They say there’s an app for almost everything these days. Well, there’s truth in that, and in the travel scene, mobile applications have made trips a tad lot easier. From locating a particular spot to translating foreign languages, apps have the ability to provide you with ease and convenience while traveling in various regions of the world.
Enter South Korea—the birthplace of kimchi, hallyu (a.k.a. the so-called “Korean wave”), and well-raved skincare products. A technologically advanced country, it offers countless apps to enhance the experience of foreigners and locals alike in all aspects: Discovery, navigation, and communication.
So before you take that flight to the Land of the Morning Calm, make sure to have these essential apps downloaded to make your trip a lot easier:
>>Official Guides
The South Korean Government puts in a good investment for the development of travel apps to offer the most accurate information and the best insider scoops to foreigners. Available in multiple languages, the two most popular official guide apps are VISITKOREA and Visit Seoul.
VISITKOREA
Initially launched in 2011, the VISITKOREA app has been providing indispensable information to tourists for more than a decade now. It has a built-in trip planner, where you can craft your great Korean adventure; a tab suggesting the peninsula’s top destinations; and a feature that suggests unique things to do wherever you are in the country. In the event of emergencies, it also breaks down all the emergency contacts you may need.
Download the app: iOS | Android
Languages: Available in English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese
Visit Seoul
If you are spending a good chunk of your time in Seoul during your South Korea trip, you might want to have this app on your phone. Developed by the Seoul Tourism Organization (STO), the Visit Seoul app was recently upgraded to include an AI travel assistant to help you with directions, a 360-degree VR explorer, and recommendations of top attractions from the STO editorial team. The app’s classic feature, however, is its detailed guide to all of Seoul’s hottest spots.
Download the app: iOS | Android
Languages: Available in English, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese
>>Passes
Many travel passes in South Korea give foreign travelers a bang for their buck, so they can maximize the country’s attractions, public transport, and amenities for less throughout their trip. And just recently, these passes have also started to take the digital route, so an app is a must for you to utilize them!
Discover Seoul Pass
Also developed by the Seoul Tourism Organization, this all-in-one mobile pass allows you to access all the best sites and experiences in the South Korean capital! Some of the attractions included in the pass are Lotte World Adventure, N Seoul Tower, and the E-Land Cruise. With the pass, you can also enjoy discounts at major shopping centers like The Hyundai Seoul The Shilla Duty Free, and Shinsegae Duty Free.
Exclusively available to foreigners, the Discover Seoul Pass remains valid for up to five years from the date of purchase. Meanwhile, usage time ranges from 24 to 72 hours (one to three-day passes). You can purchase either the mobile or card version of the pass on the Discover Seoul Pass official website.
Download the app: iOS | Android
Languages: Currently available in English only
Visit Busan Pass
If Seoul has the Discover Seoul Pass, then South Korea’s second-largest city Busan has its very own Visit Busan Pass. Also a golden ticket to the city’s most popular spots, it gives you a free pass to more than 35 attractions and activities, including the Busan Tower, Lotte World Adventure Busan, Songdo Marine Cable Car, Running Man Theme Park, and Skyline Luge Busan—among many others. It also treats users to discounts at over 100 shops, accommodations, and restaurants.
You can purchase your Visit Busan Pass at visitbusanpass.com.
Download the app: iOS | Android
Languages: Currently available in English only
WOWPASS
South Korea has one of the fastest-growing cashless communities in the world, and with WOWPASS, you—as a foreign tourist—will get to experience the ease of making cashless payments like a local. Another essential feature of the WOWPASS card is its Tmoney function, which you can use for subways and buses.
The WOWPASS card can be topped up with your own currency and you can use it to pay for your purchases across the country. Once your card is linked to the app, you can track all your payments and protect your balance. Get your WOWPASS card here now!
Download the app: iOS | Android
Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese
>>Navigation & Transportation
Wherever you go, navigation apps are a definite must, and transportation apps come a close second. Fortunately, South Korea has A LOT of these apps, but we’ll narrow everything down to the ones that you might need the most.
NAVER Map
Skip Google Maps—it doesn’t work in South Korea! Well, it does, but due to the country’s strict map data regulations, Google Maps doesn’t display accurate navigational info for South Korea.
