에 vs (으)로

Beginner · TOPIK I

With movement verbs, 에 focuses on the destination point, while (으)로 focuses on the direction ('towards'). (으)로 also marks means, tools and change; 에 also marks location of existence and time.

에A postpositional particle used to indicate that the preceding statement refers to a certain place or space.(으)로A postpositional particle that indicates the direction of movement.

Rules of thumb

학교에 가요 = go to school (destination); 학교로 가요 = head towards school (direction). Often interchangeable.
Directions like 오른쪽, 위, 앞 sound most natural with (으)로 (오른쪽으로 가세요).
Means, tools and materials take only (으)로 (지하철로 와요 'come by subway', 펜으로 써요).
Time and location of existence (있다/없다) take only 에, never (으)로.
Use 로 after a vowel or ㄹ, 으로 after other consonants.

Example sentences

Both work
I'm heading to the office now.
(으)로
Turn right at the intersection.
(으)로
I commute by subway every day.
에
Let's meet at the café at three.
지갑이 가방으로 있어요.
Incorrect
The wallet is in the bag. [Wrong: 'to be (somewhere)' (itda) takes 'e', never '(eu)ro']

Often confused with

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