KakaoMap - Korea No.1 Map

Kakao Maps is a great alternative to a Google Maps. Walking directions are fantastic, bus stop reminders work really well. The places of interest and the subsequent filtering is really useful both in cities and in rural areas. It even has Apple Watch support (also offered in English)! The only thing keeping me from using Kakao Maps as my main solution is the lack of CarPlay, so will continue to use Naver Maps as my main mapping app until that crucial feature is added. With CarPlay, Kakao Maps is the obvious winner for navigating South Korea.

This app is one of the worst navigation apps I’ve ever used. It gives the most minimal directions in English, and 90% of it is verbally/narrated at the last minute. Visually, the locations and directions are still in Korean, so it’s like someone leading you blindly somewhere by verbally telling you “go left, go right, speed camera ahead.” If you don’t read Korean, it is extremely difficult to understand exactly where you are. Worst off, it can’t find the English romanized version of Korean addresses so you have to plug in the address in Korean (again, a disadvantage if you can’t write or read). It also won’t tell you which lane you need to be in and we got lost in Seoul 3 times at night (I lived there for 3 years, so this shows how crappy the navigation is even for locals). We found Naver navigation to be the best alternative. Google maps does not work in Korea, but Naver comes close with strong English support and letting you know which lane is best. Do yourself a favor and download Naver navigation instead of this. We only were able to get by on this because I can read Korean. My boyfriend who was a co-driver, cannot read, so this app was absolutely useless for him.

(Update x6) Though this might have to do less with the map (not sure) some busses are 2-3 minutes later than this app suggests. Still the best map in Korea. (Update x5) I have found the accuracy mightily improved and use this daily in my coming and goings in and out of Seoul. I can find everything and more importantly the app finds me. 5 stars. (Update X4) I went to a 회기역 and when I left and went for to 왕십리역 the app kept thinking I was at 회기역 and neither wifi or LTE could convince it otherwise. Not even restarting the app. I needed to know how long before I got off line 5 and I had to use another app- which I think I will use from now on as this app has location issues. (Update X3) After spending time with the app, I now know where things are and it is so much easier to use. I still get placed 8 stations away on LTE, but on wifi it is accurate. So if there is no wifi, this is not the app to use. (Update x2) The accuracy has improved greatly. It takes a few seconds as the dot dances closer to where I am, i am now only on the wrong side of the street, but I can see my bus stop to know tap and get the times. Now that I better understand this app it is becoming easier to use and at times like it better that Daum Maps, but I do miss some things from that app. (Update) I used it again this morning and the app danced my location around the 강남 area, eventually finding me- it works best with wifi on. LTE is the problem I have. I miss the dedicated bus button from Daum maps. When I am at 강변역 it finds me. When I get off at 역삼역 the map says I am still at 강변역. Even after I close it and restart. I am forced to manually find the station I am at so i can check the bus times. Bus times were easier to find. This is a step backwards.