Planning a trip to South Korea? Top 9 apps to consider

Guess we all have been in a situation when we pack our bags for a trip, without ever checking out which apps would be most useful in another country. We admit, it happened to us too, on our first trip to South Korea. But having learned our lesson, we are here to guide you on which apps would be most important while embarking on this amazing journey of Living Out Your K-Dreams.

1.     Naver Maps

Going abroad is all about exploration. You’ve probably checked a few places you’d love to see in Korea, but are not exactly sure how to get there. And that’s when Naver Maps come to help. Inconvenient as it might sound, Google Maps will be of little to no help as you explore the streets of Seoul. In fact, Korea has its own app to help locals and travellers alike.  Mark your favourite places on the map, and use it anywhere and anytime! 

2.     Kakao Talk

At some point, you’ll probably need to contact someone on the phone. Usually, you’d use apps such as WhatsApp, Viber or even Facebook itself. But in South Korea, there is no better app to have than Kakao Talk. Everyone has it (yes, grandparents included), and it is a great way to keep in touch with your friends once you’re back home too. However, be aware, the app is rather addictive, as it’s cute characters will definitely make you fall in love!  

3.    Yogiyo

Did you know that Koreans are crazy about food? So much so that whenever Koreans meet, their first question is often “Have you eaten?’. However, knowing just how delicious Korean cuisine is, it comes as no surprise that they love their food. Thus, they made it easy for people to deliver food anywhere and anytime. Even if you are hanging out with your friends by Han river, you can order food to be delivered right to the park (crazy, right?) Yogiyo might be just what you need.

4.    Hallyu Trail 

Alright, we don’t really have an app as such… But if you are looking for travel advice or recommendations send a query our way! We can book single tours as well as arrange full one-day to two-weeks itineraries, with affordable (or FREE) tours, and accommodation to suit our standards and your budget!  

5.     Subway Korea

Subways are always tricky, let it be London’s underground system, complex Tokyo train lines or the subway in Seoul. As scary as they might seem, it is something one cannot do without. But to your avail, Seoul’s subway system is rather easy to use and the helpful apps like Subway Korea will put your mind at ease

6.     Seoul Bus

It took us three visits to Korea, until we finally felt comfortable enough getting on a bus. Most of the busses don’t have any signs in English, and it can be rather difficult to know when exactly do you need to get off. However, having Seoul Bus app will definitely help you out! Although many prefer a subway, but for some routes, taking a bus is a much more convenient and cost effective method than the subway.

7.     Papago/ Naver Dictionary

Unless you speak fluent Korean, there is bound to be some struggle conversing with the locals. Mind us, a lot of people do speak English in Korea, but if you’ll happen to visit a local shop in one of the smaller towns, you are most likely going to need a translation app. Both, Papago and Naver Dictionary are great for translating text, words and pictures. But don’t threat about the language barrier, kindness and body language have no borders.

8.     Teuida

Speaking of learning Korean, in our opinion, there is no better app for this than Teuida. Not only does it give you a great base for simple Korean phrases (with an increasing difficulty level), but it actually gives you a chance to SPEAK the language. It is one of our favourite apps as its lessons are fun to follow and you get to learn phrases for everyday situations! Also, if you are a K-pop fan, it is a great way to meet some of the top Korean celebrities such as Nancy from Momoland and have a conversation with her!

Other great news? You can try the app for free, and if you love it (just like we do) you can use the code HALLYU to get up to 50% OFF!

9.     LOOK / SNOW

Although this app is definitely not a must-have, but it’s still great to know about it. Ever wondered how Koreans look so great in their pictures? Well, there is a secret to it. And it’s called a SNOW app, the app lets you apply different make-up styles and even has an easy to follow video editing tools, making it an overall useful app to have on your phone. 

What’s your favourite Korean app? Let us know in the comments below!

Author: Raimonda Kekyte