When moving to a country like Korea, it is incredibly helpful to get familiar with the apps they use every day. These are the apps I found to be most helpful. While some of these apps are in English or have English options, many of them require at least some Korean. That makes my first recommendation the most important.
Papago
I couldn't have survived in Korea without Papago. This translation app is top tier, has tons of languages, and has some great features. It allows you to speak into it for text translations, take pictures and translate any text in them, and directly translate websites. I used it often when I needed to talk to someone in person, when I went to a restaurant and wanted to translate the menu, and when I used Korean websites. So much is more accessible when you can translate the language. Until I learn to speak fluently, this is a great option for making life easier.
Trazy
Trazy is a travel app geared towards foreigners. You can book tours and local activities through the app. I used Trazy to order a SIM card to be delivered to my Korean apartment. You can also order them for pick up at the airport. These cards are great for temporary use or if you are traveling, but since they are prepaid they do not count as Korean phone numbers for any paperwork, apps, or services. Getting a phone number and bank account in Korea is super important for living there long-term, but a prepaid SIM is great to get you by in the meantime.
GMarketGlobal
GMarket is had a wide variety of products that you can order, and is geared towards foreigners. You can use the app in English and use a foreign debit/credit card to order whatever you need. I used GMarket during my first few weeks in Korean to order all of the furniture and items I needed for my apartment. Everything came fast and was easy to set up.
Coupang
Coupang is the Amazon of Korea. You can buy anything there. While Amazon does exist in Korea, it is usually more convenient to use Coupang for anything you need. You can buy furniture, clothes, and makeup, and they also have grocery delivery. Delivery dates vary like Amazon, but you can look for the rocket icon on listings for super quick delivery. One downside is that you have to have a Korean debit/credit card and Korean phone number to use it, which makes it impossible to use if you are just visiting or new to the country.
Coupang Eats
Coupang Eats is my favorite food delivery service. The app is partially in English and partially in Korean, which makes it a bit easier to navigate. A lot of restaurants have pictures of the dishes so you know exactly what you are ordering. Just like regular Coupang, Coupang Eats only takes Korean cards.
Yogiyo
If you want food delivery but don't have a Korean card, Yogiyo can be a good option. Yogiyo still only takes Korean cards, but you can choose an option to pay with cash and bypass inputting a card altogether. Not all restaurants take cash, so you might not have many options depending on your area. If the delivery driver comes to your door with a card reader, don't panic like I did. My foreign card worked just fine. Foreign cards typically work most places in person. Yogiyo is all in Korean but also has lots of pictures and is pretty easy to navigate. Sometimes Yogiyo will have different options from Coupang Eats, so even with a Korean card I like to check both.
배달의민촉 (Baedal Minjok)
Baedal Minjok is another food delivery app in Korea. I didn't use this one as often as the others because I found it a little harder to navigate. It is also all in Korean. However, I found that some restaurants I wanted to order from were only on this app. Having multiple delivery apps keeps your options open. This app also only takes Korean cards (which you'll find is true of most Korean apps).
Kakao
Kakao is similar to WhatsApp. It is Korea's favorite messaging app. Everyone uses Kakao. It is often used for work group chats, connecting with new friends instead of giving out your phone number, and is also great for staying connected with friends and family back home instead of texting them. If you plan on moving to Korea, Kakao isn't even an option. It is a necessity. You will most likely end up using Kakao for one thing or another, whether it be their regular messaging app, KakaoT, or Kakao Map.
KakaoT
KakaoT is a taxi service app similar to Uber or Lyft. You order a Kakao Taxi by putting in your location and the location where you want to go, you are given a price, and you can pay on the app or in person. Most taxis have card readers so you don't even need cash, and tipping isn't required or expected. To pay on the app you need a Korean card, but if you pay in person you can use a foreign card.
While you can also flag down taxis in Korea, the app is very convenient if there are none in sight and if you have a hard time communicating in Korean. With the app, I can put in my
destination without having to tell it directly to the driver, saving us both from potentially awkward exchanges as we figure out together where I am going. I have never had an issue getting a Taxi in Ulsan, but around Seoul there are times they can be really difficult to get from what I've heard. Just watch out for busy times and areas. Prices are extremely reasonable compared to Uber in the U.S.
Remember, if you don't want to take a taxi there is almost always a bus, rentable bike/scooter, train, subway, or even plane. Public transportation in Korea is incredible, efficient, and cheap.
Kakao Map/Naver Map
There is a lot of debate over which map is the better map. My friends all love Naver Map, but I always defaulted to Kakao Map. Just like with food delivery apps, I like to check both maps. I think it is worth having both as they might have some different information, have different styles, and each have their perks. Google Maps doesn't really work in Korea because of, from what I understand, their privacy laws. In Korea, overall, it is always best to use Korean apps. Kakao Map gives very specific directions for navigating public transportation in Korea, especially if you are switching between bus lines, subways lines, trains, etc. As someone who grew up without public transportation, it can be overwhelming. As long as you follow the directions and pay attention to which bus you are getting on or subway line you are taking, you shouldn't have too many problems. And don't worry about losing service. Korea has free Wi-Fi all over the place, and my cell phone service was incredible. Subways, elevators, remote areas never caused me to lose service or drop a call.
BucaCheck
BucaCheck is a helpful app for checking the balance on your T-Money card. The T-Money card is used for paying on all public transportation. You can tap in on buses, subways, and in cabs. You can buy them at any convenience store and have to reload them with cash. I stopped using my T-Money card when I realized my Hana Bank debit card had the same functionality, but it is super helpful if you are traveling or if your Korean card doesn't have T-Money.
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