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Google Maps Still Won't Walk You Around Seoul in 2026: Naver vs Kakao Map in English

Korea said yes to Google's map data in February 2026, yet the blue walking line still is not there. Why, which local app to use in English, and how to search places you cannot spell.

Quick answer: As of late October 2026, Google Maps in Korea still shows transit routes but no turn-by-turn walking or driving directions: Korea conditionally approved exporting map data to Google on 27 February 2026, and Google had given no launch date as of August 2026. Use Naver Map for English walking and transit directions, keep Kakao Map as a backup, and have mobile data, because both are live services.

Key takeaways

The approval came, the feature did not (yet). Korea cleared Google's map-data export with conditions on 27 February 2026; an August 2026 report still found no walking or driving guidance in Google Maps.
Naver Map is the visitor default. It offers English, Japanese and Chinese editions; switch language in Settings.
Kakao Map is the second opinion. It lists English support, but travellers found many station names stayed in Korean.
Search in Korean when English fails. Paste the Korean name or road address, or use the nearest subway station and exit number.
Both apps need data. Do not plan around offline maps; an eSIM installed before you fly keeps them working.

You come up the stairs at Anguk Station, open Google Maps for the cafe you saved, and get a dotted line, a train icon and nothing else. No blue walking route, no turn-by-turn. Everyone around you is following a green-and-white app instead. This is not a glitch on your phone; it is a 19-year-old map dispute that was only half settled this year.

Why doesn't Google Maps give walking directions in Korea?

Korean law restricts taking precise government survey map data out of the country. Google has offered map service in Korea using 1:5,000-scale data, but could not move it to its own servers, so it could not run turn-by-turn navigation.

On 27 February 2026 the government gave Google conditional approval to export that data. TechCrunch reported the conditions: compliance checks before any data leaves, blurred military sites in Google Earth and Street View, limited coordinate data, processing on servers run by local partners, and a local officer in Korea. Google said it looks forward to bringing fully functioning Google Maps to Korea.

By 26 August 2026, a Korea Herald report carried by Asia News Network still described Google Maps in Korea without turn-by-turn driving or walking guidance, with walking parts of transit routes shown only as dotted lines. Google was hiring a Seoul partnerships manager and had not announced a launch date. Until it does, plan with a Korean app.

Naver Map or Kakao Map: which works better in English?

	Naver Map	Kakao Map
Languages	Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese	Korean and English listed
Walking and transit directions	Yes	Yes
English labels in practice	Most tourist places and transit options	Travellers found station names often stayed Korean
Best use	Your main map	A second check and saved pins

To switch Naver Map to English, open Settings and choose Language; on Android the path is the MY icon, the gear, then Language. A July 2026 Seoul guide warns that not every label translates, but exit numbers, platform numbers and car numbers are numerals you can follow anyway.

Kakao Map is worth having for detail and for saving coloured pins, and it pairs with Kakao's taxi app. Just do not expect a fully English screen.

How do I find a place I can only spell in English?

Try the romanised name first. Tourist sights and chains usually match.
Paste the Korean name or road address (도로명주소) from the booking confirmation or the place's own page. This works when English fails.
Use a station and exit as your anchor. Korean subway exits are numbered, so "Exit 3, then 200 metres" works without reading Korean.
For homes and guesthouses, search the building or complex name.
Show the listing to a taxi driver rather than saying the name.

What people who have done it say

Only the local apps give real directions. A Seoul resident's flat advice in a long-running thread: use Naver Map or Kakao Map for any directions, and plot plans around subway and train stations.
Naver beats Kakao for English transit. A traveller who tested both before a trip found Kakao's transit results in Korean, while Naver showed transport options in English.
Keep the Korean name for anywhere off the tourist trail. Naver handles programmed tourist spots in English; everything else needs the Korean address or name.
Try the bus option. One visitor who planned with Naver found a bus often dropped her closer than the subway, with fewer stairs and a view.
Do not count on offline mode. A tester could not find an offline option in Naver and asked others whether they were buying a SIM.

How much data do Korean map apps need, and which eSIM fits?

Maps are not heavy on their own, but they run all day alongside a translator, a taxi app and photos you send home, and they fail exactly when you step out of a station into a side street. A week of normal sightseeing fits a mid-size data plan; heavy video or hotspotting is what pushes people to unlimited.

In the Fizen catalogue on 26 October 2026, South Korea country plans ran on LG U+ (4G and 5G), with fixed-data plans slowing to 128 kbps once the allowance is used and an unlimited option with no throttle stated; that is one option, so check the eSIM tab in the app or fizen.io/esim for current plans. Plans start from about US$0.30 a day.

Install it at home on Wi-Fi and it connects at Incheon. It is data only, with no Korean number, so keep your home SIM on for bank codes. If it misbehaves, a real person in Fizen chat walks you through the settings, and the Trip Guarantee covers genuine faults for the length of the trip. Changed plans? An unused, not-yet-installed eSIM can usually be taken back; eligibility depends on the plan, check Package details or ask chat.

Frequently asked questions

Does Google Maps work in South Korea in 2026?

Partly. It shows places and public transit routes, but as of late 2026 reports, no turn-by-turn walking or driving directions.

Did Korea approve Google Maps?

Korea conditionally approved exporting 1:5,000-scale map data to Google on 27 February 2026. Google had not announced a launch date for full navigation as of August 2026.

Is Naver Map available in English?

Yes. Naver Map offers English, Japanese and Chinese; switch it in Settings under Language. Some labels stay in Korean.

Which is better for tourists, Naver Map or Kakao Map?

Most visitors find Naver Map easier in English, especially for transit. Kakao Map is a useful backup and pairs with Kakao's taxi app.

Do Naver and Kakao Map work offline?

Do not rely on it. Plan for a live data connection, such as a travel eSIM installed before you fly.

Does a Fizen eSIM give me a Korean phone number?

No. Fizen eSIM plans are data only, with no local number, calls or SMS.

Keep the blue line moving in Seoul

Pick a South Korea plan for your dates and install it at home on Wi-Fi. Pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through Stripe, or with USDT on Solana or BNB Chain in the Fizen app, where new users get US$10 of eSIM credit in the eSIM tab. eSIM in 150+ countries.

See Korea eSIM plans

Terms and conditions

Information only. This article is information only, not an offer or sale, and not financial, legal or travel advice. Map app features and the status of Google Maps in Korea come from the sources on the dates shown and can change quickly. The in-app Package details and the Fizen terms prevail for Fizen plans.
For readers in the United States. This is information only, not an offer or sale, and not advice. Fizen products and services are not offered to US Persons.
Data only. Fizen eSIM plans are data only. They do not include a local phone number, calls or SMS.
Credit and returns. eSIM credit is a promotional discount on eSIM plans in the Fizen app, not cash. Return eligibility and the Trip Guarantee follow the rules on docs.fizen.io.
Independent. Fizen is not affiliated with, endorsed by or a partner of Google, Naver or Kakao.

Sources

Google Maps status and app details checked 27 October 2026 against reports dated 27 February, July and 26 August 2026. Plan facts from the Fizen eSIM catalogue on 26 October 2026.