Essential Korea Travel Apps: Naver Map vs Kakao Maps
Planning a trip to South Korea? While you might rely on Google Maps elsewhere, things work a bit differently here. To navigate the vibrant streets of Seoul or find a hidden katsu spot in Busan, you need to know the local “survival” apps.
The two giants of Korean navigation are Naver Map and Kakao Maps. A common question from travelers is, “Do I need to download both?” The simple answer is no. Downloading just one of them is more than enough to make your journey seamless.
My Personal Choice: Why I Prefer Kakao Maps
Personally, I mainly use Kakao Maps. While Naver Map is popular, it is often crowded with “sponsored reviews.” In Korea, many bloggers receive compensation or free meals from restaurants in exchange for positive feedback. This can make the ratings on Naver feel less reliable.
Kakao Maps is known for having much “stingier” or tougher ratings. Even if the food is amazing, if the service is unfriendly, users will leave a low score.
💡 Pro Tip: If you don’t mind “rough” service as long as the food is great, you can take some of the service-related complaints on Kakao Maps with a grain of salt.
How to Spot a Real Review: A Masterclass in Kakao Maps
To show you how this works, let’s look at the search results for Kanda Soba, which I reviewed previously.
Caption: The search screen for Kanda Soba, showing photos, ratings, and operating hours.
If you scroll down, you will find user reviews. If you can read a bit of Korean (or use a translation tool), look for a reviewer with a similar palate to yours. By clicking on their profile, you can see all the other reviews they have written. This is a great way to discover more hidden gems!
Red Flags: Beware of the “Fake 5 Stars”
Even Kakao Maps has some sponsored content now. To find the truth, I always check the reviewer’s history. Here is my golden rule:
Look at this photo. The rating is a perfect 5 stars, but the user has only written exactly one review.
In most cases, this is 100% an advertisement. Reliable reviewers will have a history of many different scores. If an account was created just to give one restaurant 5 stars, you should probably skip it.
Don’t Wait in Line: Using Waiting Apps
If you visit famous spots, you will likely encounter a long line. In Korea, we don’t always stand physically in line anymore. Many popular restaurants use waiting machines at the entrance.
The two most essential waiting apps are:
- Catch Table (캐치테이블)
- Tabling (테이블링)
Sometimes you can even “join the line” remotely through these apps before you arrive. If you see a machine in front of a shop, check if you need to register your phone number first!
Whether you choose Naver or Kakao, you are getting world-class technology. Just remember to check the reviewer’s history, and you’ll find the best meals in Korea!
