13 Finest Korean Journey Apps

With the proliferation of smartphones and plenty of choices to remain related internationally, a standard journey preparation step for a lot of has turn into downloading the important journey apps of a rustic. In any case, nobody needs to land in a brand new nation and all of the sudden discover out they’ll’t carry out primary duties similar to navigating the subway system or hailing a taxi!

Whereas many nations share widespread apps – for instance, Uber will work in just about any English-speaking nation and plenty of extra, whereas Seize is your good friend in Southeast Asia – Korea has its personal ecosystem of apps. Barely annoyingly, many of those apps will solely work in Korea. Making ready your smartphone for a visit to Korea would require at the least just a few apps you wouldn’t have used earlier than.

When you’re seeking to put together on your journey to South Korea digitally, you’ve come to the precise place. This text will talk about the apps you’ll need to have earlier than your journey to the nation. When you’re already in Korea, what are you ready for? Take a look at the listing, and ensure to obtain these apps ASAP! They are going to make your life far simpler.

I need to observe one factor earlier than diving into this listing. You don’t want any apps when visiting Korea. Whereas many articles say some apps are important, I don’t imagine that is the case. Will these apps make your journey extra handy? Completely! Nonetheless, you are able to do all the things from navigating the subway to hailing taxis with out apps.

Nonetheless, having these apps (and an web connection) will make your journey a extra nice expertise. Whereas navigating the subway with station maps is feasible, utilizing an app is infinitely higher. The identical goes for hailing taxis; you will get a taxi by way of hailing one or telephone, however utilizing an app is much easier.

With that stated, let’s soar into this listing of the most effective Korean journey apps. When you’ve visited Korea and imagine I’ve neglected one thing vital, I’d love to listen to from you. What apps did you discover most helpful throughout your keep? Conversely, if there are any apps you don’t contemplate important and even notably helpful I’d love to listen to from you within the feedback under!

Staying Related in Korea

Though a few of these apps will work with out an web connection, many received’t perform in any respect. On high of this, having a connection will make your life a lot simpler – if you happen to get misplaced, you’ll be able to simply discover your approach. If you could get a taxi house, you’ll need to use Kakao Taxi, which requires the Web.

One of the simplest ways to remain related in Korea is with a SIM card (both an area SIM or one with roaming), eSIM, or a transportable WiFi machine. These choices have totally different strengths and costs and require a devoted article to debate and distinction them.

Fortunately, there may be already such an article on this web site! When you’re questioning how greatest to remain related to the web whereas in South Korea, you’ll need to take a look at this text on the greatest SIM playing cards in Korea. I talk about all three connection choices in that article and evaluate the most effective journey plans.

Whichever methodology you select, I’d extremely advocate getting it sorted earlier than leaving your private home nation. It may be tough to type out a roaming plan once you’re already abroad, and the most effective place to select up a SIM is on the airport (most firms will will let you preorder you SIM so it’s able to go once you arrive). For that reason, it’s advisable to arrange your connectivity earlier than anding.

Finest Korean Journey Apps

So, you’re planning to journey to Korea? Or maybe you’re already within the nation? These are the apps that I’d contemplate important (or, as beforehand talked about, as near important as an app will be), together with just a few that may make your time in Korea far simpler.

Earlier than I delve into the apps that made the listing, there are additionally just a few apps that I need to talk about however that don’t deserve a spot on this listing. For instance, I discover utilizing a VPN important when travelling as a result of I’ll usually use public WiFi, which, as everyone knows, is commonly extremely insecure. 

There are additionally just a few different app classes that, whereas not important, will make your journey extra nice. For instance, if you wish to take the issue out of discovering eating choices, Mango Plate is a superb choice for finding eating places promoting delectable meals. Alternatively, having a ‘time waster’ app is on no account important, however it can make these lengthy practice and bus rides infinitely extra nice.

So what apps am I speaking about? Listed here are just a few that you simply would possibly need to contemplate on high of the ‘necessities’.

