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Essential Apps
Before settling into life off-post in Korea, we highly recommend downloading a few essential apps:
Naver Papago
A powerful translation app that better understands Korean cultural nuances, idioms, and formal language. It supports text, voice, and image translation.
Google Translate
Google Translate is a widely used translation app that offers text, voice, and camera translation. It may not capture Korean nuances as well as Papago, but it’s a great backup tool for quick translations and works especially well for general phrases.
Naver Map or Kakao Map
These are the most accurate and frequently updated navigation apps in Korea, with built-in alerts for approaching speed cameras. While English searches often work, using Papago to translate keywords can provide more accurate results.
Kakao T
Kakao T is Korea’s primary taxi and transportation app, allowing you to easily request rides without needing to speak Korean. You can input your destination, track your driver, and in some cases pay directly through the app.
Kakao Metro
Kakao Metro is a navigation app designed specifically for Korea’s subway system. It provides real-time train schedules, route planning, and estimated travel times to help you get around efficiently.
Coupang
Often referred to as the “Amazon of Korea,” Coupang is a convenient way to shop for groceries, household items, and everyday essentials. Many items offer fast “Rocket Delivery,” meaning they can arrive the same day or next morning. The app also has an English interface, making it easy to use for newcomers.
Gmarket (Global Gmarket)
Gmarket is one of Korea’s largest online marketplaces and is especially foreigner-friendly, offering an English version and support for international payment methods like Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal. It carries a wide range of products, from household goods to electronics and clothing.
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