Seoul Korean Address Cheat Sheet: Copy, Paste, Navigate

In Seoul, the translated name is for visitors; the Korean address is for drivers and apps. A taxi driver may not recognise the translated name, Naver Map resolves Korean most reliably, and Kakao T expects a Korean destination.

The list below is grouped by what you need it for, and the Korean column is meant to be copied as-is. Copy it, paste it into Naver Map, show the screen to the driver, and screenshot it for offline use. Addresses and shops change, so check once more before you set off.

1. Why keep Korean addresses on your phone

Many Seoul taxi drivers are older and already find English street names hard work; a transliterated name is worse. Say "N Seoul Tower" in English and the driver is guessing; hand over a phone showing 서울 용산구 남산공원길 105 and the conversation is over.

Naver Map is Korea's own mapping service and resolves Korean street numbers best, while an English or Chinese keyword often finds the neighbourhood but not the entrance. Kakao T matches destinations in Korean too, so a Korean address succeeds far more often than an English name.

Korea has also moved to a road-name-plus-number system, while older lot numbers — a district name plus a number — still work in apps and with drivers. Both are fine; just do not translate them yourself.

2. How to use it: copy, paste, show, screenshot

1. Copy only the Korean column. Carry the translated name along and the search may land on a different branch.
2. Paste it into Naver Map and check the pin is on the entrance you want — main buildings and annexes often sit a street apart.
3. Show the screen to the driver. A Korean address plus a map pin beats pronunciation.
4. Screenshot it for offline use. Save the few places you plan to visit that day; metro carriages often have no signal.

Shops relocate, duty-free stores are renamed, pop-ups close and hours change — re-check with Naver Map or Kakao T before you set off.

3. Airport and transport hubs

Incheon's T1 and T2 are separate buildings, so confirm your terminal before boarding the airport railway or hailing a taxi. Gimpo handles short-haul international flights plus heavy domestic traffic to Jeju, and those use different buildings.

From Gimpo, the AREX all-stop reaches Seoul Station in about 22 minutes on T-money; from Incheon, the express and all-stop are different fares and rules.

4. Palaces, landmarks and parks

The palaces and landmarks cluster in Jongno and Jung-gu, a walk or one metro stop apart, and half a day covers the main ones. Street addresses matter because these places have several entrances.

Parks work differently: the address marks one gate and you still walk inside. The Han River parks run to more than a dozen sections, so a bare 한강공원 search returns something vague.

5. Shopping districts, department stores and duty-free

District names are two or three characters and navigation recognises them precisely. These are area names, not shop addresses — the same street holds several branches of one brand, so search the shop name again on arrival.

Department stores are where locals shop; duty-free is for departing travellers, with purchases collected at the airport. Outlets are prone to renaming, so check one still exists first.

6. Universities and photo spots

Universities are part of the shopping map here: Ewha, Yonsei and Hongik each sit inside a grid of shops and cafés. Campuses are generally open to visitors, but teaching buildings need a card, so read the signs and stay clear of classes.

Photo-spot addresses go out of date fastest: billboard walls change brand, pop-ups close, stalls move. For markets the address is the entrance, and inside you navigate by stall number.

Related links

• On this site: Incheon International Airport (ICN), South Korea (KR)
• Wikipedia: Seoul, Gyeongbokgung, N Seoul Tower
• Baidu Baike: Seoul, Gyeongbokgung, N Seoul Tower

Source: Xiao Han Beauty Research Club (WeChat account). Addresses, shop names and opening status change — check what Naver Map and Kakao T show before you travel.