• A VPN. The precise app you employ for web privateness is as much as you; everybody may have a distinct choice. I’ve a complete article about Korean VPNs, and I like to recommend checking that article out if you happen to’re uncertain what to select. Nonetheless, my basic suggestion for a free VPN is Cloudflare’s WARP (1.1.1.1). Whereas it’s technically not a VPN, it offers the identical safety from third events that VPNs do.
• Go to Korea. This app, created by the federal government, has a wealth of data for guests to Korea. Nonetheless, whereas many different blogs will listing this as a ‘will need to have’ app, I merely can’t agree – I’ve by no means seen a necessity for it, however it’s an important supply of journey inspiration if you wish to test it out!
• Mango Plate. One other app that’s usually beneficial is Mango Plate. This app recommends cafes and eating places and can allow you to pinpoint the most effective consuming spots every day. Nonetheless, I don’t see it as important as a result of I exploit Naver Maps or Google Maps for this perform – simply type by extremely rated eating places and viola!
• Journey fee apps. When you use a service like Smart or Revolut, you’ll want to guarantee these apps are downloaded and able to use. You by no means know once you’ll want entry to the app, and it’s best to be ready.
• A time-wasting app. In Korea, you’ll usually end up on public transport, which suggests lengthy ready durations. You probably have limitless information, it’s straightforward to beat the arduous wait with the assistance of social media. Nonetheless, if in case you have restricted information, you would possibly need to obtain some video games or at the least some TV reveals or films beforehand. Spending an hour and a half on the Seoul Metro with no distractions will be boring!
• T Locker. Lots of Seoul’s subway stations have lockers, however these will be tough to determine the right way to use. Fortunately, T Locker makes the method (principally) painless! When you foresee your self needing to retailer backpacks or baggage at subway stations, be sure you’re ready with this Korean app!
• A language observe app. If you wish to brush up in your Korean abilities whereas visiting, it’s a very good name to be ready along with your favorite language app! This can be Duolingo for a lot of, however Memrise, LingoDear, and FluentU are additionally fashionable. When you’re questioning what apps I like to recommend, take a look at my article on the most effective methods to study Korean.
• Buying apps. Whereas it’s much more thrilling to buy in individual once you’re travelling, there could also be some issues you can’t discover or are cheaper on-line. In these circumstances, you’ll need to obtain both Coupang or Gmarket. Whereas Coupang has a greater choice, Gmarket’s English and worldwide card assist is a lot better, and I like to recommend it.
• Emergency Prepared. The Korean authorities runs this app, and it offers warnings and updates on disasters and emergencies. It’s a useful app to have in case one thing occurs – on the finish of the day, it’s higher to be ready, proper? 
• BucaCheck. This useful app will will let you verify the stability of your T Cash card (Korea’s public transport card) at any time. All you want is a smartphone with NFC (which almost all trendy smartphones have). Merely faucet the cardboard in opposition to the again of your telephone, and see your stability and up to date transactions. You may as well verify the stability everytime you faucet your card in opposition to a bus or subway scanner, however having an app to verify is much extra handy.

Seoul Subway/Subway Korea/KakaoMetro

The primary ‘important’ app for travelling in Korea is as an alternative a class than a person app. You’ll nearly actually be in Seoul throughout your keep for at the least some time. Since one of the best ways to discover the town is by way of the unbelievable public transport, you’ll undoubtedly desire a strategy to navigate Seoul’s sprawling subway system.

The Korean authorities lately launched an all-English subway app aptly named ‘Seoul Subway – Official App’. This app is many travellers’ favorite attributable to how straightforward it’s to navigate and the attraction solutions it offers for every subway cease. You’ll additionally get all the opposite important info, similar to journey time, station schedules, and rather more.

My favorite subway app is Subway Korea, although. This app can also be accessible in English and is exceptionally straightforward to make use of. Maybe I’m simply used to it at this level, however I discover the UI extra intuitive than the Seoul Subway app, and it’s the app I proceed to advocate for navigating the underground facet of Korea’s capital.

The ultimate app on this part, which I like to recommend least, is Kakao Metro. The app is a little more complicated than the previous choices, however many travellers like to make use of it… Though I’m not fairly certain why. Maybe as a result of having many comparable icons on your private home display seems fairly? You’ll see a theme after you have KakaoBus, KakaoTalk, and KakaoMetro!

