12 Must-Have Apps for International Students in Korea

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information may change over time. Last updated: 2026-03-23

Your first week in Korea, you will probably get lost three times, accidentally order the wrong food once, and spend 20 minutes figuring out how to pay for the subway. That is completely normal. The good news is that the right apps can cut most of that confusion down to almost nothing.

This guide covers the 12 apps that international students in Korea consistently call "essential" — organized by what they actually help you do, not just alphabetically.

TL;DR: Download KakaoTalk, Naver Map, and Papago before you even land. Add the rest in your first week.

📺 Watch: "KHE TIMES - A must-have best Korean apps list [Essential apps for living in Korea]" — Korea Higher Education Times

Communication

1. KakaoTalk (카카오톡)

If you only download one app before arriving in Korea, make it this one. KakaoTalk is not just a messaging app in Korea — it is the default way most people communicate, both socially and professionally. Your university will use it. Your landlord will use it. Your classmates will use it.

KakaoTalk supports individual and group chats, voice and video calls, file sharing, and even light scheduling features. The interface is available in English, so the language barrier is minimal. You can sign up with a phone number or email address.

Pro tip: When you join a new class or dormitory group chat, make sure your name is set clearly in both English and Korean (한국어) if possible. It makes it much easier for Korean students to find and recognize you.

2. Papago (파파고)

Papago is Naver's translation app, and for most international students in Korea, it works noticeably better than other translation tools for Korean-English translation. It handles colloquial Korean, handwritten text (via camera), and spoken Korean through voice input.

The camera translation feature is especially useful: point your phone at a restaurant menu, a university notice board, or a product label, and Papago will overlay the translation in real time. It is not perfect, but it is fast and generally accurate enough for everyday situations.

Papago is free and works offline for basic translation after you download the Korean language pack.

3. Naver Map (네이버 지도)

Google Maps works in Korea, but its routing and real-time traffic data for Korea are limited. Naver Map (네이버 지도) is what most people in Korea actually use, and it is significantly more reliable for finding bus routes, subway transfers, walking directions, and estimated travel times.

You can set the app language to English. The transit directions are detailed — they tell you exactly which exit to use at subway stations, which is genuinely helpful in large stations like Seoul Station (서울역) or Gangnam (강남).

For cycling routes and scooter rental locations, Naver Map also integrates with several shared mobility services.

4. Subway Korea (지하철 종결자)

If you live in or near one of Korea's major cities — Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Incheon — a dedicated subway app is worth having alongside Naver Map. Subway Korea gives you offline access to subway maps, real-time arrival information, and easy transfer planning.

The offline functionality is particularly useful when your mobile data runs out or your signal drops underground. You can also check the last train times for each line, which is important if you are planning a late night out.

Food and Delivery

5. Baemin — 배달의민족 (Baedal Minjok)

배달의민족 (literally "the people of delivery") is Korea's dominant food delivery platform, and it is remarkable in terms of speed and variety. In most urban areas, delivery times of 20–30 minutes are normal. You can find everything from Korean fried chicken (치킨) and kimbap to pizza, sushi, and bubble tea.

The app is primarily in Korean, which can be a challenge at first. However, most menus include photos, and using Papago alongside Baemin makes ordering manageable. Some restaurants on the platform also offer English-language menus.

Payment can be done via credit card or KakaoPay (covered below). Minimum order amounts vary by restaurant but are typically around 10,000–15,000 KRW.

6. Coupang (쿠팡)

Coupang is Korea's largest e-commerce platform, roughly comparable to Amazon. For international students, it is especially useful for buying daily necessities — toiletries, stationery, small electronics, bedding, and groceries — without needing to travel to a large store.

Coupang's "Rocket Delivery" (로켓배송) service delivers many items by the next morning, sometimes within hours. The app is primarily in Korean, but again, a quick Papago translation handles most navigation. International cards are accepted.

If you are setting up a new room or dormitory, Coupang can save you a significant amount of time compared to making multiple trips to physical stores.

Finance and Payments

7. KakaoPay (카카오페이)

KakaoPay is a mobile payment service linked to KakaoTalk. Once set up with a Korean bank account, it allows you to pay at shops, restaurants, and online platforms quickly using a QR code or barcode.

For international students who have opened a Korean bank account (which most universities help with during orientation), KakaoPay significantly reduces the friction of daily payments. It also supports sending and receiving money between KakaoTalk contacts, which makes splitting bills with friends easy.

