Must-have apps for traveling to South Korea

If there's one thing you can't live without in today's society, it's a smartphone. It means you don't need a map, or a notebook with directions to a restaurant you saw in a magazine. No more hitchhiking on dangerous roadsides to catch a taxi, no more getting lost in a language you don't understand.

What are the apps that make this possible in Korea?

Here are the apps that you need if you're interested in Korea and want to travel there.

Translation

Before traveling to a new country, the language barrier is probably the biggest concern for first-time travelers. Even if you've been to Korea many times, you probably know some of the language, but it's still not easy to learn another country's language. Nowadays, however, the power of smartphones has made it possible to solve even simple communication problems.

What are some applications that translate well into Korean or are good to use?

Papago

Google Transate

Papago : Papago is a South Korean application that excels at translating between Korean and multiple languages, supporting text, voice, and photo translation. If you're ordering food at a restaurant and it's written in a foreign language, Papago's photo translation feature will make the process seamless.

Conversation mode is also available.

Google Translate : An offline service that allows you to translate instantly without the need for an eSIM, USIM, or roaming service, with overwhelming international accessibility if you have a Google account. It also supports translation of documents and websites, so it is recommended for long-term visitors or those traveling for business.

Map

If you ask ‘Why should I use a map other than Google Maps?’, there are several reasons. First, you can't see detailed maps with Google Maps in Korea yet, and second, it doesn't support directions. Google Maps is fine for finding information where you live, but I recommend using a local app when you arrive in Korea.

Naver Map

Kakao Map

Naver Map : Naver Map is the most popular mapping app in South Korea. It's popular among Koreans because it has many convenient features, such as being able to connect to your Naver account to make reservations. This is why it has a lot of positive reviews from the majority of users.

It supports Japanese and Chinese characters in addition to English, the language settings are easy to find, and it integrates with Papago for easy access to translations of reviews.

Kakao Map : It is less popular than Naver Map. There are fewer places that offer review incentives, so honest reviews dominate. Of course, this is a big advantage because you can find unfavorable reviews that you can't find on Naver Map.

However, it's still a shame that it doesn't have a translation tool that works with review translations.

Public transportation

Using public transportation in South Korea is fairly simplified. All you need is a transportation card, which is readily available at convenience stores, and you can top up your card to get around most places. Not only that, but the price is low for the speed and service.

The following apps are useful for using public transportation in South Korea.

Smarter Subway

K.ride

Smarter Subway : Smarter Subway is a useful app for taking the subway in South Korea. It supports English, Chinese characters, and Japanese, which is great because Korea's complex subway maps can be quite difficult to navigate without foreign language support. It also provides real-time subway information, route and transfer information, and exit information.

It's also great that it doesn't require a subscription.

K.ride : Kakao T(Taxi)'s global version of the app. You can sign up just by linking your Google account or Apple account. It accepts credit and debit cards issued overseas and can be used in 14 countries, so if you often visit Korea, you can use it in your home country after installing it.

Communications & Messengers

Unless you've purchased a SIM card with roaming or a phone number, it's difficult to send messages from South Korea. However, data sims are becoming more popular these days, so it's a good idea to have at least one messaging app that works with data sims.

Kakao Talk

This app has practically replaced all messengers in South Korea. It has more uses than you might think, such as contacting places you've made reservations for. Nowadays, many people have moved on to Instagram DM, but the most popular messenger app in Korea is KakaoTalk.

For those looking to travel to South Korea,

You might think that traveling in a country without Google Maps would be harder than it is, but it's not, especially in Seoul, where you can do almost everything with your phone, so young people might find it easier.

A little tip : most of the marketing these days is done on Instagram, and you can find a lot of influencer reviews on Instagram and TikTok. It's probably the best way to find a place you want to visit.

Well, I hope this has all been useful to you.