10 Apps for Traveling in Korea: What Each One Does

The two apps to install before you fly are Naver Map, for transit, walking and driving directions with English maps, and Papago, NAVER's translator for 14 languages that also reads text from photos. Add KORAIL+ for KTX tickets, a taxi app that takes overseas cards (k.ride, Uber or TABA), the official K-ETA app if you need one, and the government's two safety apps. Below: what each app does, according to its official listing or operator.

Source: Naver Map and Papago App Store listings and Korail; checked Oct 25, 2026.

The short version

Source: each app's official listing or operator page (linked below); checked Oct 22–25, 2026.

Getting around

Naver Map

Made by NAVER Corp., Naver Map gives transit directions with real-time departure and arrival times, walking directions and car navigation, with maps in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese. In our own web test on Oct 22, 2026, Google Maps showed transit routes in Seoul but no walking or driving directions for the route we checked.

Source: Naver Map App Store listing; checked Oct 22, 2026. Full guide: how to use Naver Map.

KORAIL+

Korail sells KTX tickets on its website, in the KORAIL+ app, at ticket machines and at train stations, but not at subway stations. Tickets normally go on sale at 07:00, two months before your travel date.

Source: Korail — ticketing guide; checked Oct 25, 2026. Full guide: how to book the KTX.

Taxi apps: k.ride, Uber and TABA

Source: Korea Tourism Organization — Taxi and TABA; checked Oct 25, 2026. Fares and tips: taxis in Korea.

Language

Papago

Papago is NAVER Corp.'s translator. Its official listing names 14 languages, including English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Russian, German, Italian and Arabic.

Offline text translation is available on supported devices after you download an offline language pack while online. It supports Korean, English, Japanese and Simplified Chinese; NAVER's help page lists 4 GB of RAM or more for the device. Image, conversation, website and document translation don't work offline. Papago also works in a browser at papago.naver.com.

Source: Papago App Store listing and Papago help — offline translation (Korean); checked Oct 25, 2026.

Entry and paying

K-ETA

If you need a K-ETA, apply only on k-eta.go.kr or the official K-ETA app; the government warns about lookalike sites that charge extra. 22 countries and regions are temporarily exempt until December 31, 2026 (Korea time).

Source: K-ETA; checked Oct 23, 2026. Full guide: K-ETA explained.

WOWPASS

Its operator, Orange Square, Inc., describes WOWPASS as "an all-in-one prepaid card for foreign travelers in Korea, covering money exchange, payment, transportation, and brand rewards." Check fees and limits in the app before you load money.

Source: WOWPASS App Store listing; checked Oct 23, 2026. More on cards and cash: paying in Korea.

Safety

Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government — Emergency Ready App and Korea Tourism Organization — disaster safety services; checked Oct 25, 2026. Numbers to save: emergency help in Korea.

Before you fly

1. Install Naver Map and Papago, and download Papago's offline pack if your language pair is supported.
2. Install KORAIL+ if you'll take the KTX.
3. Set up one taxi app with your card (k.ride, Uber or TABA).
4. Need a K-ETA? Use only k-eta.go.kr or the official K-ETA app.
5. Add Emergency Ready and Baro Emergency Reporting.

Source: the official listings and operator pages linked above; checked Oct 22–25, 2026.

FAQ

What is the best map app for Korea?

We recommend Naver Map. It gives transit, walking and driving directions with English maps. In our Oct 22, 2026 web test, Google Maps showed no walking or driving directions for the Seoul route we checked.

Which translation app works in Korea?

Papago, by NAVER Corp. It translates text, photos and speech across 14 languages. Offline translation works for Korean, English, Japanese and Simplified Chinese on supported devices, after you download a language pack.

Can I call a taxi in Korea with an English app?

Yes. k.ride works in English, Chinese and Japanese and takes overseas cards; TABA lets you search addresses in any language and takes Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay and JCB; and Uber calls an Uber Taxi with your existing account and translates messages to the driver.

Is there an official K-ETA app?

Yes. The government says to apply only on k-eta.go.kr or the official K-ETA app.