South Korea is a fun destination to visit. I didn’t plan at all before going to Seoul and I wish I knew about these apps ahead of time to make my trip more smooth. In South Korea, Google Maps doesn’t really work well… like at all. It’s very confusing and it can’t accurately pick up all the streets and best walking paths. You’ll likely get a diagonal line just showing you what direction your destination is in but no viable way to get there.

Naver Maps

Naver Maps is a popular navigation app in South Korea, offering accurate maps, public transportation information, and directions in English. It’s extremely helpful for getting around Seoul, whether you’re walking, using public transit, or driving.

Kakao Maps

I think this one is easier to use but less accurate than Naver. I ended up downloading both and going between the two. Kakao is also used in place of Whatsapp. I found communicating with hotels, restaurants, spas difficult via Whatsapp. I had better luck using Facebook Messenger or Kakao Talk.

KakaoTalk is a widely used messaging app in South Korea. It’s handy for staying in touch with locals, communicating with friends or family members traveling with you, and accessing various services and features available within the app. Getting around Seoul is easy with the well-connected subway system. I used this all the time and only used a cab when I was really not up for the subway. 

T-money

If you plan to use public transportation frequently, downloading the T-money app allows you to manage your T-money card, check your balance, and top up funds conveniently on your smartphone.

Subway Korea

This app provides detailed information about the Seoul subway system, including maps, schedules, and route planning. It’s invaluable for navigating the extensive subway network and finding the fastest routes to your destinations. For activities, I ended up using two platforms I hadn’t really used before. 

Klook

Klook is a Hong Kong-based travel and leisure booking platform that offers a wide range of activities, tours, and experiences for travelers. 

Trazy

Trazy is a travel booking platform that offers a wide range of tours, activities, and experiences in Seoul and other parts of South Korea. You can use the app to discover and book tours, tickets to attractions, cultural experiences, and more.

I’d also make sure you have data so you can utilize these apps and navigate. Since navigating can take a good bit of data and time, you don’t want to be stuck with slow data or stuck where your phone won’t work. I typically get an eSim from Airalo so I don’t have to stop at a store or waste time. Also, having a portable battery charger was important because I was draining my battery with the maps and while riding public transport for a while. Sometimes, it would take 40 minutes to get from one part of Seoul to the other. The Anker battery pack is heavy but has good charge.