🗺️ How to Use Naver Map in English
The first thing most visitors learn in Korea is that Google Maps isn’t much help here. Walking and driving directions have long been limited, and small restaurants often don’t show up at all. Locals use Naver Map instead, and the good news is that it works in English. Here’s how to set it up and, more importantly, how to find places when English search comes up empty.
Step 1: Switch the App to English
- Download Naver Map from the App Store or Google Play and open it.
- Tap the menu (≡), then Settings (⚙️).
- Go to Language and choose English. The app restarts with an English interface.
You don’t need a Naver account or a Korean phone number. If a login screen pops up, just tap Skip.
Step 2: Search Smarter
Once the app is in English, you can type English names straight into the search bar. How well that works depends on what you’re looking for.
| What you’re searching for | English search | Best way to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Palaces, stations, malls, big landmarks | Works well | Type the English name, e.g. “Gyeongbokgung Palace” or “Myeongdong” |
| Hotels and popular attractions | Usually works | English name, or paste the address from your booking |
| Small restaurants, cafés, local shops | Often fails | Search the phone number or paste the Korean name or address |
Small places are hard because their English spellings vary. One restaurant might be written three different ways on three different blogs, and Naver only knows the Korean name.
⚡ Quick Tip: Search by phone number
Can’t find a restaurant by name? Look up its phone number on Instagram, Google or its website, and type the digits (for example 02-1234-5678) into Naver Map. The exact place pins instantly, with no spelling guesswork. Pasting the Korean name or Korean address works just as well, so copy it from a blog, a booking confirmation or a guide like ours.
Step 3: Get Around
- Subway: Naver shows transfers and tells you which exit number to use, which matters in big stations with a dozen exits.
- Buses: Real-time arrival info, so you know whether to wait or walk.
- Walking: Turn-by-turn directions with a view that rotates as you turn, handy in Seoul’s maze of alleys.
What Stays in Korean
- Reviews and menus. The app interface switches to English, but content written by businesses and users often stays in Korean. Your phone’s camera translator helps here.
- No offline mode. Search and directions need a data connection, so set up an eSIM or SIM before you land.
K Local Tip: Kakao Map is the other app Koreans use, and it also works in English. Many locals keep both. If one can’t find a place, try the other.
See it in action: every restaurant in our Gangnam Station food guide has a Korean address you can copy and a one-tap Naver Map link. Need data first? Read our Korea eSIM Guide.
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