If you live in Korea, terms like ‘Hong-dae’, ‘Geon-dae’, and ‘I-dae’ are second nature. But for our expat friends or travelers visiting for the first time, these names can be a bit of a puzzle. Why? Because the names we use in daily life are often different from the official English names on subway maps! 🗺️
Here’s a quick guide to navigating the gap between Korean nicknames and official station names.
1. Hong-dae vs. Hongik Univ.
This is the big one! Koreans call this trendy area(subway station name) ‘Hong-dae(홍대)’ or ‘Hong-dae Ip-gu(홍대 입구)‘ (a shortcut for Hongik University). However, on the subway map and Google Maps, it’s officially Hongik Univ. (Hongik University).
** Wait, what does Ip-gu mean?
Hongdae(홍대) = Short for Hongik University.
Ip-gu(입구) = Means “Entrance.”
Together, it means the entrance to the campus area!
- The Pronunciation Trap: While Koreans say ‘Hong’ + ‘ik’ separately, many English speakers see “Hongik” and naturally read it as “Hon-gik” (rhyming with ‘magic’). If a friend asks, “How do I get to Hon-gik?”, now you know exactly where they want to go!
2. Geon-dae vs. Konkuk Univ.
Another hotspot! We call it ‘Geon-dae(건대)’ or ‘Geon-dae Ip-gu(건대 입구), but the official map says Konkuk Univ.
- The Pronunciation Trap: Since ‘ㄱ’ is Romanized as ‘K’ here, many foreigners read it as “Kon-kuk” (sounding like ‘corn-cook’). To a Korean ear, ‘Geondae’ and ‘Kon-kuk’ might sound like totally different places, so keep this in mind when giving directions!
- From now on, even if you see ‘Konkuk Univ.’ written at one of Seoul’s hottest spots, try reading it as ‘Geon-Dae-Ip-Gu’ like a local
3. I-dae vs. Ewha Womans Univ.
For this famous shopping district, Koreans say ‘I-dae(이대)’ or ‘ee-dae(이대)’, but the station name is Ewha Womans Univ.
- A Unique Spelling: You might notice it’s spelled “Womans” instead of the usual plural “Women’s.” That’s the university’s unique official spelling. If you tell a tourist to go to ‘I-dae’, they might get lost—it’s much better to tell them to search for “Ewha” on their map.
4. Sukdae vs. Sookmyung Women’s Univ.
Koreans shorten Sookmyung Women’s University to ‘Suk-dae(숙대)’ or ‘Suk-dae Ip-gu(숙대 입구)‘. On the map, look for Sookmyung Women’s Univ.
- The Pronunciation Trap: The ‘Sook’ (숙) part is often pronounced with a long ‘oo’ sound by foreigners, like “Suuuk-myung.” It’s a bit of a mouthful, so most people just stick to the university name when looking it up.
📍 Quick Cheat Sheet (Nickname vs. Map Name)
| What We Say (Korean People Say) | What the Map Says | How Foreigners Might Say It |
| Hong-dae Ip-gu (홍대 입구) | Hongik Univ. | “Hon-gik” |
| Geon-dae Ip-gu (건대 입구) | Konkuk Univ. | “Kon-kuk” (Corn-cook) |
| Idae (이대) | Ewha Womans Univ. | “E-wha” |
| Sukdae Ip-gu (숙대 입구) | Sookmyung Women’s Univ. | “Sook-myung” |
Sheets로 내보내기
💡 Pro-Tip for Helping Friends
If your international friend is struggling with directions, don’t just say “Go to Hongdae.” Instead, tell them: “Search for ‘Hongik University Station’ on your map.” It’ll save them a lot of confusion!
Understanding the “lost in translation” moments between Korean slang and English maps makes navigating Seoul so much smoother (and more fun)! 🇰🇷✨