Why Google Maps doesn’t work in South Korea
When planning your South Korea trip, you might be surprised to find that Google Maps doesn’t work as expected (which may be what lead you to find this article). Here’s why:
The South Korean government restricts geographical data from being stored on foreign servers for security reasons. This means Google Maps can’t provide the full functionality we’re accustomed to.
Thankfully, local alternatives like NAVER Map and Kakao Maps comply with these regulations. After some research (thanks, Reddit!), we discovered that NAVER Maps offers the best and most accurate experience, and we found it invaluable throughout our trip.
The NAVER Map App
Download and Setup
NAVER Map is available on both Apple and Android. If you prefer planning your trip on a computer you can also use the desktop version of Naver Map.
NAVER Map is offered in Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and English, and should default to your device settings when setup. If it doesn’t do so, you can easily switch it to English using these steps:
How to use NAVER Map in English
- Tap the three lines in the top left corner.
- Select the Settings (⚙️) icon.
- Choose Language (언어).
- Pick English.
The app will translate all buttons and actions into English, but business names, addresses, and reviews will remain in Hangul. This might seem overwhelming at first, but don’t worry—I’ve detailed how to easily navigate and use the features below.
Do I need to create a NAVER account?
No, you don’t need an account to use NAVER Map.
Having an account enables additional features like bookmarking locations and leaving reviews, but many people encounter difficulties signing up to an account with a foreign phone number. For this reason, we chose to use the app without signing in and found it fully functional for our needs.
Although we couldn’t save places within the app, we managed by copying and pasting specific locations or business names as needed (most of the attractions we visited were found on Instagram or TikTok).
We mainly used the app’s discovery feature to find places to eat. When we found a place we wanted to remember for later, we just took a screenshot to keep track of it.
How to use NAVER Map
Listings
NAVER Map’s business listings are incredibly detailed, which is especially useful for finding restaurants. Each listing provides extensive information about the dining experience, including service, quality, pricing and photos of the venue and menu. Reviews come in both short-form (similar to Google) and blog formats, giving you a thorough understanding of what to expect.
Although most reviews are in Korean, you can still view the ratings and see how the business ranks in various categories, which are displayed in English.
Tip: If you, like us, can’t read Korean, you can open the blog articles in Google Chrome and use the ‘translate to English’ feature.
Directions
The main function of a navigation app is to provide directions, and NAVER Map makes this process straightforward. The app enables you to select the best route to your destination, with options for public transport, driving, taxis, walking, or biking.
Walking
You’ll have several route options depending on whether you prefer the fastest, easiest route, or even want to avoid stairs. The app also offers extra details, such as the number of crosswalks you’ll need to use, to help you better prepare for your walk.
Public Transport
For public transport, you can filter between ‘bus’ and ‘subway’ options and choose routes based on ‘shortest time’ or ‘minimum transfers.’ The app also provides extra details including the number of stops and fares for each route.
When taking the subway, you can see line details, including their colours (really helpful for navigating and transferring lines), stop names, and the direction of the exit door for your destination station. Most stations also have multiple exits, which can be confusing, but the app will direct you to the best exits for both entering and leaving.
Bus routes also include detailed information about bus numbers and colours, as well as real-time updates on whether they’re running on schedule.
Driving and Taxis
Although we didn’t use either of these transport options during our time in Seoul so I can’t provide any first hand experience, NAVER Map is well regarded for the additional information they provide for these routes. This includes rough pricing guides for taxi fares, tolls and fuel usage based on the different routes.
Subway
Along with offering directions to specific addresses, NAVER Map also features a Subway function that lets you view the entire subway map. You can easily select your departure and arrival stations to plan your journey. This feature provides a clear view of the subway lines and stations, making it easier to understand the network and visualise the connections and transfers.
Smart Around
From the app’s home screen, swiping up will reveal the ‘Smart Around’ feature. Using AI, the tool uses your search history and current location to suggest new places you might like – from cafes and restaurants to attractions. It’s like having a local guide to help you discover exciting new spots based on what you enjoy and where you are.
Each recommendation also shows the average spending at each place so you can easily find options that fit your budget.
