a cup from the UV sterilizer cabinet next to it, and fill it yourself. The same rule applies if you see a buffet-style side dish station marked 추가 반찬은 셀프 (Chu-ga ban-chan-eun sel-peu).

💣Quick Practice Quiz

Test your instincts before your next trip to Seoul.

Q1. You are trying to squeeze off a packed train at Gangnam Station before the doors slide shut. What do you say?

1. 저기요! (Jeogiyo!)
   
   
2. 실례합니다! / 잠시만요! (Sillyehamnida! / Jamsimanyo!)
   
   
3. 삼겹살 주세요! (Samgyeopsal juseyo!)
   
   

Q2. You’ve finished your meal at a cafe and need the receipt for company expenses. What do you say to the barista?

1. 영수증 셀프예요. (Yeongsujeung selpeuyeyo.)
   
   
2. 영수증 주세요. (Yeongsujeung juseyo.)
   
   
3. 영수증 주문할게요. (Yeongsujeung jumunhalgeyo.)

Leave your guess, and find the answer in the comments! ^-^

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