Google Maps in Korea: why it still falls short, and what to use instead
Google Maps still can't give reliable walking or driving directions in Korea, because Korean law kept detailed map data from leaving the country for years. Naver Map and KakaoMap fill the gap, both have English, and neither needs a Korean phone number.
Park English2026-09-252 min read
You land, open Google Maps, ask for walking directions to your new apartment, and get a subway route with straight lines where the walk should be. Or nothing at all. It isn't your phone.
Why Google Maps is patchy here
For almost twenty years Korea did not allow detailed map data (1:5,000 scale) to be sent to servers outside the country, on security grounds. Google keeps its map data on servers abroad, so it never had the detail it needs for turn-by-turn directions here. Korean map apps run on domestic servers and never had that problem.
In February 2026 the government gave Google conditional approval to export the high-precision data, with security conditions attached. Improvements are expected to arrive over the following months. As we write this, though, walking and driving directions in Google Maps are still not something to rely on in Korea. We will update this page when that changes.
What to use instead
| App | Good for | English |
|---|---|---|
| Naver Map | Walking, bus and subway routes, live bus arrivals, shop hours and reviews | Yes, in settings |
| KakaoMap | The same core job, and it links to the Kakao T taxi app | Yes |
| Google Maps | Places you saved before the flight, rough orientation | Yes |
Most teachers end up with Naver Map as the main app and keep Google Maps for the pins they saved at home.
Three habits that save time
- Paste the Korean address. Ask your school for its address in Korean and paste it into the search. English names miss more often than you'd expect.
- Check the bus screen before you leave. Naver Map shows when the next bus reaches your stop, so you're not standing in the cold for twenty minutes.
- Save home and school on day one. When you take a taxi, show the driver the pin. It beats pronouncing a street name.
Before you fly
Download Naver Map and KakaoMap at home, switch them to English, and save your school's address. If you're still choosing a school, browse the current openings on our job board or register with Park English and a coordinator will match you with a school and send you the address when it's time.