Hang : Korea Made Simple

If you're traveling to Korea or planning to live here for a while, there is one app you'll probably hear about almost immediately: KakaoTalk . In Korea, KakaoTalk is much more than a messaging app. People use it to stay in touch with friends and family, communicate with coworkers and classmates, contact businesses, receive reservation updates, ask questions, share locations, and join group chats. For international visitors, KakaoTalk can be especially useful if making phone calls in Korean feels intimidating. Instead of calling a restaurant, hotel, clinic, or other business, you may be able to send a message and communicate at your own pace. Kakao also introduces KakaoTalk as a useful tool for travelers in Korea, including features such as messaging, Open Chat, voice calls, video calls, and communication with businesses. If you have never used KakaoTalk before, the setup process and some of its features may feel unfamiliar at first. This guide walks you through how to install K...

Language can be one of the biggest concerns when traveling in Korea. In major cities such as Seoul and Busan, English signs are fairly common, especially at airports, subway stations, and popular tourist attractions. However, you may still come across Korean-only menus, notices, and signs at local restaurants, traditional markets, bus stops, and smaller shops. This is where Naver Papago can be especially useful. Papago is more than a simple text translator. You can use it to translate Korean signs and menus with your camera, speak with restaurant staff, understand short conversations, and translate text you encounter throughout your trip. Most travel-related communication in Korea involves short, practical situations—ordering food, asking for directions, checking transportation information, shopping, or speaking with hotel staff. Knowing which Papago feature to use in each situation can make your trip much easier. 1. Set Up Papago Before Your Trip to Korea It is a good idea to in...

One surprisingly common question when planning a trip to South Korea is how to pay for things. Should you exchange a large amount of money before your trip? Can you travel around Korea using only an international credit card? And will you still need cash for public transportation, traditional markets, or small shops? The simple answer is this: cards should be your main payment method in Korea, but carrying a small amount of Korean won as backup is still a very good idea. South Korea is highly card-friendly. Credit and debit cards are commonly used not only at hotels and shopping malls, but also at convenience stores, cafés, restaurants, supermarkets, and many other everyday businesses. Major international cards such as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are also accepted at many places. That said, Korea is not completely cashless. Cash can still be useful at some small shops, market stalls, when buying or topping up certain transportation cards, and in situations where a foreign ca...

If you're visiting major cities such as Seoul or Busan, Korea's excellent subway and bus systems are usually more than enough to get around. But renting a car can make a huge difference if you're planning to explore Jeju Island, the east coast of Gangwon Province, rural towns, mountain areas, or places that are difficult to reach by public transportation. Foreign visitors can rent and drive a car in South Korea as long as they meet the required conditions. However, simply bringing your regular driver's license from home may not be enough. In most cases, you'll need a valid International Driving Permit, your passport, and other documents required by the rental company. Once you have the car, there are a few uniquely Korean driving details worth knowing, including traffic rules, highway tolls, Hi-Pass lanes, navigation apps, fuel types, and how rental car insurance works. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about renting a car in Korea, from prepa...

If you're traveling between major cities in South Korea, high-speed trains are one of the easiest and most comfortable ways to get around. KTX and SRT trains connect Seoul and the surrounding area with popular destinations such as Busan, Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju, and many other cities across the country. For first-time visitors, however, booking a Korean train ticket can feel a little confusing. You may wonder which app to use, whether KTX and SRT tickets are sold through the same website, how to choose a seat, or whether you need to print your ticket before boarding. The booking system is also going through changes as Korea moves toward a more integrated high-speed rail service, so the correct booking method may depend on your actual travel date. This guide explains how to book KTX and SRT train tickets in Korea, choose your seat, use a mobile ticket, deal with sold-out trains, and cancel or change your reservation. 1. What to Know Before Booking KTX or SRT KTX and SRT are bo...

Getting around Korea by taxi is surprisingly easy once you know how to use a taxi-hailing app. Instead of standing on the street and waiting for an empty cab, you can request a taxi directly from your phone. One of the most widely used taxi apps in Korea is Kakao T , often casually referred to as “Kakao Taxi.” With Kakao T, you can enter your pickup point and destination before getting into the taxi, check your driver and vehicle information, and follow the taxi's location while you wait. This is especially helpful for international travelers because you do not have to explain your destination in Korean. However, short-term visitors who have trouble signing up for Kakao T or registering a Korean payment method may find k.ride , Kakao Mobility's taxi service designed for international travelers, more convenient. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about using Kakao taxis in Korea, from installing the app and requesting a ride to paying your fare and avoiding...