Top 14 Best Apps for Expats Living in South Korea
Living as an expatriate in South Korea and adjusting to a new culture, language, and way of life can be challenging. Thankfully, there are some of the best ... read more...apps for expats living in South Korea designed to enhance their experience.
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Papago is a translation program developed by the Korean business 'Naver Corporation' that supports 13 languages (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified/Traditional), Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Russian, German, and Italian).
This software is popular among both foreign travelers and Koreans since it can translate texts, photos, sounds, dialogues (when conversing one-on-one with a foreigner), and handwritten words. It's extremely realistic, especially in Korean, so download it if you're planning a trip to Korea, whether for pleasure or business.
One of the app's outstanding capabilities, for example, is image recognition. Simply take a photo of a street sign or menu from a Korean restaurant, and the software will translate it into your preferred language.
Papago supports real-time text translation, text recognition, voice input, handwriting, and internet translation. Offline translation is also an option. In addition to the first translation discoveries, dictionary information is available. Travelers can also benefit from a phrasebook.Website: https://papago.naver.com/
Download iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/naver-papago-ai-translator/id1147874819
Download Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.naver.labs.translator
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With Emergency Ready, you may get real-time alerts on disasters and health concerns in South Korea. Disaster Alerts, the app's major feature, gives information about COVID-19 cases, forest fires, earthquakes, extreme cases of fine dust, and other similar events. This is especially useful for foreigners who have yet to obtain a long-term local SIM card but wish to receive safety alerts.
Download the free Emergency Ready App for iOS and Android. To limit alerts to only those in your immediate proximity, go to Settings > Set Receive Area > Set as your desired location > Add area (toggle).
Download iOS: https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/emergencyreadyapp/id826120919
Download Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.go.nema.disasteralert_eng
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Coupang is Korea's Amazon. Did you know they had an app as well? Coupang is Korea's most successful e-commerce site. Coupang's end-to-end reliable fulfillment and logistics infrastructure distinguishes it from its competitors. Furthermore, because of their creative delivery options, they have a high customer satisfaction rating. Coupang offers dawn delivery, meaning orders placed before midnight are delivered to the customer's door the following morning. They also operate a similar service for groceries called Rocket Fresh.
99.5% of all orders are expected to be delivered within 24 hours. Coupang is vying with Naver for the number-one spot in the online retail business. We prefer Coupang since it is really foreigner friendly. They also have American items like Red Hot Cheetos and Hidden Valley Ranch dressing!!! The wait times will be much longer because goods will be transported from the United States.
After using Coupang and seeing how quickly orders arrive at your door, you will never use another retail delivery service in Korea.
Website: https://www.coupang.com/
Download iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/%EC%BF%A0%ED%8C%A1-coupang/id454434967
Download Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.coupang.mobile
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WAUG is used by locals to save money when they eat out, plan a weekend excursion, or make hotel reservations. Our app can reveal nearby restaurants with English menus as well as thousands of weekend activities such as visiting COEX Aquarium in Seoul.
WAUG is also more flexible in terms of payment methods than most South Korean apps. If you do not yet have a credit or debit card from a Korean bank, you can use your foreign Visa, Mastercard, or AMEX card!
WAUG is available for free on Google Play and the App Store. Sign up to receive your 3,000 or $3 off coupon!
Website: https://www.waug.com/ko
Download iOS: https://apps.apple.com/mr/app/waug-no-1-travel-app/id1109193105
Download Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.co.waug.waug -
In Korea, Naver Map is a GPS and navigation program that offers detailed route suggestions based on your preferred mode of transportation. When compared to similar apps, the recommendations are more localized, so you'll get more information as you plan your route.
For bus searches, you'll see the fare, real-time bus locations, and your estimated arrival time. Subway results will provide a rapid summary of the number of transfers required, fare costs, daily train schedules, and exit information. The software also includes a metro map of Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Daejeon, eliminating the need to download a separate one.
