Korean Dictionary
How to say "Is it open?" in Korean
“Is it open?” in Korean is 열었어요 (pronounced "Yeoreosseoyo").
열었어요
Yeoreosseoyo
Usage & Context
Asking if a place is currently open. 닫혔어요 means it's closed. Many Korean government sites and museums close on Mondays. Restaurants often have 브레이크 타임 (break time) between lunch and dinner service. Always check operating hours before visiting attractions.
Example Sentence
오늘 경복궁 열었어요? 월요일은 닫는 것 같아서요.
Is Gyeongbokgung open today? I thought it closes on Mondays.
How to use 열었어요 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Is it open?” is 열었어요, romanized as Yeoreosseoyo.
Usage tip
Pair this travel word with polite request endings like -요 so it works in hotels, stations, taxis, and shops.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 열었어요.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 'Yeo', sounds like 'yuh' in 'yummy'. 'Reo' is pronounced like 'ruh' in 'rough', with the 'r' being a soft flap sound. 'Sseo' sounds like 'ssuh' in 'sudden' but with a tense, sharp 's' sound. 'Yo' is pronounced like 'yo' in 'yogurt'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
열었습니다
Yeoreotseumnida
This is the formal declarative form, used in very polite or official contexts.
Casual (반말)
열었어
Yeoreosseo
This is the casual form, used with close friends or people younger than you.
More Example Sentences
Asking if a specific business is currently operating.
카페 문 열었어요?
Is the cafe open?
Stating the opening time of a store or venue.
백화점은 10시에 열었어요.
The department store opened at 10 AM.
Explaining that a place started business earlier than usual.
오늘 일찍 열었어요.
It opened early today.
Cultural Context
In Korea, many businesses, especially restaurants, have a '브레이크 타임' (break time) between lunch and dinner service, so even if they '열었어요' (opened) in the morning, they might be temporarily closed. Many museums and palaces are also closed on Mondays. It's always a good idea to check operating hours on Naver Maps or Kakao Maps before visiting. While '열었어요' implies 'it has opened and is currently open,' '열려 있어요?' (yeollyeo isseoyo?) is also commonly used to ask about the current state of being open.
Editorial note
We review entries like 열었어요 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
지금 열었어요?
Is it open now?
몇 시에 열어요?
What time does it open?
문 열었어요.
The door is open (or, it's open for business).
Related Expressions
닫았어요
Dadaseoyo
It closed
열려 있어요
Yeollyeo isseoyo
It is open (state)
영업 시간
Yeong-eop sigan
Business hours
개장
Gaejang
Opening (of a venue/event)
More Travel Words
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