The non-Korean speaker's guide to Naver Map & KakaoMap
Updated August 2026 · 5 min read
If you've just landed in South Korea — or you're planning a trip — you've probably noticed Google Maps quietly falls apart here: no walking directions, missing subway routing, half the restaurants you search for don't exist. That's not a bug. Korean security law restricts detailed map data from leaving the country, so Google has never gotten a full local license. To navigate like a local, you need Naver Map (네이버 지도) and KakaoMap (카카오맵).
Naver Map vs. KakaoMap
| Feature | Naver Map | KakaoMap |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Overall navigation, restaurant reviews, saving places | Subway schedules, real-time bus tracking, Kakao T taxis |
| English support | Excellent | Good |
| Street view | Panorama View | Roadview |
Step 1 — switch both apps to English
- Download the app. Get Naver Map or KakaoMap from the App Store or Google Play Store.
- Open the menu. Tap the menu icon (≡) in the corner of the app.
- Find language settings. Naver Map: Settings (⚙️) → Language Settings. KakaoMap: App Settings → Language.
- Select English. Choose English from the language list. The app switches immediately, no restart needed.
Step 2 — the copy-paste search cheat sheet
Searching in English often returns nothing, because businesses register in Korean. Copy the Korean term below directly into the search bar — you don't need to understand it, just paste it.
| 개방화장실 | Public restroom |
| 물품보관함 | Luggage storage / lockers |
| 편의점 | Convenience store |
| 24시 약국 | 24-hour pharmacy |
| 환전소 | Money exchange |
| 1인분 가능 식당 | Restaurant that serves solo diners |
| 카페 | Coffee / cafe |
| [역명] [번호]번출구 | Subway station exit — replace with station name + exit number |
Step 3 — the one transit rule people forget
Always tap your T-money card both when boarding and when exiting the bus or subway. Skip the second tap and the system charges a distance penalty on top of the fare, since it assumes you rode to the end of the line.
Want this on your phone, offline?
Free one-page PDF cheat sheet — the setup steps, the search terms and the transit rule, no signal required.
Download the free cheat sheet (PDF)FAQ
- Why doesn't Google Maps work properly in Korea?
- South Korean law restricts exporting detailed mapping data outside the country for security reasons, so Google has never received a full local map license. Walking directions, transit routing and most business listings are missing or wrong — Naver Map and KakaoMap are the two apps built on licensed local data.
- Do I need both Naver Map and KakaoMap?
- Not strictly, but they're strong at different things. Naver Map has the better English interface and more restaurant reviews; KakaoMap has more reliable real-time bus tracking and tighter Kakao T taxi integration. Most residents keep both and default to whichever is faster for the task.
- Why do my English searches return zero results?
- Most small businesses in Korea only register their name in Korean, so an English search string simply doesn't match anything in the database. Searching the Korean term directly — even copy-pasted without understanding it — finds the listing.