Naver Map is available for free on Android and iOS. You may want to save your home and work addresses after installation so you don't have to fill them in every time.
Website: https://map.naver.com/v5/
Download iOS: https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/네이버-지도-내비게이션/id311867728
Download Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?gl=US&hl=ko&id=com.nhn.android.nmap
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You know how popular food delivery is in Korea. When visiting Korea, we propose that you try a food delivery service that many Koreans use daily. There are numerous meal delivery platforms in Korea, but we would like to suggest Coupang Eats, one of the newest and easiest food delivery apps.
Coupang Eats provides a convenient and user-friendly app allowing users to order food from a wide range of restaurants and deliver it to their desired location. Whether you're craving traditional Korean cuisine, international dishes, or fast food, Coupang Eats offers a diverse selection of restaurants.
Once you place an order, you can track its progress in real-time through the app. Coupang Eats includes customer reviews and restaurant ratings, which can help you decide where to order from. The app supports various payment methods, including credit cards, mobile payment platforms, and even cash on delivery, providing flexibility for users.
Website: https://www.coupangeats.com/
Download iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/coupang-eats/id1445504255
Download Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?gl=US&hl=en&id=com.coupang.mobile.eats
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If you're just getting ready to fly in and want to open a local bank account, Hana might be a good option. This Korean bank takes pride in its financial technology for expats, particularly those who need to move money overseas on a daily basis.
The Hana EZ app, which allows registered Hana clients to send money from South Korea to the United States, Australia, Canada, the Philippines, Indonesia, and other countries, is one of their most recent products. English, Chinese, Japanese, Nepali, Mongolian, Bangladeshi, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, Filipino, and Khmer are among the languages supported by the program.
The Hana EZ app is available for iOS and Android, but you must first visit a Hana Bank branch and open a bank account. If you are unable to visit during the week, you may like to visit one of Hana Bank's dedicated Sunday branches, which cater to foreigners.Website: https://kebhana.com/easyone_index_en.html
Download iOS: https://apps.apple.com/ru/app/hana-ez-하나이지-하나은행-외국인-전용/id1472964746
Download Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kebhana.hanasfbank&hl=en
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Kakao T is a transportation app in Korea. This app is popular in Korea, and it provides features such as taxi hailing, designated driver booking, nearby parking space search, real-time traffic information, and others. We recommend that you download this app if you need to take a taxi on occasion!
The service, formerly known as Kakao Taxi, debuted on March 31, 2015, as a taxi-calling service app that links consumers in need of a ride with taxi drivers. In 2017, Kakao relaunched the platform as Kakao T, with the "T" representing "transportation," merging its core transportation services under a single smartphone app. As a consequence of a collaboration with JapanTaxi, the service was introduced in Japan in May 2017.
The app requires a Kakao account with an email address and password. Personal data is being collected and stored. The software connects the user with the nearest driver in the area. KakaoTaxi drivers are all licensed taxi drivers. You can also pay directly if you enter your payment information into the app. It's similar to Uber in Korea.Website: https://www.kakaocorp.com/page/service/service/KakaoT?lang=en
Download iOS: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/kakao-t/id981110422
Download Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kakao.taxi
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One of the two mobile applications that get the highest use in South Korea is called Kakao Talk. Newcomers to the country will want to have the app downloaded as quickly as they can so that they can communicate with their classmates or workplace.
Kakao Talk, just like other social messaging systems (such as WhatsApp or Messenger), offers a function called Channels that enables users to connect with a variety of brands and be notified of their promotions (most likely sent in Korean).
Both the Play Store and the App Store have Kakao Talk accessible for download. You could also wish to install the application on your personal computer or Mac in order to have everything you need in a single location while you are working.
Website: https://www.kakaocorp.com/page/service/service/KakaoTalk?lang=en
Download iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kakaotalk/id362057947
Download Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kakao.talk&hl=en_US -
Naver is a leading internet portal and search engine in South Korea. It was launched in 1999 and quickly gained popularity, becoming one of the most visited websites in the country.
