Flight Trouble? Your Korean Guide to ‘변경’ & ‘취소’!

Hello! It’s [Maeil Hangul] here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Have you ever booked a flight and then realized you needed to change the date? It can be a stressful situation, especially in a foreign language! Today, we’re going to tackle a super practical topic: how to understand and talk about flight changes and cancellations in Korean.

Nowadays in Korea, everyone is excited about traveling again after the pandemic. This “revenge travel” (보복 여행) boom means airports are busy, and sometimes, plans just have to change. Knowing these key phrases will make you feel confident and in control, whether you’re booking a dream trip to Seoul or a weekend getaway to Jeju Island. Let’s get started!

Core Expressions You Need to Know

Here are the essential words and phrases for handling your flight reservations like a pro.

1. 항공권 변경 (Hanggonggwon Byeongyeong)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Hanggonggwon Byeon-gyeong
• English Meaning: Flight ticket change
• Detailed Explanation: This is a crucial noun phrase you’ll see on airline websites and hear from customer service. It’s a combination of 항공권 (hanggonggwon), meaning ‘flight ticket’, and 변경 (byeongyeong), meaning ‘change’ or ‘modification’. It’s a formal and standard term used in the travel industry. You can use it to talk about changing the date, time, or even the destination.

• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The syllable ‘권’ (gwon) can be tricky. It’s not ‘g-won’ but a smooth [gwon] sound, almost like the ‘qu’ in ‘queen’ followed by ‘on’. Practice saying “hang-gong-gwon” smoothly.

2. 취소 수수료 (Chwiso Susuryo)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Chwiso Susuryo
• English Meaning: Cancellation fee

• Detailed Explanation: This is another compound noun you’ll encounter often. 취소 (chwiso) means ‘cancellation’, and 수수료 (susuryo) means ‘fee’ or ‘commission’. So, together, it’s the fee you have to pay if you cancel something. You can also see 변경 수수료 (byeongyeong susuryo) for a ‘change fee’. Always check for this word before you book!

• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The Korean ‘ㅅ’ (s) is a soft sound, like the ‘s’ in ‘sea’. Be careful not to pronounce ‘수’ (su) like ‘shu’. It should be a clean [su] sound. Practice saying “su-su-ryo” with a light ‘s’ each time.

3. -(으)ㄹ 수 있나요? (-(eu)l su innayo?)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: -(eu)l su in-na-yo?
• English Meaning: Can I…? / Is it possible to…?

• Detailed Explanation: This is an incredibly useful and polite grammar pattern for asking about possibility. You attach it to a verb stem. If the stem ends in a vowel, you add -ㄹ 수 있나요?. If it ends in a consonant, you add -을 수 있나요?.

  • 변경하다 (to change) → 변경할 수 있나요? (Can I change it?)
  • 취소하다 (to cancel) → 취소할 수 있나요? (Can I cancel it?)
  • 받다 (to receive) → 받을 수 있나요? (Can I receive it?)
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  This phrase has a key pronunciation rule called linking sound (연음). The word ‘있나요’ is written as ‘iss-na-yo’ but is pronounced [인나요/innayo]. The final consonant ‘ㅆ(ss)’ from the first syllable ‘있’ moves over to the next empty syllable ‘나’, making the sound much smoother. It’s not ‘it-na-yo’, but ‘in-na-yo’. This will make you sound much more natural!

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these expressions work in a real conversation. Here, Person A is calling an airline about their flight to Jeju Island, a popular filming location for K-dramas.

• A (Traveler): 안녕하세요. 제주도 가는 항공권을 변경하고 싶은데요.
  • Annyeonghaseyo. Jejudo ganeun hanggonggwoneul byeongyeonghago sipeundeyo.
  • (Hello. I’d like to change my flight ticket to Jeju Island.)
• B (Airline Staff): 네, 고객님. 예약 번호 알려주시겠어요?
  • Ne, gogaengnim. Yeyak beonho allyeojusigesseoyo?
  • (Yes, customer. Could you please provide your reservation number?)
• A (Traveler): 네, 123-ABC입니다. 혹시 다음 주로 날짜를 변경할 수 있나요?
  • Ne, il-i-sam-ei-bi-ssi-imnida. Hoksi daeum juro naljjareul byeongyeonghal su innayo?
  • (Yes, it’s 123-ABC. Is it possible to change the date to next week?)
• B (Airline Staff): 잠시만요… 네, 가능합니다. 하지만 변경 수수료가 발생합니다.
  • Jamsimanyo… Ne, ganeunghamnida. Hajiman byeongyeong susuryoga balsaenghamnida.
  • (One moment… Yes, that’s possible. However, a change fee will apply.)

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

✈️ The “Smart Traveler” Tip:
In Korea, many people use apps like ‘Naver Flights’ (네이버 항공권) or ‘Skyscanner’ to compare ticket prices. A key skill for smart travelers is checking the cancellation and change policies before buying. Super cheap tickets often come with a scary phrase: “변경 및 환불 불가” (Byeongyeong mit hwanbul bulga), which means “Changes and refunds are not possible.” The word 불가 (bulga) means ‘not possible’ or ‘impossible’. If your plans aren’t 100% confirmed, avoid tickets with “불가” and look for more flexible options, even if they cost a little more! It can save you a big headache later.

Let’s Review and Practice!

Great job today! You’ve learned how to confidently ask about changing a flight (항공권 변경), inquire about fees (수수료), and politely ask if something is possible using -(으)ㄹ 수 있나요?.

Now, let’s test your knowledge!

1. Fill in the blank: You want to ask an airline employee, “Can I cancel this ticket?” How would you say it?
   

   이 항공권을 _______ 수 있나요?

2. Quick Quiz: You found a great flight deal, but the website says there is a “변경 수수료”. What does this mean?
   • A) The flight is free to change.
   • B) There is a fee if you want to change the ticket.
   • C) The ticket cannot be changed.

Ready to plan your trip? Leave a comment below telling us where in Korea you’d like to go! Try to use one of the phrases we learned today! Happy learning