Apps & translation

Naver Map and KakaoMap both excel at Korea-specific routing (bus combinations, walking gates, business hours). Google Maps is usable in cities but less reliable for small shops and some pedestrian paths.

For subway, official metro apps and the maps above show transfers; station signage is increasingly bilingual. Save your hotel pinned in Hangul as well as English.

Kakao T covers taxis and some other mobility options; rides often need a working phone number for setup. Carry a physical T-money card backup even if you use mobile pay—small vendors and some rural buses still prefer cards or cash.

Major cards work in cities; always have some won cash for traditional markets and rural edges. Check whether your bank charges foreign fees.

KakaoTalk is the default messenger—some businesses confirm bookings through it. Delivery apps exist but often need local numbers and Korean menus; hotels can help with addresses.

For KTX and buses, Korail and express-bus sites/apps help with schedules; English modes vary—screenshot your booking QR or code.

Naver Papago is tuned for Korean ↔ English (and other pairs): good for short sentences, honorific-aware options, and image/AR modes on phones for menus and signs. Download offline packs before you go.

Google Translate remains useful for camera scan and conversation mode; phrasing can be less idiomatic for Korean politeness levels. DeepL can read natural for longer text but app availability and Korean camera features differ by platform—use what you already trust plus Papago as backup.

Tips: speak in short chunks, confirm numbers and allergens in writing, and learn a few polite Korean phrases—apps garble less when you triangulate with human staff.