Google Maps barely works in Korea?

Google Maps is limited in Korea due to national security laws restricting map data exports, so Naver Map and KakaoMap are what everyone uses here. Naver Map has an English interface which you can enable in the settings, though some business names and reviews will still appear in Korean.

For navigation, open the app and type your destination in English or Korean. The app shows you transit routes with exact subway lines, bus numbers, and walking directions. The real-time bus arrival feature is incredibly accurate. For driving navigation, Naver Map gives turn-by-turn directions and real-time traffic updates. One great feature is the street view called 거리뷰 which lets you preview what a location looks like before you go. You can also search by category like 카페, 약국 (pharmacy), or 편의점 (convenience store) to find what is nearby. For saving places, use the bookmark feature to build your own map of favorites. KakaoMap is the other major option and some people prefer it for its cleaner interface. Both apps work offline for basic maps if you download the area in advance, which is useful when you have no signal underground in the subway.