Does Google Maps work in Korea?
Partly. Google Maps in Korea has long offered transit directions and place info, but not turn-by-turn walking or driving directions. Korea approved Google's map data export in February 2026, so check the app for what works now. Naver Map is the safer choice.
Updated 2026-10-15What Google Maps does in Korea
For years, Google Maps in Korea has shown places, reviews and public transport routes, but not turn-by-turn walking or driving navigation. The reason was a government restriction on exporting detailed map data abroad. In practice, Google Maps is fine for saving places and checking subway or bus routes, but weaker for walking between stops or finding the right building entrance.
The February 2026 decision
On 27 February 2026, Korea's government approved Google's request to export 1:5,000-scale map data, under strict security conditions. These include using security-processed imagery, limiting coordinate display, and processing data on domestic servers. The approval was expected to open the way for navigation, but we could not confirm from an official source that full walking and driving directions are live as of October 2026. Open the app and test it.
Naver Map: the safest choice
Naver Map is the app most locals use. Naver says it is the only Korean map service available in four languages: Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese, with multilingual maps since 2018. It covers walking, transit and driving directions, real-time bus and subway arrivals, and translated reviews. Foreign users can also verify with a passport to book and pay through Naver services.
Kakao Map and other tips
Kakao Map is the other big local map. VisitKorea lists it in Korean and English, so it is usable but with fewer languages than Naver. Many travellers keep Google Maps for saved places and use Naver Map for actual directions. Searching a place's Korean name, or pasting its Korean address, usually gives the most accurate results in local apps.
People also ask
Can I use Google Maps for the subway in Seoul?
Yes, transit directions have been available in Korea. Walking parts of the route may be less detailed, so Naver Map is handy for the last stretch.
Is Naver Map available in English?
Yes. Naver Map supports English, Chinese and Japanese as well as Korean. Change the language in the app settings.
Will Google Maps get full navigation in Korea?
The government approved the data export in February 2026 with conditions, and Google has said it plans full features. Check the app before you go for what is live now.