Naver Map or KakaoMap?
| App | Languages | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Naver Map | Maps in Korean, English, Japanese and Simplified Chinese, with English voice navigation. | Visitor reviews and place filters are machine-translated into English, Japanese and Chinese. Transit routes show live arrival times and when to get off. |
| KakaoMap | English and Korean. | Routes for walking, public transport, cycling and driving, with live bus information and subway and bus positions on the map. |
Install both. They search different listings, so if one cannot find a small café or guesthouse, try the other.
How do I switch the app to my language?
Naver Map follows your phone’s language or the language chosen in the app’s own settings. If it opens in Korean, open your profile or the menu, choose Settings (설정), then Language (언어), and pick your language.
KakaoMap has the same Settings and Language options. Change the language before you land, while you still have Wi-Fi and time to look around the app.
How do I search for a place?
Famous places, stations and hotels usually appear when you type their English name. Small restaurants, shops and guesthouses are often listed under a Korean name only.
The surest search is the Korean name or the full Korean address. Copy it from your booking confirmation or the place’s own page and paste it into the search box. Check the result against the address before you set off: chains have many branches with the same name.
How do I follow a subway or bus route?
Choose public transport, then compare the routes: total time, number of transfers and walking time are shown for each. Before you leave the station, check which exit number the route uses; the last walk starts from that exit.
On a bus, keep the route open so you can see the stops pass. Tap your transport card again when you get off, so a following bus or subway ride can count as a transfer.
What do I need before I go?
Both apps are live services: routes, arrivals and searches need mobile data. Allow the app to use your location while you are using it, and keep your phone charged; a walking route drains the battery faster than you might expect.
Save your accommodation’s Korean name and address, and take a screenshot of it. If the data connection drops, you can still show the screenshot to a taxi driver or to someone you ask for help.