A friend sent me a message saying, "See you at Gangnam Station, Exit 3." There's no address and no shop name. A foreign student once asked, "Is that it?" That's what they asked me once. Yes, for Koreans, that one line is enough. ## Exit numbers are like pins on a city map There are a lot of buildings around a big station. Addresses made up of a street name and a lot number are long and confusing. But subway exits have numbers on them, and they stay in nearly the same spot for a very long time. Shops change often, but exits rarely do. So they've become 'fixed points' that everyone knows. ## Here's how to do it If your meeting place is "Exit 3 of OO Station," follow the number 3 on the exit signs attached to the ceilings and pillars inside the station. You can also search for "OO Station Exit 3" exactly like that in a map app. If you pick the wrong exit, you may have to cross a big road, which could take more than 10 minutes. Be sure to check the number before you climb the stairs. Once you're outside, people usually meet right in front of the exit. ## Why does no one tell you? Koreans learn by watching and copying from a young age, so they don't even realize this is a "method." So there's no one to explain it. Now that you know, ask like this at your next meetup. "Which exit number is it?"