How to use Naver Map in Korea

Hi guys!!! 😀

Decided that I wanna do a little tutorial on how to use Naver map today cos it really helped me a lot when I was traveling in Korea!!!

If you dk, Google maps doesn't work very well in Korea. Anyway I didn't know that before my trip. So I started freaking out when I couldn't find my way around using Google maps!! Like I would constantly get this:

🤦🏻‍🤦🏻‍🤦🏻‍

They just kept asking me to try again???? And again??? And again???

Initially I thought it was my connection problem 😂 decided to google for help then I realized....

Lol nothing wrong with my phone. It's just that Google maps really don't work well in Korea 😂

In case you're wondering why, here's the answer:

So yup I got forced into downloading Naver map and tbh when I first tried to use it, I was SUPER CONFUSED 🤢

Everything's in Korean 😐

Like okay, I study Korean but I was still super lost!!! First time using an app in Korean 😐 took me a while to get the hang of it but once I did, everything became super easy!!!! 🤗 And then I realized the beauty of Naver map lol 🗺️

So today I wanna share how to use this wonderful app just in case anyone's planning to go to Korea! You don't wanna waste time walking around in circles, trying to find a place when Google maps fails right 😂 Time is super precious when you're traveling, says the military planner 🙋🏻

First up, you wanna download this app from your App Store!! Don't dwl the wrong app lol 😂

Okay this is what you will see when you first open the app! 😃 Don't panic if you don't understand Korean!!! It's very easy to use once you get it!!

Click on the top right hand corner (where I circled in red)!

And then it'll bring you to this page! (You can click the profile pic icon if you wanna create an account which will aid in storing your previous search history, favourites etc! But it's not necessary la)

I've written the Eng translation beside the impt tabs that you'll use. I've nvr used the tabs below the "Favourites" tab so don't bother abt those!!! They're not impt!!

Okay so anyway you can type where you wanna go in the box above! They do recognize English words! Eg. I can write "Juno hair" and they'll be able to locate all the Juno hair salons in the vicinity!

(You can click the purple circle to see where you are on the map)

Eg. I typed "Juno hair" in the search bar and the nearest "Juno hair salon" will pop out in the results below!

Just in case that isn't the outlet you want, just swipe left and they'll show you the next outlet available 🤗

If you click on the outlet, you will come to this page which will give you more information abt the shop! 😊 I find it super useful!!!

First things first, ALWAYS verify the shop address! Make sure you're looking at the right shop and right outlet!

Scroll down and you can see their opening hours!!! This is very impt! I always verify their opening hours again becos some blogs with info regarding the shop may be outdated!!

You can click on their homepage for more info 🤗

Scroll down and you'll see a list of Naver blog reviews!! Click on any to read the review!

Tip: if you don't read Korean, just load the Naver blog page using your laptop and you can use the "translate to Eng" function on Google Chrome to translate the page ☺️ I think for Android users, you can do this on your phone??? (Plz correct me if I'm wrong cos I'm an iPhone user haha)

Okay now that we got the basics done, lemme show you how exactly you shld use Naver maps!!! Disclaimer: this is my preference/ how I use it. It may or may not be the easiest but it works for me! 🤗

Eg. I wanna go to "자판기" (Zapangi cafe)

Click "도착" below - which means you wanna arrive at that location.

Next you will be brought to this page where you can key in your departure location.

You can either key in your departure location OR simply click "내 위치" (if you are departing from your exact location)

If you press "취소" (cancel), you will be brought back to the previous screen.

Once you have your departure (출발) and arrival (도착) locations keyed in, you can select your options: • By public transport • By car • By cycling • By walking

Let's focus on public transport first since most tourists will probably be using Naver for public transport 🤗

By public transport

Once you click 대중교통 (public transport), you'll come to this page.

As you can see, there are 10 recommended routes (sorted by the route which takes the least time). These recommended routes will include both BUS AND SUBWAY.

If you only want to see the options with bus, click 버스 (bus) Likewise, if you only wanna see the options with subway, click 지하철 (subway)

By subway

Since most tourists will opt to travel via subway, let's look at this option first.

So many Korean words but don't worry, let's break it down: 지하철역 10 ➡️ 10 stops 약 10.19km ➡️ Abt 10.19km 약 44 분 (도보 12 분) ➡️ Approx 44min (12 min of walking) 1250 원 ➡️ 1250 won

In essence: 역 - station 약 - approx 분 - minutes

If I select the first method, I'll come to this screen.

The first set of instruction reads: 종로3가역 1호선 종로3가역 2번 출구까지 약 354m 걷기 약 5분

This means: Jongno-3-ga station, line 1 From Jongno-3-ga station exit 2, walk approx 354m Approx 5min

Key words: 1호선 - line 1 2 번 출구 - exit 2

Let's click on this instruction to see which direction we shld walk 🚶🏻‍

Once you click, you'll be brought to this page.

