Japanese
Korean
Laundry and recycling
❃ Laundry and recycling
-
코인 세탁소가 어디 있나요?
[ Koin setaksoga eodi itnayo? ] -
Where is the coin laundry?
-
세제는 자동으로 나옵니다.
[ Sejeneun jadongeuro naomnida. ] -
Detergent is dispensed automatically.
-
동전으로 교환해 주세요.
[ Dongjeoneuro gyohwanhae juseyo. ] -
Please exchange this for coins.
-
건조기도 사용할 수 있나요?
[ Geonjogido sayonghal su itnayo? ] -
Can I use the dryer too?
-
세탁이 끝났어요.
[ Setagi kkeutnasseoyo. ] -
The laundry is done.
-
쓰레기 분리수거는 어떻게 하나요?
[ Sseuregi bullisugeoneun eotteoke hanayo? ] -
How do I sort the trash?
-
일반 쓰레기봉투(종량제)는 편의점에서 사요.
[ Ilban sseuregibongtu(jongnyangje)neun pyeonuijeomeseo sayo. ] -
Buy standard volume-based garbage bags at the convenience store.
-
음식물 쓰레기는 따로 버려야 해요.
[ Eumsingmul sseuregineun ttaro beoryeoya haeyo. ] -
Food waste must be thrown away separately.
-
플라스틱과 캔은 여기에 버리세요.
[ Peullaseutikgwa kaeneun yeogie beoriseyo. ] -
Throw plastics and cans here.
-
종이류는 저쪽에 모아주세요.
[ Jongiryuneun jeojjoge moajuseyo. ] -
Collect paper items over there.
-
용기를 씻어서 버려야 해요.
[ Yonggireul ssiseoseo beoryeoya haeyo. ] -
You must wash containers before throwing them away.
-
분리수거를 안 하면 벌금을 냅니다.
[ Bullisugeoreul an hamyeon beolgeumeul naemnida. ] -
You get fined if you don't sort the trash.
-
여기에 버려도 되나요?
[ Yeogie beoryeodo doenayo? ] -
Can I throw it away here?
-
쓰레기장이 어디에 있어요?
[ Sseuregijangi eodie isseoyo? ] -
Where is the dumpster/trash area?
-
대형 폐기물 스티커를 사야 해요.
[ Daehyeong pyegimul seutikeoreul saya haeyo. ] -
You need to buy a large waste sticker.
For long-term travelers and expats, understanding waste disposal and laundry routines is a profound introduction to the strict civic duties of modern Korean society. Taking care of your laundry is straightforward; 24-hour coin laundries (코인 세탁소 - Koin setakso) are everywhere. They are highly automated, meaning the detergent (세제 - Seje) is usually injected automatically into the wash cycle, and you pay directly using digital kiosks or T-money. However, the real cultural hurdle is the South Korean waste disposal system. South Korea boasts one of the most rigorous and complex recycling systems in the world (분리수거 - Bullisugeo). Throwing all your trash into a single black bag is illegal and will result in massive fines (벌금 - Beolgeum). General waste must be thrown away in specific, government-mandated "volume-based" garbage bags called Jongnyangje bongtu (종량제 봉투). These bags are color-coded by district and must be purchased at your local convenience store. The most astonishing part of this system is the treatment of food waste (음식물 쓰레기 - Eumsingmul sseuregi). Food scraps must be rigorously separated from general trash, as Korea recycles almost 100% of its food waste into animal feed or compost. You must drain all liquids, remove hard bones or eggshells (which count as general waste), and place the remaining food into tiny, specific yellow or green bags. Finally, plastics, cans, glass, and paper must be meticulously cleaned—meaning you must rinse out your delivery food containers completely—before placing them in the designated recycling bins outside your building. Navigating this highly disciplined civic chore is an essential part of blending into Korean daily life.
Other sections
Keep your progress
Enjoying the phrasebook?
Create a free account to save favorites, track your study, and continue where you stopped.
This website uses cookies