How to Use Naver Map in English, Step by Step (2026)

Last updated: September 2026


How to use Naver Map in English: language settings, search, directions and favorites

I once tried finding my way from Hongdae to Hapjeong with Google Maps and got sent down an alley that didn't exist. The walking route was close enough, but bus and subway transfers kept missing or showing up late. In Korea, you need a second map app, and it's Naver Map.

Open it for the first time and everything is in Korean, which can be a bit much. Switch the language setting and most of it turns to English. Here's the order to do it in: language first, then search, directions, and saving places.

1. Switch the language to English

  • Tap the menu icon (bottom or top-left, depending on your version).
  • Go to Settings.
  • Under Language, choose English.
  • Most menus, buttons and place names switch over. [Check before publishing: the exact menu location shifts a little with each app update.]

Some content stays in Korean even after the switch, like user photos of a restaurant's menu board. Think of it as the frame turning English, not the whole app.

2. Searching: if the English name doesn't turn up, paste the Korean address

  • National chains like Starbucks or Olive Young show up fine in English.
  • Independent cafes and local restaurants often don't. The fastest fix is to search the name on Google first, copy the Korean address, and paste that into Naver Map.
  • There's also a camera search: point it at a sign or a business card and it'll try to place it. It struggles with blurry text.

3. Directions: the Public Transit tab is the one that actually helps

  • Pick a destination and tap Directions. You'll get tabs for car, public transit and walking.
  • Public Transit is the useful one. It shows the bus number, minutes until arrival, and even which subway car sets you up for the easiest transfer.
  • Subway transfers come with the exact exit number, so you're less likely to wander around a station you've never been to.
  • Walking directions are solid on main roads but occasionally off in narrow alleys or inside shopping arcades. Trust it as far as the main street, then look around for the rest.

4. Saving the places you'll need again

  • Tap the star icon on a search result to save it.
  • Save your accommodation as soon as you arrive. It's the easiest way to show a taxi driver where you're headed.
  • Saved places often keep their Korean name, so add the English name in the memo field to avoid confusion later.

What's missing

There's no offline mode, so if your data or Wi-Fi drops, the map goes blank with it. Get a SIM or eSIM before you need one. Real-time bus locations are reliable, but hours and holiday closures for small, independent shops sometimes lag behind, so it's worth a quick call to confirm before you head out.

Read next

  • Does Google Maps work in Korea yet? (coming soon)
  • How to call a taxi with Kakao T (coming soon)
  • Seoul subway transfers and etiquette (coming soon)

Setup checklist


Naver Map setup checklist: switch to English, search by Korean address, save favorites with English notes, check subway transfer exits, get a SIM or eSIM

  • Switch the app to English in Settings > Language
  • Try pasting a Korean address when a local shop won't turn up in English
  • Save your accommodation as a favorite, with an English note
  • Check transfer exit numbers on the Public Transit tab
  • Get a SIM or eSIM sorted, since there's no offline map

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