Privacy Policy

 Last updated: September 23, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains what information Seoul Local Notes ("this blog", "I", "me") collects when you visit, and how it is used. This blog is run by Gwang, an individual based in Seoul, South Korea.

Information I collect

  • Information you send me: If you email me, I receive your email address and whatever you include in your message. I use it only to reply to you.
  • Comments: If you leave a comment, your comment and the name on your Google account (or the name you enter) are shown publicly. Comments are handled by Blogger, a Google service.
  • Usage data: Like most websites, this blog automatically collects basic information such as your browser type, device, pages visited and approximate location. This is collected through Blogger and Google Analytics and is used to understand which posts are useful.

Cookies

This blog uses cookies, small files stored on your device. They are used for analytics, to remember your preferences, and to show ads. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, though some features may not work as expected.

Advertising (Google AdSense)

This blog may display ads served by Google AdSense.

  • Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this website or other websites.
  • Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visits to this site and/or other sites on the Internet.
  • You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings. You can also opt out of some third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting www.aboutads.info.

To learn more, see How Google uses cookies in advertising.

Analytics

This blog uses Google Analytics to understand how visitors use the site. Google Analytics collects information such as how often you visit and which pages you view. See Google's Privacy Policy for details.

Affiliate links

Some posts contain affiliate links. When you click one, the partner site may set a cookie to track whether a purchase was made. For details, see the Affiliate Disclosure page.

Third-party links

Posts may link to other websites, such as official app pages or government sites. I'm not responsible for their privacy practices, so please check their policies.

Your choices and rights

Depending on where you live (for example, the EU, UK or California), you may have the right to access, correct or delete personal information about you. To make a request, email me at the address below.

Children's privacy

This blog is not directed at children under 13, and I do not knowingly collect personal information from them.

Changes to this policy

I may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page shows when it was last changed.

Contact

Questions about this policy? Email wapung45@gmail.com.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Essential Korean Apps for Travelers (2026): What to Download Before You Go

Image
Last updated: September 2026 If you remember one thing before your trip, make it this: Korea runs on Naver and Kakao apps, not Google. A friend of mine once came to Seoul relying only on Google Maps, and spent a long time wandering around Hongik University Station because they couldn't find the right exit. That's when I realized visitors need a simple list of the Korea travel apps that actually work here. I've lived in Seoul my whole life, and these are the apps I tell my own friends to install. For each one, I've noted whether it works in English, accepts foreign cards, and needs a Korean phone number. Korea travel apps at a glance App What it's for English Foreign cards Korean number needed? Naver Map Directions, public transit Yes N/A No Kakao T Taxis Yes Often fails to register No (overseas number works) k.ride Taxis, built for foreigners Yes Yes No Uber Taxis (fewer cars) Yes Yes No Papago Translation (camera,...
Read more

Why Korean Apps Ask for a Korean Phone Number (and What to Do Instead) (2026)

Image
Last updated: September 2026 Ever downloaded a Korean app, started signing up, and hit a wall at "mobile phone verification"? It's one of the most common problems visitors run into in Korea. The good news: almost everything you actually need as a traveler can be done without a Korean phone number. You just need to know which apps will block you, and what to use instead. Why Korean apps want a Korean number Korea has a strong real-name verification culture online, and most of that checking is done through a Korean phone line registered in your own name . Your name, date of birth and number have to match what the mobile carrier has on file. So travelers get stuck for one of two reasons: They don't have a Korean number, or They have one, but it isn't verified in their own name . The system wasn't built to keep foreigners out. It was built around Korean residents, and visitors just fall outside it. Which apps block you: at a glance ...
Read more

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

Image
Last updated: September 2026 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 Englis...
Read more