Best apps for travelling in Korea: maps, taxis, translation, subway and payments

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A handful of apps make the difference between a smooth trip to Korea and a frustrating one. The country runs on its own platforms rather than the ones you use at home, so install these before you fly, while you still have home Wi-Fi and time to sign up.

Maps: Naver Map and KakaoMap

Google Maps shows places in Korea but cannot give reliable walking or driving directions, and its transit routing is patchy. Use a Korean map app instead.

Naver Map has a full English interface and is the one most visitors settle on. Search in English, Korean or by pasting an address, and it gives subway, bus, walking and driving routes with live bus arrival times.
KakaoMap does the same job and is worth having as a second opinion; some people find its search better for small shops.
Both let you save places to a list. Build your list of restaurants, cafés and sights before the trip and the map does the rest.
Copy the Korean name of your destination from either app. It is the quickest way to show a taxi driver or a passer-by where you are going.

Taxis: Kakao T

Kakao T is the main taxi app and works in English. You can book a regular taxi, a larger van or a premium car, and see the estimated fare first.
Registering a foreign card in Kakao T has been hit and miss. Many visitors choose to pay the driver directly by card or cash, which the app allows.
Kakao also makes K.ride, a taxi app aimed at foreign visitors that accepts overseas cards. It is a useful backup if Kakao T will not take yours.
Late at night in busy districts, booking in an app is far easier than hailing.

Translation: Papago

Papago, made by Naver, is generally better at Korean than general-purpose translators. Its camera mode reads menus and signs, conversation mode lets you and someone else speak in turn, and you can download languages for offline use. Short, simple sentences translate best.

Subway and trains

Naver Map handles the subway well, but a dedicated subway app such as Subway Korea or Kakao Metro shows the network map and which carriage is nearest your exit.
For KTX and other long-distance trains, Korail Talk and the Korail website both have English versions. Book early for weekends and holidays.

Payments

This is the area that changes most often, so check the current situation close to your trip.

Most shops, restaurants and taxis take foreign Visa and Mastercard cards, and contactless is common.
Korean pay apps such as Kakao Pay and Naver Pay have historically been hard for visitors to use with foreign cards. Do not plan your trip around them.
Prepaid travel cards sold for tourists, which double as a transit card, are a popular workaround. Compare the current options and their fees before you buy.
T-money remains the transit card that works everywhere. Our first-trip-to-Seoul guide explains how to buy and top it up.

Food delivery and booking

Delivery apps are a big part of Korean life, but signing up usually needs a Korean phone number and payment method. Our guide to food delivery apps in Korea covers what works for foreigners. Many popular restaurants also take reservations or waiting lists through apps, and some now accept foreign passports for verification.

Safety and help

Emergency Ready App, from the Korean government, sends disaster and weather alerts in English and other languages and lists shelters.
The 1330 Korea Travel Hotline gives free tourist information and interpretation by phone, in English and several other languages.

Offline tips

Get an eSIM or a prepaid SIM. Korean map apps need data, and so does Kakao T.
Download Papago's offline language pack.
Screenshot your hotel's address in Korean and your route from the airport.
Many apps need a phone number for a text message code. A local number makes sign-ups much easier.

Which app saved your trip, or which one refused your card? Share your experience, or ask about a specific app, in the comments.