Are you planning to come to Korea in the upcoming days ? Then this post is made for you ! Here are some must-have apps that you need to download before coming to Korea in order to enjoy your trip to the fullest ! These apps will save you so much time and make your stay even easier !
Transports
There is no doubt that Korea has one of the largest and most developed transport network in the world. With 22 subway lines and more than 200 buses lines, it’s not unusual to see lost tourists trying to find their way in the Korean metropolis. But don’t panic ! We got your back on this ! Here is a list of must-have applications that you can find on the Play store or Apple store. They will definitely save you from wasting time trying to find out which transport to take to go to your destination !
Naver Plan
The first one we recommend you to download is Naver Plan. This app is like heaven ! You just need to write down the name of your destination and it gives you all the different ways to go there: bus, metro, and even taxi ! You can also see how much the trip costs and how long it will take. The most interesting part is that you can also check the bus timelines and how many stops left there are until your bus comes ! What a relief to see that everything’s under control thanks to Naver App isn’t it ?
Jihacheol
Another very similar app is Jihacheol which is basically made for the subway only. You choose a departure station and an arrival one and the app shows you which way to go! You can also check the timetables and they’re frequently updated, so it’s quiet a fair app.
KakaoTransports
The last one is obviously Kakao ! Kakao is the most famous korean app and it has various uses. What interests us is Kakao Taxi and Kakao Bus. These two have quite a similar use to the previous ones and are commonly used among Korean. You can choose a destination and either you take a bus or a kakao taxi near your area.
Food
Yo-Gi-Yo 요기요 & Baemin 배민
Korean Gastronomy is well-known in the world to be one of the best.
It’s one of those nights when cooking is the last thing you want to do after a day visiting, then you can use these apps !! South Korea is the country where people never get tired of ordering food online.Yo-Gi-Yo and Bae-Min are applications where you can order food online and have it delivered to your temporary accommodation.
When you surf on these apps, you have different categories of food and you can see pictures of the dishes to find you perfect choice. You can check reviews and comments from others customers for more informations on the food and restaurant’s reputation! You also have access to the restaurant menu, phone number and working hours if you have any inquiries.
Once you ordered your food, you need to provide your address for the delivery. Just the general area is necessary for the app to narrow the restaurants down to the ones that are able to deliver to your area! These apps are very convenient and the delivery time is unbeatable!
MangoPlate 망고플레이트
MangoPlate is an app recommending restaurants and services in the food industry. The app helps you resolve your daily problem of where to go eat. It finds you the best and trustworthy restaurant, blending food reviews, ratings, and content!
For all food lovers, this app will suit all your taste.
Communication
KakaoTalk
South Korea is a very connected country and you can’t come here without using KakaoTalk. The free application for sending messages and making calls in South Korea. It also gives the possibility to share various content and information, including photos, videos, voice messages, location, URL links as well as contact information. The app is used by 93% of the South Korean population, as it is the most used messaging app in that country. Besides, it’s also so popular because it includes special features comparing to other applications : the concept of ‘seen’ and ‘read’, the wide range of emoticon available, game platforms… As a foreigner, you can contact people from all over the world and exchange numbers with Korean people once you’re in South Korea!
Naver Dictionary
Naver Dictionary is a language dictionary providing a Korean English translation, with Korean pronunciation, phonetic symbols, example sentences, idioms, proverbs, conjugation… So you can easily find words you can’t understand and have them translated in a second. On the site, you have short videos everyday to help you memorize Korean language!
Now you’re all ready to go to Korea and enjoy your trip to the fullest !!
Written by Soukaina Alaoui & Laura Caillebotte