Must-Have Korea Travel Apps

To enjoy a smoother and more pleasant trip to South Korea, it is important to prepare useful local digital tools. Here is a guide to installing and using essential applications that will upgrade your Korea travel experience—from local navigation apps that fully replace Google Maps to AI translation, taxi hailing, popular restaurant reservations, and food delivery at Han River parks.

Essential Applications for Traveling in KoreaIntroduces essential local apps needed for smooth travel and communication in Korea instead of Google Maps.

Due to national security regulations and restrictions on exporting spatial data, Google Maps does not provide real-time walking directions or accurate public transit information in South Korea. You should install the following apps before departure for seamless travel.

Essential travel apps offering real-time arrival times for subways and buses, accurate walking navigation, and nearby store information.
Naver Map: Supports four languages—English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Korean—making it the most useful map app for foreign tourists.
KakaoMap: Provides services in Korean and English.

Naver Map iOS Download Naver Map Android Download
KakaoMap iOS Download KakaoMap Android Download

2. Translation & Communication: Papago

An AI translator provided by Naver that yields natural translations tailored to Korean contexts and nuances. The camera translation feature is very useful for instantly translating menus and signs from photos.

Papago iOS Download Papago Android Download

3. Taxi Hailing: Kakao T or Uber (UT)

Hailing taxis via apps is much more common in Korea than flagging them down on the street. Kakao T allows foreign tourists to sign up and pay using overseas phone numbers and credit cards. The Uber app you use back home also automatically switches to local partner taxis (UT) upon arrival in Korea.

Kakao T iOS Download Kakao T Android Download
Uber iOS Download Uber Android Download

4. Restaurant Reservations & Waiting: Catch Table

An app that handles waiting queues and reservations for popular restaurants and cafes. Its global version allows international travelers to easily sign up and use the service with just an email address.

Catch Table iOS Download Catch Table Android Download

5. Food Delivery

Experience Korea's Unique Delivery Culture:
- Korea has a unique food delivery culture where you can order a wide variety of food—such as fried chicken and pizza—late at night or even in outdoor spots like Han River parks. Foreign travelers can easily enjoy delivery food without a local phone number or payment method using the following options.

1) Shuttle Delivery

Optimized Service for Foreigners:
- The most convenient English-based delivery service for short-term tourists who lack a Korean mobile number or local payment card. It fully supports overseas credit cards and is widely used in Seoul (Itaewon, Hongdae, Gangnam, etc.) and major tourist hubs.

Shuttle Delivery iOS Download Shuttle Delivery Android Download

2) Baemin (Baedal Minjok)

Korea's No. 1 Delivery Platform:
- Korea's leading delivery app with the largest selection of restaurants and menus. In addition to Korean, it offers services in English, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese, allowing travelers to order from diverse local food spots conveniently regardless of nationality.

Baemin iOS Download Baemin Android Download

3) In-App Delivery Service via WOWPASS App

An in-app food delivery feature for foreign travelers provided within the WOWPASS mobile app. It is a great alternative that avoids complicated app sign-ups or payment errors on local delivery platforms.
Multilingual Support: Offers menus and features in various languages—including English, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese—so you can order food easily without language barriers.
Easy Payment: Pay directly using your WOWPASS card balance without complex identity verification or international payment errors.
Real-Time Notifications: Provides real-time push notifications covering order confirmation, cooking progress, delivery status, and completion.
Contactless Pickup: Default settings facilitate contactless delivery at hotel front desks, designated food zones, or room doors, preventing unnecessary phone calls or language difficulties with drivers.

WOWPASS iOS Download WOWPASS Android Download

Useful Tips for Receiving Food Delivery:

Hotel and Accommodation Pickups: To coordinate smoothly with delivery drivers and prevent lost items, always enter your exact room number and guest name (in English) in the order request field. If your hotel restricts outside delivery drivers from entering guest floors, head down to the 1st-floor lobby or designated delivery area after receiving the delivery completion notice.
Outdoor Pickups at Han River Parks: Outdoor areas such as Yeouido and Banpo Han River Parks feature designated 'Delivery Zones'. When ordering, enter the Delivery Zone number closest to your location and head to that spot to receive your food when delivery is complete.
Ensure a Real-Time Contact Method: Unexpected situations may arise where drivers need to call if they have trouble finding your location. We strongly recommend preparing an eSIM or USIM capable of phone calls and text messages (with a local 010 number) and entering your valid Korean phone number accurately when placing orders.