Note: Setting up KakaoPay requires a Korean phone number and bank account. Most international students can do this within the first two weeks of arrival.

8. T-money (티머니)

Strictly speaking, T-money is a transit card rather than an app — but the T-money app (also called "T world" depending on your carrier) lets you manage your transit balance, check usage history, and in some cases top up digitally. The physical T-money card is loaded with credit and tapped on subway turnstiles and bus readers.

T-money works on subway and bus systems across most of Korea. It also gives a small transfer discount (about 100 KRW) when you switch between bus and subway within a certain time window. You can buy a physical T-money card at any convenience store (편의점) for around 4,000 KRW and top it up at subway station kiosks or convenience store counters.

Housing

9. Zigbang — 직방 (Zigbang)

If you are looking for off-campus housing — a studio (원룸), shared apartment, or officetel (오피스텔) — 직방 is one of the most widely used platforms. It shows listings with photos, floor plans, monthly rent, deposit amounts, and proximity to subway stations.

The platform is in Korean, but the visual layout (maps, photos, pricing) makes it usable even with limited Korean. Many listings include a "Foreigner-friendly" filter or note in the description. It is worth using alongside a real estate agent (부동산) rather than instead of one, especially for your first rental in Korea.

Important: Korean rental contracts can be complex. Before signing anything, ask your university's international student office for guidance, or use a bilingual real estate agent.

Study and Immigration

10. HiKorea (하이코리아)

HiKorea is the official immigration portal of the Korean government. The app and website allow you to check your visa status, apply for visa extensions, and report address changes — all of which are legal requirements for international students on a D-2 (student) visa.

Not every process can be completed entirely through the app; some submissions still require a visit to the nearest immigration office (출입국·외국인청). However, using HiKorea to prepare your documents and check your case status in advance saves considerable time.

Bookmark the full website (www.hikorea.go.kr) as well as the app. The website sometimes has more detailed information than the app for complex situations.

11. TOPIK Study Apps (토픽 학습 앱)

If you are planning to take the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean / 한국어능력시험), several study apps are available on both the App Store and Google Play — search for "TOPIK 한국어능력시험." These apps typically provide practice tests, vocabulary lists, listening exercises, and sample questions organized by TOPIK level (1–6). Note that these are third-party apps, not official NIIED products — for official information, visit topik.go.kr.

Even if Korean proficiency is not required for your degree program, having basic Korean skills makes daily life much easier. Many students use TOPIK study apps during commutes or between classes for low-pressure practice.

12. Danggeun Market — 당근마켓 (Danggeun Market)

당근마켓 (which means "carrot market") is Korea's leading secondhand marketplace app, similar to Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace but with a stronger hyperlocal focus. It is organized by neighborhood, so listings come from people physically near you.

For international students on a budget, 당근마켓 is excellent for buying used furniture, appliances, textbooks, and electronics at significant discounts. Many sellers are flexible on price, and transactions are typically cash-based and done in person. The app is in Korean, but with photo listings and Papago assistance, it is very usable.

Common Questions

Do all these apps work without a Korean phone number? Most require at least an email address to register. KakaoTalk, Papago, Naver Map, Coupang, and Subway Korea work with non-Korean numbers. KakaoPay and some features of HiKorea require a Korean phone number and/or bank account.

Are these apps available on both Android and iOS? Yes. All 12 apps listed above are available on both platforms in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Search using the Korean names in parentheses if the English name doesn't appear immediately.

Is it safe to use Korean apps for payments? KakaoPay and T-money are regulated financial services in South Korea. They are widely used and generally considered secure. As with any payment app, use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication where available.

What if I don't have mobile data yet when I arrive? Download Naver Map's offline maps and the Papago Korean language pack before you land. Subway Korea also works offline. For everything else, most Korean airports and university campuses offer free Wi-Fi.

What To Do Next

Before your departure date, download and set up at least these three: KakaoTalk, Naver Map, and Papago. They cover your most immediate needs on arrival — communication, navigation, and translation.

In your first week, open a Korean bank account (your university's international student office will usually help you with this) and then set up KakaoPay and register your T-money card. From there, add the remaining apps as your needs become clear.

If you have questions about living in Korea as an international student — from housing to visas to campus life — visit Admissions.kr for guides written specifically for international applicants and students.