This is where NAVER Map comes in. A local equivalent of Google Maps, it will be your trusty app to get to where you want to go! It recommends places of interest nearby, suggests the best real-time routes, alerts you about the traffic situation, and allows you to save places you wish to visit.
The only downside to NAVER Map is that searching for spots in English can be a bit tricker. A quick fix for this is to search for the name of the place in Korean, copy it, and paste it into the search box.
Download the app: iOS | Android
Languages: Available in English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese
Subway Korea
There are several subway apps available for traveling in South Korea, but among the most downloaded ones is Subway Korea from Neptune Company. It displays accurate real-time routes and arrival times of subway networks not only in Seoul, but also in Busan, Daegu, Daejon, and Gwangju.
The app also gives you the option to find the easiest or quickest route to get to your desired destination. You can even set an alarm for your chosen route, so you won’t miss a train!
Download the app: iOS | Android
Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese
Seoul Subway
Labeled as the “official” Seoul subway app by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, this mobile application was launched in 2023 and is made exclusively for foreign travelers.
It features information on the entire subway lines of the entire capital region, real-time timetables, location-based guidance, and station directions. The app is so in tune with your movements that it will alert you if you accidentally get on the wrong train and reroute you. It also helps you find specific exits, restrooms, and less-crowded train cars.
Download the app: iOS | Android
Languages: Available in English and Korean
KakaoBus
If trains in South Korea have apps, then you can expect buses to have one, too! Mega corporation Kakao made the KakaoBus app available to help commuters travel with ease on buses. It gives you the estimated time of arrival of buses in over 50 Korean cities and also allows you to set an alarm for departures.
Download the app: iOS | Android
Languages: English, Korean
>>Translators
Can’t speak any Korean besides “annyeonghaseyo?” Don’t worry! You can bust the language barrier with reliable translator apps during your trip!
Papago
Papago is South Korea’s preferred translator app. Its name basically refers to “parrot” in Esperanto, the world’s most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Papago’s green and blue parrot mascot is made to be a bird with exceptional language abilities, helping users translate 14 of the most widely spoken languages in Korea.
To use the app, you can simply copy and paste the text,upload a photo, or take a picture of any material that you would like to translate. You can also translate voice clips as well as spoken conversations.
Download the app: iOS | Android
Languages: Supports English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese
Google Translate
You probably already have this on your phone. And if you do, you might not need Papago anymore. After all, Google Translate supports up to 133 languages, including English, Filipino, and Korean!
The app’s functions are pretty much straightforward—you’ve got the text field, image or camera option, and voice translator. And in case you need some assurance, yes, Google Translate works just fine in South Korea unlike Google Maps. Alternatively, you may also use Google Lens. It is not a translator per se, but it makes for an enhanced search experience.
Download Google Translate: iOS | Android
Download Google Lens: iOS | Android
>>Instant Messaging
When it comes to chatting apps, Filipinos regularly use Facebook Messenger, Viber, or Telegram, but these are rarely ever used in South Korea, where two instant chatting platforms go neck and neck for the top spot: KakaoTalk and LINE. You might have to use these apps when reaching out to local businesses or registering for particular events and services, so it would be best to have them on your phone for the duration of your trip.
KakaoTalk
Arguably the biggest messenger app in South Korea right now, KakaoTalk has over 53 million users worldwide, with some 47 million based in South Korea. You can send text messages, photos, videos, and stickers featuring “Kakao Friends.” You can also make voice or video calls.
Supporting 15 languages, KakaoTalk has an in-app translation feature, so you can communicate with ease using a language you’re comfortable with.
Download the app: iOS | Android
Languages: Supports English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, Vietnamese
LINE
LINE is KakaoTalk’s cousin that goes the extra mile to put a cooler spin to things. Aside from offering the usual features you’ll get from a messenger app, LINE ties up with popular Korean celebrities, including K-Pop groups to elevate the chatting experience through cute stickers featuring these groups or their animated versions. Ever heard of BT21? They’re from LINE.
Download the app: iOS | Android
Languages: Available in English, Arabic, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, Vietnamese
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