The 9 Apps You Actually Need in Korea
Google Maps barely works in Korea. Here are the nine apps that replace it — maps, taxis, translation, chat and trains — and what each one is for.
Korea runs on a different app stack than the rest of the world, and the biggest shock for new arrivals is that Google Maps can't give you walking or driving directions here. Install these before your flight and you'll skip the whole flailing-at-the-airport phase.
How we chose
One rule: apps you'll genuinely open in your first week, in English, without needing a Korean ID or bank account. No tourist-trap apps, no "nice to have someday" apps.
The list
1. Naver Map — your actual map
The national standard. Walking, driving, transit, live bus arrivals, which subway exit to use, and English search. When a local gives you directions, they're reading them off Naver Map.
2. Papago — translation that understands Korean
Naver's translator handles Korean↔English better than most general tools, with camera translation for menus and signs, and a conversation mode for talking with taxi drivers or pharmacists. Works offline if you download the language pack.
3. KakaoTalk — how Korea communicates
Korea's default messenger, used by essentially everyone. Guesthouse hosts, language-exchange friends and small businesses will all say "add me on Kakao." Register with your international number before you come.
4. Kakao T — taxis without the awkwardness
Hail a taxi to your pin, see the fare estimate, and pay the driver by card or cash (registering a foreign card in-app can be hit-or-miss, but cash/card-in-car works fine). No Korean needed — the driver gets your destination from the app.
5. Kakao Map — the second opinion
Naver's rival. Some people prefer its interface; its street view and cafe/restaurant reviews sometimes cover spots Naver ranks poorly. Power move: keep both.
6. Kakao Metro (or any subway app) — offline subway routing
A dedicated subway app with the network map, fastest-transfer routing and last-train times. Works underground and offline. Pairs with our subway guide.
7. Korail Talk — intercity trains
The official app for KTX and other train tickets, with an English mode and foreign-card payment. Book Friday-evening and holiday trains in advance — they sell out.
8. Emergency Ready App — official disaster alerts, in English
The government's app that translates those loud Korean emergency text alerts (heat waves, heavy rain, the occasional civil-defense drill) into English, and lists nearby shelters and hospitals. See also our emergency numbers guide.
9. Naver / ChatGPT-style translation backup of your choice
Any second translator you already trust. Menus, medicine labels and bureaucratic letters occasionally defeat one engine; a second opinion settles it.
Honorable mentions
- Coupang Eats / Baemin for food delivery — powerful but they want Korean payment methods; details in our delivery apps guide.
- Airport Railroad / AREX app if you're taking the express train often.
- Mobile T-money — Android-with-Korean-SIM only; visitors should stick with the physical card.
How to use this list
Install 1–4 before you fly, add 5–9 on hotel WiFi the first night. Set Naver Map and Papago to English in their settings once, and you're operational. Then start on the Start Here checklist — it sequences your whole first week.
Frequently asked questions
›Why doesn't Google Maps work properly in Korea?
Korean regulations restrict exporting detailed map data, so Google Maps in Korea can show you places and public-transit routes but not turn-by-turn walking or driving directions. Locals use Naver Map or Kakao Map instead, and so should you — both have full English interfaces.
›Do these apps need a Korean phone number?
The essentials in this list work with a foreign number or none at all: Naver Map, Papago and Kakao Metro need no account, and KakaoTalk and Kakao T can register with an international number. Apps that do demand Korean phone verification (some delivery and banking apps) are noted in their own guides.
›Should I download them before arriving?
Yes — do it on home WiFi. App stores can be slow on airport connections, and Naver Map plus Papago are exactly the apps you'll want working the moment you land.