KakaoBus

Since we’re already on the subject of one among Korea’s largest tech firms, we could as effectively cowl one other of its choices. What occurs if you happen to don’t wish to navigate the underground of Seoul? Are you left needing to stroll in all places? Fortunately not, as a result of imagine me, Seoul is huge!

When you’d choose to make use of one other type of Korea’s public transport, KakaoBus has you lined. That is simply the most effective bus app in Korea, and it will provide you with timetables and bus routes for the entire nation. Whereas the app is in Korean, it’s comparatively straightforward to navigate as you should utilize the map to seek out bus stops and verify bus numbers.

The app additionally offers extra superior performance, placing it above and past different home choices and public transport apps in almost each different nation. For instance, you’ll be able to see what number of seats can be found on every bus; for some buses, you’ll be able to even see different situations, similar to whether or not the bus has AC.

One factor to notice: I don’t advocate utilizing KakaoBus to plan routes – that’s a lot better finished on Google or Naver Maps. As an alternative, I like to recommend planning a route on a type of apps and checking the bus schedules on KakaoBus.

KakaoTaxi

Since we’re already giving consideration to Kakao, we could as effectively keep on the subject. The third and ultimate transport app you’ll discover extremely helpful in each Seoul and different cities in South Korea is KakaoTaxi.

KakaoTaxi is the one greatest app for calling taxis, and there’s no competitors. Regardless of what some individuals will let you know, Uber does work in South Korea. Nonetheless, you’ll generally discover it exhausting (or unattainable) to get rides. It’s merely a costlier strategy to get a KakaoTaxi (Uber doesn’t name people in Korea, solely taxis). Subsequently, you’re a lot better off downloading KakaoTaxi and utilizing that as an alternative.

You’ll want a Kakao account to make use of KakaoTaxi (we’ll get to that in a second!), however calling a taxi is simple when you’re arrange. When the app asks for fee choices, it’s essential to choose ‘pay the driving force’ except you have got a home card. Fortunately, all taxis in Korea settle for debit and bank cards alongside money.

KakaoTalk

I promise that is the final Kakao entry! When you’re unaware, KakaoTalk is Korea’s largest messaging app. Whereas you may want it to gather contact particulars of anybody you meet in your journey, I like to recommend it primarily since you’ll want a Kakao account to make use of apps like KakaoTaxi.

You probably have KakaoTalk put in and have an account created, you’ll be able to log in to the opposite Kakao apps by means of the messenger. Since KakaoTaxi is near important for calling taxis, KakaoTalk rapidly turns into a vital app to have. 

Since KakaoTalk is utilized by over 95% of Koreans, it’s additionally a useful app if you happen to want to make buddies whereas travelling. Don’t anticipate individuals in Korea to make use of another messaging app, similar to Messenger or Whatsapp, as a result of many will solely use KakaoTalk (though Instagram can also be fashionable).

Naver Maps/Google Maps

To spherical up the navigation apps you’ll need to have in your telephone earlier than visiting South Korea, you’ll want to obtain both Naver Maps or Google Maps (if you happen to don’t have already got it!). Many will say that Google Maps isn’t useful or doesn’t work effectively in Korea, however this isn’t true anymore – it was in 2016, however not since 2018. 

In fact, having one among these apps is useful for finding shops, eating places, cafes, and extra. Nonetheless, they’re additionally almost important for planning bus routes and figuring out whether or not taking a bus or the subway is a greater choice for a given journey. 

Relating to evaluating journey occasions, I discover Naver Maps to be the higher alternative. The app is out there in English (though, for some, the app appears to default to Korean) and is simple to make use of. Alternatively, Google Maps is simpler for planning bus journeys, and most of the people will already be acquainted with it.

Whichever map app you employ throughout your go to to Korea, you can be set and have all of your navigation wants met. You may’t go improper with a map app, simply be sure you’re not planning to make use of Apple Maps as a result of it nonetheless lags considerably behind each of those choices.

