Korean apps at a glance
Languages and whether you need a Korean number
Apps
| App | For | Korean number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NAVER Map | Maps, transit | Not needed (no login) | Japanese, English, Chinese. Reviews auto-translated |
| Kakao Map | Maps | Not needed (no login) | English mode (some parts stay in Korean) |
| K.Ride | Taxi | Not needed (email, Google, Apple) | Made for foreigners. Foreign cards OK |
| CatchTable Global | Restaurant booking & waitlist | Not needed (email, Google, Apple) | Fewer restaurants than the Korean app |
| NAVER (booking, ordering, pay) | Bookings, orders | Not needed (passport check) | Added for travelers in June 2026 |
| Korail (English website) | KTX & trains | Not needed (email, passport) | Foreign cards work better on the website than in the app |
| Toss | Payments | Needed | Needs a number in your own name. Hard for visitors |
Only apps we could confirm are listed. Kakao T and delivery apps are left out until conflicting reports are checked.
Sources: NAVER press release ↗ · Kakao Map guide ↗ · Asia Economy (K.Ride) ↗ · HaniSeoul (CatchTable Global) ↗ · UDN (CatchTable Global) ↗ · Korea Times (NAVER passport) ↗ · Korail / SRT apps guide ↗ · Korean pay apps compared ↗
Checked 2026-11-08