Google Maps Doesn't Work in Korea: Switch to Naver Map or Kakao Map

Bottom line: In Korea, Google Maps can find public transit routes, but walking, driving and cycling directions may not be reliable. To actually walk somewhere, use Naver Map or Kakao Map instead. The most accurate trick: search for a place in English on Google Maps first, copy the Korean name that shows up in its details, then paste that Korean name into Naver Map or Kakao Map to search again.

If you didn't know: Travelers who trust Google Maps alone for walking directions commonly end up losing 20-30 minutes when the route cuts off or points the wrong way. A Korea Tourism Organization survey ranked Google Maps as the single most frustrating travel app for foreign tourists in Korea — meaning plenty of other travelers have already hit the same wall.

Korean law long restricted the export of precise mapping data overseas, which kept Google from drawing accurate walking and driving routes onto its Korean maps. There were reports that a government review panel conditionally approved Google's request to export map data in late February 2026, but it isn't yet confirmed whether routing accuracy has actually improved, so it's still safer not to rely on Google Maps alone while traveling. Naver Map offers map displays and navigation in English and other languages, and the only catch is that saving places as favorites requires a Naver account. The most practical setup: use Google Maps, with its wealth of English-language reviews, to research and shortlist places before the trip, then switch to Naver Map or Kakao Map once you're actually walking or taking the bus and subway.

Journey stage: Before you go · Verified 2026-10-18 · Source Newsis