Here is the surprise that catches almost every first-time visitor to Korea: Google Maps does not really work here. You can search for a place, but it will usually refuse to give you driving or walking directions, and even transit results can be patchy. The reason is a Korean law that restricts exporting detailed map data overseas, so Google never got the full dataset. The fix is simple — Koreans navigate with two homegrown apps, Naver Map and KakaoMap, both free and both with English modes. This guide explains why Google Maps falls short, what each Korean app is best at, how to switch them to English, how to search when you do not read Korean, and how to handle transit, taxis and walking. Sort this out before you fly and you will step off the plane ready to find your way. Then plan the whole trip with our complete Busan Travel Guide.

1. Why Google Maps barely works in Korea

You are used to Google Maps doing everything, everywhere. In Korea it suddenly goes quiet: you can drop a pin and see a place, but tap Directions and you will often get nothing for driving or walking, and limited results for transit. This is not a glitch — it is the law.

For security reasons, South Korea restricts the export of high-precision national map data to companies that store it on overseas servers. Google has never been granted the full dataset, so its turn-by-turn routing here is crippled. What you can sometimes do on Google Maps is basic subway/bus search and reading reviews, but for real navigation you need a local app.

2. Naver Map vs KakaoMap at a glance

Both apps cover the whole country, both are free, and both do maps, search, transit, driving and walking. The differences are in the details — here is the quick comparison:

The short answer most locals and seasoned visitors give: use both. Let Naver Map be your everyday app for searching and walking, and pull up KakaoMap when you need precise, real-time public-transport timing or a taxi.

3. Naver Map — best for English and place search

Naver Map is the most foreigner-friendly of the two. Its English mode is genuinely complete: menus, turn-by-turn voice guidance, subway exit numbers and major landmarks all show in English, which makes it the easiest to read when you are new to Korea.

• Best place search: Naver is Korea’s biggest search portal, so its map has the deepest database of restaurants, cafés, shops and opening hours — if a place exists, it is probably here.
• Walking directions that work: its step-by-step walking guide is excellent, even threading you through Busan’s narrow back streets and hillside alleys.
• Reviews and photos: listings come with photos, ratings and reviews, handy for picking a restaurant on the spot.

4. KakaoMap — best for real-time transit and taxis

KakaoMap is the one to open the moment you are standing on a platform or a bus stop. Its real-time public-transport information is outstanding: it tells you how many minutes (sometimes seconds) until the next subway or bus, and even which subway car to board for the fastest transfer or the closest exit.

• Live arrivals: exact countdowns for buses and subways, so you know whether to run or relax.
• Smart transfers: it points you to the best carriage for your next change or station exit — a small thing that saves real time.
• Taxi built in: KakaoMap links to Kakao T, Korea’s dominant taxi app, so you can hail a cab straight from your route.

5. How to set them up in English

Both apps default to Korean, but switching to English takes seconds. Do this on the WiFi at your hotel or before you fly.

1. Download both apps Get Naver Map and KakaoMap from the App Store or Google Play. They are free; no Korean phone number is required to use the maps.
2. Open the settings Tap the menu or profile icon (usually a gear or three-line icon in a corner) to find Settings.
3. Switch the language to English Look for the Language option and choose English. The map, menus and voice guidance will switch over.
4. Allow location Give the app permission to use your location so it can show where you are and route from your spot.

6. How to search like a local

The one skill that makes Korean map apps click is knowing how to search. A few habits go a long way:

• Search by the place’s real name: famous spots work in English (try Haeundae Beach, Gamcheon Culture Village), but smaller places are often easier to find by their Korean name or exact address.
• Paste the Korean text: if you have a place’s Korean name from a blog or a website, copy and paste it straight into the search box — that always finds the exact spot.
• Use the road address: Korean addresses (e.g. a road name plus number) are precise. Paste the full address if a name search comes up short.
• Let Papago help: Papago, Korea’s best translation app, turns a Korean menu, sign or address into something you can read — and back the other way when you need the Korean to paste into the map.

7. Getting around: transit, taxis and walking

Once you can search, getting around is the easy part. Here is how the apps handle each mode in Busan:

• Subway & bus: both apps route you door to door, but KakaoMap’s live arrivals make it the better call when timing matters. It shows transfers, fares and how long each leg takes.
• Walking: Naver Map’s walking directions are the clearest, including the hilly, winding lanes you will meet around places like Gamcheon and Huinnyeoul.
• Taxi: hail one through Kakao T (linked from KakaoMap). You can set your destination in English and pay by registered card, which removes any language barrier with the driver.
• Driving: if you rent a car, both apps give full turn-by-turn navigation with live traffic — the thing Google Maps cannot do here.

8. Which one should you use?

You do not have to choose just one — and you should not. But if you want a simple rule, here it is:

For most visitors to Busan, the winning setup is Naver Map as your main app, with KakaoMap on standby for real-time transit and taxis. Install both, set them to English, and pair them with a data connection. Remember they need mobile data to work, so sort out a SIM, eSIM or pocket WiFi too. Got your maps ready? Now plan the rest of your trip with our complete Busan Travel Guide.

Naver Map & KakaoMap FAQ

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