Papago

After transport (or maybe even earlier than), the largest concern you’ll possible encounter is the language barrier. Whereas English is widespread in Korea (and also you’ll discover all of the stations are signposted in English), it may be tough to handle some conditions with out a translation app.

Now, it’s straightforward to assume that Google Translate is the best choice, and plenty of travellers will default to utilizing the app as a result of they’ve used it when visiting different nations. Nonetheless, whereas Google Translate is now higher than it was just a few years in the past, it’s nonetheless far behind the far superior translation app run by Naver – Papago.

Papago solely gives Korean to English translation, however it’s much more correct and natural-sounding than Google Translate. Whereas Google Translate will handle most conditions simply effective, it’s price downloading Papago during your journey because it’s extra correct and has higher image-to-text capabilities.

When you don’t need to obtain a separate app, you should utilize the Papago webpage in your telephone’s browser. Nonetheless, this can be a bit slower and extra finicky, so I’d advise in opposition to this strategy except you hate digital muddle (as I do!)

Korail

When you’re planning to go away Seoul and journey across the nation, you’ll possible be taking a few of Korea’s super-advanced high-speed trains. These trains, most famously the KTX, are all booked by means of both Korail’s web site, app or in individual on the station. 

Nonetheless, KTX tickets will promote out usually, so I like to recommend in opposition to buying them on the station except you achieve this upfront. I used to take round eight KTX trains per week, and they’d nearly all the time be booked out on the day. For that reason, it’s a much better alternative to make use of the app and guide them upfront.

Now, the app is nothing to put in writing house about; I’d argue that it’s fairly a poorly made app, and it may be tough to make use of at occasions. That stated, it’s extra handy than the web site, which is an excellent worse expertise.

The Korail app will will let you guide intercity trains, such because the KTX, at any time and provide you with a spot to retailer your tickets. For that reason, having this app is nearly important if you can be leaving Seoul throughout your keep.

Bus Tago

Say you don’t like trains, or for another purpose, you don’t need to use Korea’s high-speed rail system. Are you compelled to fly? Fortunately, no! There may be another choice, albeit a far slower one. As you’ll have already guessed, Bus Tago will will let you guide buses between cities within the nation.

The Affiliation of Korea Bus Transport Firms runs the app and permits you to view intercity bus schedules and guide tickets. Whereas you can too use the web site for this, I’ve discovered the app to be a greater expertise.

Handily, if you happen to use the app as an alternative of the web site, additionally, you will discover your tickets all saved in a single location. This makes it extremely straightforward to seek out them once more when you could board the bus or current your ticket for no matter different purpose.

Air Visible

Relying on the place you’re visiting from, air high quality is probably not one thing you verify each day. In Seoul and different cities across the peninsula, you’ll want to keep watch over air air pollution each day earlier than you go exterior – particularly if you’re visiting in spring or fall.

Particularly if you happen to’re visiting solely briefly, you shouldn’t let air air pollution smash your plans. Nonetheless, it’s useful to know once you’ll need to be carrying a masks outside – though you would possibly solely have short-term publicity, air air pollution has many extreme well being penalties.

On a lighter observe, figuring out the air air pollution ranges earlier than visiting sure points of interest is nice. For instance, Namsan Tower and Seoul Sky at Lotte Tower are greatest averted on dusty days because the views turn into much less interesting. It’s additionally not excellent for picnicking close to the Han River on a dusty day!

For these causes, having an air high quality app is crucial. Air Visible is by far the most effective and most popular air high quality app and is simple to advocate attributable to its simplicity. It additionally provides solutions for the way you need to act at any given AQI degree.

Klook/Trazy

When you’re seeking to save a bit of cash throughout your keep or need to get entangled with plenty of excursions, these apps are each tremendous helpful to have. Klook and Trazy are journey firms that promote a variety of attraction tickets, excursions, and today even provide rental vehicles!

I wasn’t going so as to add these two apps as a result of it’s straightforward sufficient to make use of their respective web sites for reserving actions. Nonetheless, then I remembered that the ticket costs supplied on both app are typically cheaper than buying in individual, and I assumed they’re price recommending.