Naver offers a wide range of services that cater to various aspects of users' online needs, including news, webtoons, online communities, and more. It has a significant presence and user base in South Korea, providing a range of services that cater to the needs of the local population. Naver's popularity and usage make it one of the go-to platforms for information, communication, and entertainment for many people in South Korea.
Naver has expanded its services beyond South Korea, with a presence in Japan, Taiwan, and other countries. It has successfully established itself as a major internet brand and plays a significant role in the digital landscape of South Korea.
Website: https://www.naver.com/
Download iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/네이버-naver/id393499958
Download Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nhn.android.search
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In Korea, Zigbang is the most popular real estate app. The majority of foreigners living in Korea will lack the requisite deposit. In Korea, the down payment is substantial, with a quality apartment requiring at least $50,000. This is why the majority of foreigners in Korea prefer one-room villas. As a result, obtaining housing is critical for anyone looking to live in Seoul.
In Korea, the Zigbang app connects real estate agents with renters. It is ideal for single-household users in their twenties and thirties looking for small-unit rentals. Download the app and fill out the form with your desired deposit amount, monthly rent, and location; Zigbang will handle the rest.
If you do not use Zigbang, you must visit a real estate agency and chat with an agent in person. The majority will not be able to communicate in English. They will take you to several locations. This will take the majority of the day. Why waste time when you can view what is accessible via Zigbang?Website: https://www.zigbang.com/
Download iOS: https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/jigbang-jiggeorae-joheun-bang/id503098735
Download Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chbreeze.jikbang4a
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Yogiyo is a food delivery app in Korea. It is the Korean subsidiary of Delivery Hero, which is situated in Berlin. It is an excellent app for delivering Korean food to your door.
Check out our post on Korean food delivery firm Shuttle Delivery if you're seeking for foreign cuisine delivery in Seoul. Yogiyo has a larger Korean food directory with pictures and prices. They also serve Western meals here, however it may be tough to find if you don't speak Korean.
Users can also browse restaurant recommendations and reviews. Again, these ratings are in Korean, so if you can't understand Korean, consider Shuttle, a meal delivery app designed specifically for foreigners in Korea.
Website: https://www.yogiyo.co.kr/
Download iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/배달요기요-기다림-없는-맛집-배달앱/id543831532
Download Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fineapp.yogiyo&hl=en&gl=US -
Miso is a Korean house cleaning and pet-sitting service. Users of the Miso app can book cleaners in Korea.
Cleaning services are available for living rooms, kitchens, laundry, and other areas. Before booking, users can evaluate their cleaners and read reviews. They also provide a pet-sitting service for those who live in Korea and require pet sitters.
Many foreigners in Korea need to leave Korea on vacation, and one of the most difficult problems is finding someone to keep their pets. Pet motels are an option, but keeping pets at home is less stressful. Users can use their app to book a pet sitter to feed, clean, and play with their pets. They will send you photo updates via Kakao to keep you updated on how your pet is doing and to give you piece of mind.
Try Miso instead of posting for a pet sitter on international Facebook groups in Korea. Miso's personnel speaks English, and they have received a lot of excellent comments for their service.Website: http://miso.kr/homeclean/
Download iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/miso-book-quality-services/id1071778654
Download Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.miso
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Cardoc is an auto repair comparison software used in Korea to acquire the best estimates and make oil change appointments. For anyone wishing to rent a car in Seoul, we recommend installing this app.
Auto repair shops in Korea can be sketchy. There is a considerable chance that you will be taken advantage of, especially if you are a foreigner. A simple bumper repair can cost double to treble the price of a competition. Download the app and upload a snapshot of the car's damage. The user will then receive an instant repair quotation from a Korean car shop.
The best thing is that people can also read reviews from other customers before making a decision. Cardoc also provides engine oil changes and high-quality car washes.
Website: https://www.cardoc.co.kr/
Download iOS: https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/id646336721?
Download Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.co.cardoc&