The best map app for Korea is Naver Map as your main app, with Kakao Map as a backup. Google Maps is fine for finding places, but turn-by-turn directions have been limited in Korea. News reports this year said Google got conditional approval to export map data, but as of October 12 I couldn’t find an official announcement that full directions have launched.
This guide covers where Google Maps stands, how to set Naver Map to English, and how to use Kakao Map. It’s based on Google’s statements, news reports and each service’s own guidance. It’s the maps chapter of our [guide to Korea apps that work without a Korean phone number](internal link: hub post).
The Short Answer: Three Map Apps Compared
| App | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Naver Map | English transit info, places and reviews | Some features mainly on Android |
| Kakao Map | Real-time bus locations | English mode is incomplete |
| Google Maps | Familiar screen, place search | Limited directions in Korea |
Why Doesn’t Google Maps Give Directions in Korea?
Map Data Couldn’t Leave the Country
In an August 2025 statement, Google said that in Korea it only shows the map and doesn’t offer navigation. The issue was exporting detailed map data overseas.
On February 27 this year, TechCrunch reported that Google got conditional approval to export map data. A Hankyung report in April only said a launch was expected, without a date.
So How Should You Use It Now?
I’d suggest using Google Maps just to find places, and Naver Map for directions. Many travelers say saving hotel and restaurant locations in Google Maps works well enough.
Before you leave, open Google Maps yourself to see whether full directions have opened. This is something that could change.
Naver Map: The Best Map App for Korea to Install First
How to Switch to English
Open the Naver Map app and go to MY → Settings → Language to change it to English. Viewing the map and getting directions are said to work without a Korean number or even logging in.
Many reviewers say Naver shows more complete English transit information. You can see how to transfer and even which exit to take.
Live Walking Guidance Is Mainly for Android
According to the app’s own guidance, live walking guidance is supported only on Android. On an iPhone, you view the route and follow it yourself.
That could change with app updates, so open it once after installing.
Subway Transfers in Seoul
In Seoul, where subway transfers are frequent, many reviewers find Naver Map the easiest. It even tells you which car to board for the fastest transfer. For paying for the subway, see our [Seoul subway foreign card guide](internal link: spoke 1).
Naver Map Passport Verification: What Changed in June
What’s New
According to Asia Economy and Digital Today, Naver introduced passport verification on June 4 this year. Once you complete it, you can use reservations, orders and payments in Naver Map.
That means foreigners without a Korean number now have a way to book a restaurant or place an order from the map app.
How the Verification Works
From a verification vendor’s case study, the steps look roughly like this: photograph your passport, then an entry and exit record lookup, then a face match and liveness check.
Because there’s an entry record lookup, you may need to do it after you arrive in Korea. That’s my inference, not something I confirmed in Naver’s official guidance. Check in the app before you go.
I Couldn’t Confirm Whether Foreign Cards Work
The reports don’t say which cards can be used. I couldn’t confirm whether foreign cards work, so be ready to pay by card or cash on the spot if it’s blocked. Payment options are covered in our [guide to how to pay in Korea](internal link: spoke 4).
Kakao Map: Why It’s Worth Keeping as a Backup
Real-Time Bus Locations Are Its Strength
Kakao Map is known for showing where a bus is right now. That helps in areas where you ride buses more than the subway.
Its core features are said to work without logging in. You can view the map even without a KakaoTalk account.
The English Mode Isn’t Complete
Kakao Map’s English mode is said to leave some screens in Korean. So I’d suggest it less as your main app and more as a cross-check when Naver Map confuses you.
Kakao Navi, by the way, is a separate app. If you’re not driving, you don’t need to install it.
What to Do When Search Doesn’t Work
Save the Korean Name and Address Too
Searching by an English name sometimes brings up a different place with the same name. For hotels and restaurants, copying the Korean name or address is much more accurate.
If your booking confirmation or hotel info has a Korean address, paste it in as is. You can also show it to a taxi driver.
Double-Check the Pin
A pin in the search results can differ from the real entrance. For big buildings and subway stations, check the exit number too.
Zooming in just before you arrive and confirming the building name cuts down on wandering.
Prepare for Weak Signal
Take a screenshot of your destination in case your data is weak. Saving a screen that shows the subway line and exit numbers means you won’t get lost if the signal drops. Phone batteries drain fast, so bring a power bank. For eSIM and Wi-Fi setup, see the [hub post](internal link: hub post).
3 Things to Do in Your Map App Before You Leave
1. Save the Places You Want to Visit
Collect your hotel, restaurants and sights in Google Maps’ saved lists or Naver Map’s favorites. It cuts the time you spend searching one by one once you arrive.
Make sure the Korean name shows up too when you save. If you save only an English name, it can be hard to find again later.
2. Allow Extra Walking Time
Walking times in map apps are often based on flat ground. Seoul has hills, stairs and long crosswalks, so assuming it takes about 10 minutes longer than shown keeps your schedule from getting too tight.
Subway transfers in particular take longer than you’d expect. On days with two transfers, allow plenty of travel time.
3. Check Opening Hours Outside the Map Too
Some reviewers say the hours shown on a map don’t always match reality. For an important restaurant or exhibit, it’s safer to check the official website or booking page once more.
Many places close over the big holidays, so check whether your dates overlap.
Which App for Which Situation
Riding the Seoul subway: open Naver Map and follow its transfer guidance. Checking the exit number helps you avoid wandering.
Riding buses a lot: use Kakao Map to check arrival times. Keeping it open alongside Naver Map is safer.
Want to book restaurants from the map: look into Naver’s passport verification. Whether foreign cards work is unconfirmed, so prepare to pay on the spot too.
Prefer an app you know: save places in Google Maps and move over to Naver Map just for directions.
5 Common Mistakes
- Relying only on Google Maps: if you don’t check whether the direction limits were lifted, you could get stuck.
- Searching only by English names: you may land on a different place with the same name.
- Not checking the pin: you could be sent to the back of a building or the wrong exit.
- Installing apps for the first time on arrival: do the language setup and sign-in on your hotel Wi-Fi.
- Rushing passport verification: take the photo and face check in good light and with time to spare.
Pre-Trip Checklist: Your Best Map App for Korea Setup
- Install Naver Map and set it to English (MY → Settings → Language)
- Install Kakao Map as a backup
- Save your hotel and restaurants in Google Maps
- Note the Korean names and addresses of your hotel and restaurants
- Check Naver passport verification requirements in the app
- Screenshot your destinations and prepare data
Rather than relying on a single app, the best map app for Korea setup is Naver Map in the center with Kakao Map alongside it. It’s still unconfirmed when Google Maps directions will open, so open it yourself once before you leave.
If you install the apps and set the language today, you’ll save time on a strange street the day you land. For the rest of this series, continue from the hub post.
