The best apps for travelling to South Korea
Korea is the country where your usual apps let you down. Install these instead.
Glütty · 14 October 2026
Maps: don't rely on Google
Walking and driving directions from Google Maps are limited in South Korea, so visitors use local map apps.
NAVER Map
Korea's main map app, with transit, navigation, bookings and English, Japanese and Chinese interfaces. Since October 2024 it translates Korean place reviews into English.
- Best for:
- Getting around and reading what locals say about restaurants.
- Watch out:
- Some detail is still Korean only.
- Platforms:
- iPhone, Android
- Price:
- Free, contains ads
KakaoMap
The other big local map, popular for transit.
- Best for:
- A second opinion on routes.
- Watch out:
- Interface is more Korean-first.
- Platforms:
- iPhone, Android
- Price:
- Free
Translation
Papago
NAVER's translator. Image translation, voice, conversation mode and offline use, across 14 languages including Korean.
- Best for:
- Signs, conversations and quick menu lookups.
- Watch out:
- Translates words; it won't tell you if a dish suits you.
- Platforms:
- iPhone, Android
- Price:
- Free
Glütty
Scan, upload or paste a link to any menu. Every dish is translated into your language, explained in plain words, and can be shown as a picture. Members also get a match score for each dish based on their own taste profile, plus dietary flags.
- Best for:
- Korean menus where you want to know what you're ordering, not just the words: spice level, what's in it, and whether it fits your diet.
- Watch out:
- Free accounts get three menu scans a month. Match scores, taste memory and unlimited scans need the £8.99/month membership.
- Platforms:
- Web app, works in any phone browser
- Price:
- Free tier; membership £8.99/month
What's different about Korea
A lot of dining is built around sharing, minimum orders for two, and side dishes that arrive without being ordered. Many menus are on the wall in Korean only. A photo-based translator is essential. See apps to translate a menu from a photo.
