English is not as pervasive in Korea as it may seem from outside of the country. In larger cities like Seoul or Busan, there are more English speakers however adults can be self-conscious about speaking. In general, most children can speak some English, and finding someone between the ages of 9 and 15 may be your best bet if you desperately need to communicate in English.

English is also spoken by Emergency Services workers, but only during certain hours.