Korean Phrases at a Photo Studio in Korea
Korean phrases at a 사진관 (sajingwan, photo studio) lean on Pattern 23 from the SULSUL workbook — verb stem plus 아/어 주세요 (a/eo juseyo), "please do this for me." Walk in with your passport or visa form and say 증명사진 찍어 주세요 (jeungmyeongsajin jjigeo juseyo), "Please take an ID photo." Pattern 22 — 천천히 말해 주세요 (cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo), "Please speak slowly" — saves you when the clerk lists size options in one breath.
- ID photo request: 증명사진 찍어 주세요 (jeungmyeongsajin jjigeo juseyo), "Please take an ID photo."
- Passport size: 여권 사진이에요 (yeogwon sajin-ieyo), "It is for a passport."
- Ask the price: 얼마예요? (eolmayeyo?), "How much is it?"
- Slow down: 천천히 말해 주세요 (cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo), "Please speak slowly."
- Retake: 다시 찍어 주세요 (dasi jjigeo juseyo), "Please take it again."
How do you order photos at a Korean studio?
증명사진 (jeungmyeongsajin, ID photo) booths and full-service 사진관 cluster near subway exits, university gates, and immigration offices. Many studios know visa specs by heart — lead with Pattern 23 and name the document.
You: 안녕하세요. 증명사진 찍어 주세요. — annyeonghaseyo. jeungmyeongsajin jjigeo juseyo. — "Hello. Please take an ID photo."
Them: 여권용이에요, 비자용이에요? — yeogwon-yong-ieyo, bijayong-ieyo? — "For a passport or a visa?"
You: 비자용이에요. 얼마예요? — bijayong-ieyo. eolmayeyo? — "For a visa. How much is it?"
| Situation | Say this |
|---|---|
| Take an ID photo | 증명사진 찍어 주세요 (jeungmyeongsajin jjigeo juseyo) |
| For a passport | 여권 사진이에요 (yeogwon sajin-ieyo) |
| Ask the price | 얼마예요? (eolmayeyo?) |
| Speak slowly | 천천히 말해 주세요 (cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo) |
| Retake the shot | 다시 찍어 주세요 (dasi jjigeo juseyo) |
Practice this out loud with SULSUL — the app says it, you repeat it →
What do you say when they adjust lighting or background?
Studios often ask you to sit straight, remove glasses, or pick a background color. If the instructions come too fast, Pattern 22 is your reset. Pattern 01 — noun plus 주세요 (juseyo), "please give me" — works when you need extra prints.
You: 배경 흰색으로 해 주세요. — baegyeong huinsaek-euro hae juseyo. — "Please use a white background."
Them: 고개 조금만 들어 주세요. — gogae jogeumman deureo juseyo. — "Please lift your chin a little."
You: 네. 사진 두 장 주세요. — ne. sajin du jang juseyo. — "Yes. Two photos, please."
The 얼마예요? line from exchanging currency at a bank in Korea works the same at the photo counter when you want the total before you pay.
What usually goes wrong at a Korean photo studio?
Travelers often say 사진 (sajin, photo) without 증명사진 (jeungmyeongsajin, ID photo) and get a portrait session priced for weddings, not visas — name the document every time. A second mistake is accepting the first shot when your hair covers an eyebrow; 다시 찍어 주세요 (dasi jjigeo juseyo), "Please take it again," is normal and free at most studios.
You: 이 사진 비자에 써도 돼요? — i sajin bija-e sseodo dwaeyo? — "Can I use this photo for the visa?"
Them: 네, 규격 맞아요. — ne, gyugyeok majayo. — "Yes, it meets the size rules."
You: 감사합니다. 파일로도 보내 주세요. — gamsahamnida. pail-rodo bonae juseyo. — "Thank you. Please send a file copy too."
Say it out loud, not just in your head
Reading 증명사진 찍어 주세요 on a visa checklist is not the same as saying it across a studio counter while the clerk adjusts the lights.
SULSUL is a speaking gym for exactly that moment: pick a survival pattern, say it out loud, get an instant fix from the AI pronunciation coach, then run the real situation as a mission. The 100-pattern PDF workbook comes along as a bonus.
