NAVER Map, Navigation ٤+

At the time of this writing neither Google nor Apple Maps support walking directions in Seoul. Naver does, which is why it isn’t a 1 star. If either of those companies manages to add walking directions, you should never download Naver.

Everything else about this app is garbage. Terrible use experience from start to finish. Expect it to crash. Anticipate every tap to take at least three seconds to respond. Expect it to forget that it was in a navigation mode as you frantically try to retrieve the state you left it in. Be aware no more than maybe 10% of it is translated to English and a first year CS student could produce a better search experience.

I arrived in Seoul, Korea, three days ago and was recommended Navver by a hostel mate I met in Okinawa. Despite my initial apprehension due to some negative reviews, I decided to give it a try, and I am glad I did! Navver has proven to be a high-performing app, possibly one of the best I have used. It stands out by providing rich detail through live activities on iPhones with dynamic island support and helpful notifications on the home screen. The audio guidance is clear and precise, making navigation through the bustling streets of Seoul a breeze. What impressed me the most is Navver’s eagerness to deliver an exceptional navigation experience in a major city. The app is incredibly helpful, and I found it to be more detailed and user-friendly than Apple Maps in many aspects. My only feedback is that for those who cannot read Korean, including tourists, the station numbers are not shown in the app (additional some gate entry doesn’t match the maps guidance making hard to determine which line direction to enter). Adding station numbers would make it much easier to quickly understand one’s location and navigate to the next station, similar to the system in China. Overall, I really like the app experience. With minor adjustments, Navver has the potential to be a major competitor to Google Maps and Apple Maps. Highly recommended for anyone navigating Seoul!

Did a 3 month solo travel to South Korea and I used this app every day, not kidding. My Korean is very veryyy limited and I grew up in a countryside so had no experience with public transportation or cities other than airport “subways” lol. This accurately told bus arrival times, gave detailed information and graphics for getting from one place to another, you can save restaurants and shops (even super obscure ones you wouldn’t think would be listed, I went outside of main cities a lot) in different folder types and the markings of the folder color show up on the map all together. Very helpful for planning out stations, where to eat, where you’re staying, how to get literally anywhere. I’m so grateful to this app where I didn’t have to ask any strangers directions to places, a lifesaver for introverts and anyone who isn’t versed in traveling Korea. I’ll always download it when I visit. So many grumpy reviews, yet this was a lifesaver for me!!!!