Essential Apps for Your Trip to Korea

 Hello, I'm Mookwa.

I've written this because I want to help people 

who are coming to Korea for travel or business. 

My hope is that you'll have some useful information about Korea beforehand, 

which will help you have a comfortable and happy stay before you return home.

So, where exactly is Korea?

Most people probably already know this, but Korea is a country located in Asia, 
situated between Japan and China. It's surrounded by the sea on three sides.

When you come to our country, 
there are some essential applications you must install. 
But to install them, you need Wi-Fi or data. 
The internet speed in Korea is really fast! 
You might be surprised when you experience it for the first time! hahaha

Of course, if you have already bought an eSIM online, this will not apply to you.
(If you want, I can also show you how to buy a Korean eSIM online. :))
You can also buy a USIM or eSIM at the airport.

So, where can you buy these?

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Terminal 1

At Terminal 1, you can find telecom company stores in both the arrival 

and departure halls. On the first floor, in the arrivals area, 

stores are located near Gate A (Exit 2) and Gate F (near Exit 13).

Most of these stores are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., 

so even if you arrive late, you can easily buy one.

Terminal 2

At Terminal 2, you'll find the stores on the first floor near entrances 5 and 6.

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What do you need to buy one?

Now that you know the locations, here's what you need to make a purchase:

1. Identification:You'll need to show your passport or Alien Registration Card to get more options for plans.

2. Payment Method: You can pay with cash, or with a Visa or MasterCard (credit or debit cards issued outside of Korea are fine).

3. Activation: You don't have to worry about the setup process, because a staff member will help you with everything from start to finish.

Now that you have internet access, you should install some essential apps!

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Essential Apps for Your Trip

Here are five apps that will make your time in Korea so much easier. Trust me, even Koreans can't live without them!

1. Naver Maps or Kakao Maps

In Korea, Google Maps doesn't work very well. 

Instead, you'll need one of these two apps for everything from 

finding the best public transportation routes to discovering nearby restaurants.

When you open the Naver Maps app for the first time, this is what it looks like.

Okay, for example, let's say you want to go to Gyeongbokgung Palace 
from Seoul Station. If we imagine your current location is Seoul Station, 
the app will automatically set it as your starting point. 

Then you can search for "Gyeongbokgung Palace" in the destination search bar.
Just like in the picture above, the app will show you all the different routes and transportation options you can take to get from Seoul Station to Gyeongbokgung Palace.

When you choose a route, it provides detailed instructions on how to get there, including what kind of transportation to take and where to get off.

Doesn't that seem easy?

2. Papago

This is a great translation app, especially for translating Korean speech. 
It can be a lifesaver when you need to communicate with someone.

3. Kakao T

This app is for calling taxis and other transport services. 
It's very popular in Korea and is easy for foreigners to use.

When you open the Kakao T app, you should click the "Taxi" button.

If you want to go from Seoul Station to Gyeongbokgung Palace, 
you can search for it like this. 

The app will show you the route, and you can then choose 

what type of taxi you want to take.

4. Coupang Eats or Baemin

Korea has a highly developed food delivery culture. 
If you want to order food, these are the apps to use.

When you use an app like Baemin or Coupang Eats, 
you first enter your current location at the top. 
After you set your address, the app will show you a list of all the restaurants
 that can deliver to you.

All you have to do is choose the food you want and place your order.

 It's that simple!

5. Yanolja or Yeogi Eottae

These are hotel and accommodation booking apps. 
You can find all kinds of information on places to stay.

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I've recommended about five of these apps as the main ones. 

Honestly, with just these, I think your travel and business in Korea will be so convenient. Koreans would go crazy and feel frustrated without those apps, lol.

 These five apps are not absolutely mandatory, 
but they are very convenient to have, so I highly recommend installing them.

Thank you so much for reading this long post. 

If you use these apps and have any questions or find something difficult, 

please leave a comment! I will be happy to help you :)

Enjoy your trip to Korea! :)