What do I imply? Nicely, say you’re round Myeongdong and all of the sudden resolve you need to go to Namsan Tower because it’s close by. When you go to the tower and guide tickets, you’ll pay a flat value of 10,000 KRW per ticket. Nonetheless, if you happen to rapidly hop on one among these apps, it’s potential to seek out tickets as little as 8000KRW.

This identical low cost will be discovered on different points of interest similar to Lotte World, Oceanworld, and Everland. When you wish to journey with some spontaneity, having one among these apps will allow you to save a bit of quantity right here and there, and everyone knows this will rapidly add up over time!

Korean Comfort

When you endure from meals allergy symptoms, travelling will be tough. That is no extra true than once you’re travelling to a rustic the place the language is totally different, and communication is typically tough and even unattainable. 

Whereas eating places will all the time be difficult to order at (and it’s price writing down your allergy symptoms upfront to be able to present workers), there’s a fairly useful app that makes buying snacks and grocery store/comfort retailer meals a vastly simpler course of.

Korean Comfort is an app that has an in depth database of snacks, ramyeons, and sweets, and it has allergy info on every. When you’re questioning which Korean ramyeon incorporates a seafood base or is meat-based, this app will let you know painlessly.

There may be additionally a information on the right way to learn Korean diet labels for meals that aren’t within the app’s database. That is useful to know, and I keep in mind that studying the right way to learn these labels made my life in Korea vastly simpler.

Shuttle

Meals supply is synonymous with Korea, and it’s lengthy been one of the vital well-known facets of the nation. The supply is fast and low-cost, and you will get nearly any meals possible delivered – at the least so long as you’re in a giant metropolis similar to Seoul or Busan.

There are lots of meals supply apps in Korea, however they’re tough or unattainable for travellers to make use of. For instance, two of the most well-liked apps, Baemin and Yogiyo have a unbelievable collection of meals on provide, however they each require home fee strategies and are solely accessible in Korea. Coupang Eats, one other fashionable choice, is out there in English however solely accepts home fee strategies.

This makes Shuttle the one choice for anybody desirous to order meals in English and who doesn’t have a Korean fee methodology (both a Korean checking account or credit score/debit card). Whereas it’s irritating there is just one alternative, it’s the unlucky actuality of ordering meals in Korea.

Whereas it would look like a waste to go to a rustic solely to get meals delivered, it’s a useful app to have. When you’ve had a giant day exploring, generally the very last thing you need to do is depart your lodge room. In these conditions, having an app like Shuttle is invaluable!

Reserving.com/Lodge app of your alternative

When you’ve already booked your lodging upfront, you’ll be able to skip this app as you received’t want it. Nonetheless, a reserving app is crucial for spontaneous travellers like me as a result of we frequently don’t guide inns till just a few days beforehand. 

Personally, I like to recommend Reserving.com. I’ve used them for over 100 lodge bookings over the previous three years and by no means had points with the platform or its customer support. Moreover, it gives a variety of app-only reductions, which make the app a less expensive different to the web site.

Whether or not you’re searching for backpackers, residences, inns, or hostels, Reserving.com has a wide range of choices. With the downfall of Airbnb, many hosts have moved to ‘lodge’ platforms, and there at the moment are nearly limitless lodging choices in each massive Korean metropolis.

Different Apps For Visiting Korea

This concludes my listing of essentially the most helpful apps to have when visiting South Korea. Nonetheless, relying in your pursuits and causes for visiting Korea, it’s possible you’ll discover different apps useful to obtain upfront. For instance, if you happen to love climbing, AllTrails is a useful app that might show invaluable throughout your keep.

If you wish to get entangled with locals throughout your keep, MeetUp is a priceless app that doesn’t simply work in Korea! Throughout my final go to to Seoul, I used MeetUp to discover a pictures meetup as I lacked inspiration. It was an important thought as I made a gaggle of buddies who invited me on just a few journeys throughout my keep.

Apps like Hi there Discuss can be a good way to fulfill buddies to hang around with throughout your keep. Many additionally use the app for courting, although, so be sure you are clear about your intentions.