Daily life in Korea runs on a handful of Korean apps: Baemin for food, Kakao T for taxis, Naver Map for directions, Coupang for shopping and KakaoTalk for messages. More of them work in English than a few years ago, but most still need a Korean phone number in your own name to sign up fully. Get the phone line and residence card sorted first, and the rest gets much easier.
“Korean number” below means a Korean phone line in your own name, used for identity verification (본인인증). Apps change often; facts are as of October 2026.
Food delivery
| App | What it’s for | English? | Needs Korean number / ARC / Korean card? | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baemin (배달의민족) | The biggest delivery app | Yes, since February 2026 | Korean number or ARC to sign up; foreign cards, Alipay+, WeChat Pay accepted | Ordering delivery |
| Coupang Eats (쿠팡이츠) | Delivery, often with free delivery promos | Limited; check the app | Coupang account with Korean phone check; Korean card safest | Ordering delivery |
| Yogiyo (요기요) | Third delivery app | Korean only, as far as we found | Korean number; Korean card safest | Ordering delivery |
Taxis and rides
| App | What it’s for | English? | Needs Korean number / ARC / Korean card? | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kakao T (카카오 T) | The main taxi app | Yes | Kakao account, phone check; foreign cards hit or miss | Taxi apps compared |
| Uber | Licensed taxis (Uber Taxi) and Uber Black | Yes | Your Uber account and card usually work | Taxi apps compared |
| TADA (타다) | Van-type and premium rides | Yes, follows your phone language | Overseas numbers and foreign cards supported; results vary | Taxi apps compared |
Kakao Mobility also runs k.ride, a separate foreigner app that signs you up by email and takes foreign cards.
Maps and transit
| App | What it’s for | English? | Needs Korean number / ARC / Korean card? | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naver Map (네이버 지도) | Directions, places, reviews | Yes (also Chinese, Japanese) | None for directions; bookings need verification (passport option since June 2026) | Naver Map vs Kakao Map |
| Kakao Map (카카오맵) | Directions, bus arrivals | Mostly Korean | None for directions | Naver Map vs Kakao Map |
| Google Maps | Transit directions only, for now | Yes | None | Naver Map vs Kakao Map |
Why Google Maps is limited: Korea long refused to let Google take detailed map data abroad, citing security, so Google offers transit directions but no walking or driving navigation. The government approved the export with conditions in February 2026, but as of October 2026 we could not confirm full navigation had launched. Use Naver Map or Kakao Map. For transit cards, see public transport.
Shopping
| App | What it’s for | English? | Needs Korean number / ARC / Korean card? | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coupang (쿠팡) | Almost everything, fast delivery | Yes (beta since 2025) | Korean phone check; Korean card safest | Coupang Rocket Delivery |
| Karrot (당근) | Secondhand goods from your neighborhood | Korean only | Korean number; GPS neighborhood check | Using Karrot |
Money
| App | What it’s for | English? | Needs Korean number / ARC / Korean card? | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toss (토스) | Transfers, payments, banking | Yes | Korean number, ARC, Korean bank account | Bank account |
| KakaoPay (카카오페이) | Pay and send money in KakaoTalk | Partly (“Global Home”, since November 2025) | Korean number, Korean bank account or card | Bank account |
| Naver Pay (네이버페이) | Naver shopping, stores | Mostly Korean | Verified Naver account; most foreign cards not accepted | Bank account |
Translation and chat
| App | What it’s for | English? | Needs Korean number / ARC / Korean card? | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papago (파파고) | Translation, incl. photos of menus | Yes | None | Papago tips |
| KakaoTalk (카카오톡) | The messenger everyone uses | Yes | Any phone number; Pay needs Korean verification |
Government and help
| App or service | What it’s for | English? | Needs Korean number / ARC / Korean card? | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HiKorea (하이코리아) | Immigration e-applications, visit bookings | English website | Applications need a certificate | ARC rules |
| 1345 Immigration Contact Center | Phone help, 20 languages | Yes | Any phone; weekdays 09:00 to 22:00 | Helplines |
| Korail Talk (코레일톡) | KTX and train tickets | Yes | Foreign cards in the app not confirmed | Public transport |
Housing
| App | What it’s for | English? | Needs Korean number / ARC / Korean card? | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zigbang (직방) | Rental listings | Korean only | None to browse; agents speak Korean | How renting works |
| Dabang (다방) | Rental listings, one-rooms | Korean only | Same | How renting works |
Listings are the easy part; the contract is where foreigners lose money. Read protecting your deposit before you sign.
What you need before you download
Most failed sign-ups fail at identity verification, not in the app. Get these in order:
- Residence card (외국인등록증, ARC). Your foreign registration number is what Korean sites check. See the ARC rules.
- A Korean phone number in your own name, registered with your ARC number. A line in someone else’s name fails every check. See phone plans.
- A Korean bank account and debit card (체크카드). Foreign cards work in Baemin, Uber and TADA, but Toss, KakaoPay and Naver Pay are built around Korean accounts. See opening a bank account.
Still failing? Usually it’s a name mismatch between your carrier record and your ARC. See identity verification.
Common questions
Can I use these apps on a foreign phone number?
Some: Uber, TADA, k.ride, Papago, KakaoTalk and Naver Map work without one, and Baemin reports ordering via SMS to an overseas number. Payment apps, Coupang and Karrot need a Korean line in your name.
Do I need Korean to use them?
Less than before: Baemin, Toss, Coupang, Kakao T and Naver Map have English. Menus, listings and chats are still mostly Korean, so keep Papago open.
Official sources
- The Korea Times: Baedal Minjok rolls out English, Japanese and Chinese ordering (Feb 2026)
- DigitalToday: Baemin lowers barriers for foreign users (Aug 2026)
- TechCrunch: South Korea opens the door to let Google Maps operate fully (Feb 2026)
- NAVER: Naver Map in English, Chinese and Japanese (press release)
- Toss: Official support for five foreign languages
- Herald Kyungje: KakaoPay launches multilingual Global Home for foreign residents (Nov 2025)
This guide explains the general rules as of the date above. Rules change and every case is different, so confirm with the office named here (or the 1345 Immigration Contact Center) before an important decision. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.