Let's zoom in 👀

The purple circle denotes where your start point is. If you wanna check where you are with regards to the start point, you can click the red circle.

The green dotted lines represent the route you should walk.

Click on "your location" button (which I've circled in red) twice to see which direction you're facing.

You'll know you have successfully activated this function once you see the "light beam" looking thing (this part is similar to Google maps)

If your phone shows this screen, don't panic!! It just means that you've to calibrate your phone. Just follow the instructions and tilt your screen to roll the ball round the circle 🤗

Once you've calibrated, you'll be brought back to this page. And just make sure you're in the right direction as the highlighted path AND START WALKING!!! 🤗

Taking the train and transferring to another train line is quite self explanatory!

Once you've arrived at your subway station, follow the same set of instructions to walk to your final destination ☺️

Don't worry if you can't read Korean, just rmb the key words: 2번 출구 - Take exit 2 약 441m 걷기 - Walk approx 441m 약 7분 - Approx 7min

With that, you now know how to navigate around Korea using the subway and how to walk to your destination 😊

The same applies if you've selected "도보" (By walking) instead of public transport at the start 😊

Okay now let's move on to the bus option 🚌

By bus

This may not be that applicable or useful if you're just staying within Seoul (since most touristy places are very accessible by subway) BUT I think this is SUPER useful if you're gonna visit other parts of Korea (Eg. Busan) 🤗

I really took a lot of buses when I was in Busan and this app helped a lot!!!! 👍🏼

So if you click the "버스" (bus) tab, you'll see the list of buses you can take and their corresponding information. The Korean words shld be quite repetitive now 😉

버스정류장 means bus stops, so in the 1st route, 버스정류장 19 means there are 19 stops.

If you click the first option, you will see this page. I'm sure by now you understand the first part of the instructions: 종로3가 정류장까지 약 188m 걷기 약 3분 Walk 188m to the bus stop (approx 3min)

Okay let's focus on the bus route!!!

So the first line is actually the bus stop name (where you will board): 종로3가 정류장. (정류장 means bus stop)

You can verify the bus stop name at the bus stop itself!

Let's click the purple circle for more information 😀

I'm sure by now you understand the first part of the instructions: 종로3가 정류장까지 약 188m 걷기 약 3분 Walk 188m to the bus stop (approx 3min)

Okay let's focus on the bus route!!!

So the first line is actually the bus stop name (where you will board): 종로3가 정류장. (정류장 means bus stop)

You can verify the bus stop name at the bus stop itself!

Let's click the purple circle for more information 😀

Find your stop on the list and I suggest you STAR it (like how I did for mine)!

Here you can get real time information on where the next bus is. The number at the side (Eg. 6381 for the one I circled) is the bus number plate 😊

Once you board the bus, you can use this page to track where your bus is at any point in time!

And this is the name of the stop you will have to alight!

And becos I'm super kiasu, I always reconfirm with the bus driver!!! You can just say: "xxxx 가요?" (xxxx KA YO?)

Eg. "명동 가요?" (Myeongdong KA YO?) "Do you go to Myeongdong?"

Go back to the real time information page to track how far you are away from your bus stop 😊

There will be announcements made on the bus at every stop too, along with the bus stop name displayed on the screen! So don't worry, confirm won't miss your stop 🤗

BUT if you're super kiasi, you can tell the bus driver to alert you when he's reaching your stop! Just say, "xxxx 도착하면 알려주세요." (xxxx do chak ha myeon al ryeo ju se yo)

Eg. "명동 도착하면 알려주세요" (myeongdong do chak ha myeon al ryeo ju se yo) "Plz lemme know when you have arrived at Myeongdong."

So that's basically how you use Naver map if you wanna take a bus in Korea 😊

Moving on to the last bit!!!

By car (taxi)

I've nvr actually used Naver map while driving before but you can use it to estimate the cost of a cab! 😉

Click "자동차" (car) first.

Tadaa!

택시비 약 10,500원 ➡️ Taxi fee approx 10,500won

And I'm sure you alr know the rest by now: 약 33분 - Approx 33min

YUPZ so that's pretty much how you use Naver map 🤗 Now go forth and explore Korea using this wonderful mapping app! 😊

I've used it to find food recommendations in the area too! All you needa do it just key in whatever you want in the search bar:

Eg. I wanna find a place with good 순두부 (soondubu jjigae) around 신사 (Sinsa)

A whole bunch of restaurants will appear at the search results in the bottom! Just scroll and click any which interest you! Then you can read the Naver blog reviews (as I've demonstrated above) before deciding if you wanna visit that place 🤗

That was how I found the best soondubu jjigae shop in Seoul 😍

Hope this has been helpful! 🤗