Essential apps for Korea travel (2026): maps, taxis, food and transit

Korea runs on apps — but not the ones most visitors already have. Google Maps can't give you walking directions here, the big taxi and delivery apps were built for Korean phone numbers, and some only recently opened up to foreign cards.

We checked each app's official App Store listing and help pages on October 12, 2026: does it have English, can you sign up without a Korean number, and can you pay with a card from home? Where sources disagree, we say so.

The short list

*Searching and directions work without logging in for most people, but we couldn't confirm from official pages which features need an account. **Reported by the press or travel guides, not stated on the company's own page.

Every app above was listed on the US App Store when we checked. We didn't find any evidence of them being region-locked.

1. Maps: Naver Map and KakaoMap

Google Maps still doesn't give walking or driving directions in Korea. The government conditionally approved Google's map-data request in February 2026, but as of October 2026, Google Maps in Korea shows places, reviews and public-transit routes — and no turn-by-turn navigation. Industry reports suggest it may arrive next year. No launch date has been announced.

So download one of these:

• Naver Map — English interface, English navigation, and walking directions (added in recent versions). It's what most Koreans use.
• KakaoMap — English interface, door-to-door routes and live bus arrival times.

Tip: keep Google Maps for saving places and checking reviews, then switch to Naver Map or KakaoMap to actually get there.

2. Taxis: k.ride, Uber or Kakao T

• k.ride is Kakao Mobility's app made for foreigners. You can sign up with a phone number or a Google, Apple or email account, add a foreign credit or debit card, and pay with Alipay+ or WeChat Pay. A 2024 launch report said it only offered premium taxi classes at slightly higher prices than Kakao T; we couldn't confirm whether regular taxis are available now.
• Uber works in Seoul as Uber Taxi — it books local taxis through your existing Uber account. You can also schedule a pickup up to 30 days ahead, including at Incheon Airport.
• Kakao T is Korea's biggest taxi app, with an English interface. Guides disagree on whether foreign numbers can sign up reliably and whether foreign cards always register. Travel guides suggest choosing "pay the driver directly" if your card won't register, then paying by card or cash in the car.

3. Translation: Papago

Papago (by Naver) translates between Korean and 13 other languages, including English, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, French, Vietnamese and Thai. It does camera translation of menus and signs, voice and conversation mode. Keep Google Translate as a backup — it can translate offline once you download a language.

4. Food: CatchTable Global and Baemin

• CatchTable Global is the English version of Korea's most popular restaurant-booking app. It was built for visitors without a 010 number: you sign up with an email address, get booking alerts by email, and pay with a foreign card (it only accepts foreign cards). You can also join a restaurant's waitlist remotely. Note: deposits on the English version aren't refundable.
• Baemin (Baedal Minjok) is the biggest delivery app and now has English, Chinese and Japanese. According to a July 2026 report, foreign visitors can verify with a foreign phone number, order as a guest, and pay with a foreign card or Apple Pay with a foreign card. Some app reviews still mention problems, so have a backup.
• Shuttle is an English-first delivery service popular with foreigners. You sign up with just an email and pay with international cards or PayPal. Its coverage is strongest around Yongsan and US military bases, so check your address first.

Coupang Eats is also in English, but we couldn't confirm whether it accepts foreign numbers or cards, so we've left it off the list.

5. Getting around: KORAIL+, Subway Korea and transit cards

• KORAIL+ replaced the old Korail Talk app in August 2026 and books KTX trains in English and six other languages. If you're planning several long trips, the KORAIL PASS (for foreign visitors) costs ₩131,000 for 2 days, ₩186,000 for 3 days, ₩234,000 for 4 days and ₩275,000 for 5 days (adult), used on days you choose within 10 days. It isn't valid on SRT trains.
• Subway Korea is a simple subway map and route planner in English.
• Transit card: Seoul's Climate Card short-term pass (1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 days) can now be bought with a foreign credit or debit card at new ticket machines in 273 stations on Lines 1–8 — since March 17, 2026. Expect a fee of about 3.7%. Prices start at ₩5,000 for one day.
• WOWPASS and NAMANE are prepaid cards for visitors that work as transit cards and debit cards. WOWPASS can be topped up with cash in 16 currencies at its exchange machines; NAMANE tops up with a credit card or Alipay+ and has kiosks at Incheon and Gimpo airports, Seoul Station, Myeongdong and Hongdae.

Good to know: as of mid-2025, Apple Wallet's T-money could only be topped up with a Korean-issued Hyundai Card, so plan on a physical card.

6. Help and safety

• VISITKOREA — the official app of the Korea Tourism Organization, in English and seven other languages: entry info, emergency contacts, transit and walking directions.
• 1330 Korea Travel Helpline — free tourist information and interpretation. Call 1330 in Korea or +82-2-1330 from abroad, or chat via KakaoTalk, LINE, WhatsApp or Facebook.
• Emergency Ready App — the government's disaster-alert app for foreigners (typhoons, earthquakes, heavy snow), available in many languages.

Booking tours and passes

For tickets, tours and day trips, KKday and Klook both have English apps and sell Korea activities, airport transfers and eSIMs.

None of this works without data

Every app on this list needs mobile data — especially taxi and map apps. Set up an eSIM before you fly so it all works the moment you land.

Full comparison, including when a Korean number is worth it: Korea eSIM for travelers (2026).

Sources: Apple App Store listings (US store), Google Korea blog, CatchTable help center, Seoul Metropolitan Government (Climate Card, March 16, 2026), KORAIL global site, WOWPASS and NAMANE official sites, VISITKOREA, Uber Seoul page; press reports from 9to5Google (Aug 27, 2026), Kyunghyang Shinmun (Jul 29, 2026), Korea JoongAng Daily (2024–2025). Checked October 12, 2026.