Must-Have Apps for Living in Korea

 

When I first moved to Korea, I was both excited and overwhelmed. Everything felt new — the streets were buzzing, the food smelled amazing, and the technology was everywhere. But honestly, without the right apps, I would have been completely lost.

If you're planning to live in Korea, or you've just arrived, here’s a guide to the must-have apps that will make your life so much easier.

1. Finding Your Way Around

KakaoMap
KakaoMap provides accurate directions for walking, public transportation, and driving. It's English-friendly and extremely reliable, especially in big cities like Seoul and Busan.

• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.daum.android.map
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kakaomap-korea-no-1-map/id304608425

Naver Map
Another excellent alternative, especially for finding restaurants and cafes. Sometimes even better than Google Maps in Korea!

• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nhn.android.nmap
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/naver-map-navigation/id311867728

Kakao T (Taxi)
Forget about waving on the streets. With Kakao T, you can book taxis easily and even pay by card through the app. It's safe, reliable, and widely used.

• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kakao.taxi
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kakao-t/id981110422

1. Payment and Shopping

KakaoPay
KakaoPay is a popular mobile wallet app. You can scan QR codes to pay at convenience stores, cafes, restaurants, and even hospitals. Many locals use it instead of carrying cash.

• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kakaopay.app
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/카카오페이/id1464496236

Coupang
Coupang is Korea’s Amazon. You can order almost anything — groceries, electronics, home goods — and many items are delivered overnight with their “Rocket Delivery” service.

• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.coupang.mobile
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/쿠파앙-coupang/id454434967

Baedal Minjok (Baemin)
The number one food delivery app. Whether you crave Korean BBQ or a quick pizza, Baemin connects you to thousands of restaurants.

• Android: https://baemin.en.aptoide.com/app
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/배달의민족/id378084485

1. Managing Money

Toss
Toss is an all-in-one financial management app. You can check your bank balances, transfer money, and even send payments with just a few taps.

• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=viva.republica.toss
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/토스/id839333328

KakaoBank
Setting up a bank account has never been easier. KakaoBank offers easy online account creation and user-friendly interfaces.

• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kakaobank.channel
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/카카오백크/id1258016944

1. Staying Connected

KakaoTalk
If you have only one app in Korea, it has to be KakaoTalk. It’s more than just a messenger — you’ll use it to talk to friends, bosses, landlords, and even make reservations.

• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kakao.talk
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kakaotalk/id362057947

Meetup
Want to meet new people? Meetup helps you find social groups, activities, language exchanges, and hobbies near you.

• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.meetup
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/meetup-social-events-groups/id375990038

1. Health and Safety

Goodoc
Finding a nearby hospital or pharmacy is easy with Goodoc. You can also search by specialties and book appointments online.

• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yello.mobile.goodoc
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/구드박-방문의/남아판가/id882235653

COOV
Originally for vaccination records, COOV is still used for verifying health documents and records in Korea.

• Android: https://coov.en.uptodown.com/android
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/coov/id1565916193

1. Everyday Essentials

Seoul Subway
This app gives you real-time updates on train schedules, platform numbers, and fastest routes. A must if you commute daily.

• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.seoulmetro.safety_keeper
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/seoul-subway-official-app/id1174757125

Danggeun Market (Karrot)
A hyper-local secondhand marketplace app. If you need furniture, appliances, or just want to find community events nearby, Danggeun Market is incredibly useful.

• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.towneers.www
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/karrot-buy-sell-locally/id1018769995

Papago
Papago is a Korean-developed translation app, and it’s much better than Google Translate for Korean-English (and other Asian languages).

• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.naver.labs.translator
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/naver-papago-ai-translator/id1147874819

Final Thoughts

Living in Korea is vibrant, fast-paced, and sometimes a little overwhelming — but with the right apps, you’ll feel right at home. Download a few before you come, and you'll save yourself a lot of time, money, and stress. 📱🌟

Good luck, and welcome to Korea!