Travelling to a new country is always exciting, and having the right apps on your phone can make navigating a new place much easier. From booking transportation to checking directions and learning a few phrases in the local language, apps can do it all these days.
While some apps are useful in some countries, they may not be as commonly used in others. If you are planning a trip to South Korea, here are the best apps for South Korea that I recommend downloading before your trip!
1. Naver Map / Kakao Map
Either app works, and you can use it as a replacement for Google Maps. Google Maps doesn’t work well in South Korea, so if you are looking for an alternative app to navigate a new city then Naver Map or Kakao Map should be your go-to app.
You can easily look up places, such as Seoul’s best attractions, in the Naver Map app and see how to get there with public transportation. It’s pretty straightforward!
It helps to be able to write in Hangul (the Korean writing system) when searching for a specific place. It’s relatively easy to learn!
Looking for more tips for your trip? Check out these 35 things to know before travelling to South Korea!
2. KakaoTalk
KakaoTalk is the Korean version of WhatsApp and the main messaging app used in South Korea. If you want to communicate with Koreans, then KakaoTalk is a must. It might also come in handy when booking appointments or, for example, making a restaurant reservation.
And even if you won’t need KakaoTalk while you are travelling to South Korea, you will at least understand why there are so many Kakao shops in the country filled with merchandise of the mascots of KakaoTalk.
3. Lingodeer
Lingodeer is my favourite app for studying Korean, so I would highly recommend it if you want to learn a bit of Korean beforehand. Especially, being able to read Hangul makes a huge difference and makes your trip to Korea so much more enjoyable.
And that’s coming from someone who moved to Korea for a semester to study without any Korean knowledge, and once I started taking Korean classes, I started enjoying my time in Korea so much more.
So if I can recommend just one app, I would recommend LingoDeer because it covers grammar much more, which I usually find missing in apps like Duolingo. However, this app unfortunately is not free.
4. Creatrip
If you’re interested in Korean beauty treatments, I recommend downloading Creatrip. You can use the app to find and book foreigner-friendly treatments such as facials, head spas, nail appointments and personal colour analysis.
I really wish I had discovered Creatrip sooner, as it makes researching and booking treatments so much easier. You can compare your options and book directly through the app rather than trying to contact individual clinics or salons yourself.
✨ Browse beauty treatments in South Korea on Creatrip.
5. Klook
Klook is an app to book activities and tours, just like Viator or GetYourGuide. And while these offer tours worldwide, Klook’s focus is more on a lot of Asian countries, and you can find so many activities and tours in South Korea on Klook.
I also booked all my transportation within South Korea through this app. For example, booking a train or bus from Seoul to Busan. I also booked this amazing day trip from Busan to Gyeongju via Klook.
6. Airalo
For easy data access in South Korea, I recommend Airalo, an eSIM provider. Just purchase your ESIM for Korea before arrival via the Airalo app, and once connected, you will have immediate access to the internet once you land in South Korea.
- I’d recommend this ESIM for just South Korea.
- Or if you are travelling to other countries nearby as well, you can get this regional eSIM, which covers a lot of Asian countries, such as Japan or China. (I’ve used it in those 3 and had no issues).
7. Uber
Ubers are available in South Korea and quite affordable. And while all the big cities have amazing public transportation, the metros will stop running at some point. So then getting around by Uber is a great option.
And while you can easily get a standard taxi, it can be difficult to communicate with the driver because of language barriers. Booking the ride via Uber also makes things a bit easier.
8. Google Translate / Papago
A translation app is a must for South Korea unless you speak Korean fluently. Google Translate works just fine, and you can download offline translations as well. Papago is another alternative focused on Korean translations in particular, so the translations are a bit more accurate.
Of course, other apps can be helpful, but for a first-time visit to South Korea, downloading these essential apps should be enough for a smooth trip. But please let me know if there is anything you would add!
If this is your first trip to South Korea, I’ve put together a guide for one week in South Korea, as well as a 10-day South Korea itinerary if you have a few more days.
Have a great day!
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