Tech Apps for Newcomers to Korea
- UOTR Editorial Team
- Jun 30
- 5 min read
Navigating life in a new country can feel overwhelming, but the right digital tools can make the transition much smoother. That’s why we’ve curated a list of essential apps for newcomers to Korea—especially those connected to the US military community. Whether you're looking for information about your base, local transportation, translation help, or food delivery, these apps are designed to make daily life more convenient. From “My Army Post” and “USO” to “Emergency Ready App,” installation-specific apps help you stay informed and prepared from day one.
In addition to military support tools, the guide includes travel, language, and lifestyle apps that are helpful for any newcomer. Explore Korea with apps like “Visit Korea,” “KakaoMap,” and “Subway Korea,” or manage communication through “KakaoTalk,” “WhatsApp,” and “Papago.” For food and shopping, platforms like “Coupang,” “Shuttle,” and “Gmarket Global” offer convenient access to everything from groceries to late-night takeout. These apps for newcomers to Korea are more than just downloads—they’re lifelines that help you adapt, explore, and thrive.
Use the links below to navigate quickly to each section.
Installation and Base Support
My Army Post
Get and share timely and accurate information about your Army Post; set your home post and most commonly used gates to get push notifications for gate traffic and closures!
This app is the #1 App for military-connected individuals in South Korea.
The USO
The USO app gives service members and their families the ability to find USO locations, discover USO programs, and quickly check-in on arrival at participating USOs.
MWR Daegu
Digital app with its own online ordering app.
Emergency Ready App
This Service provides emergency shelters for safe evacuation in case of disaster and First Aid.
Communication and Translation
WhatsApp Messenger
WhatsApp from Meta is a FREE messaging and video calling app. It's used by over 2B people in more than 180 countries. It's simple, reliable, and private, so you can easily keep in touch with your friends and family. WhatsApp works across mobile and desktop even on slow connections, with no subscription fees.
KakaoTalk: Messenger
With more than 150 Million users worldwide, KakaoTalk is a messenger app connecting people and the world. It works across mobile, desktop, and wearable devices. Enjoy KakaoTalk anytime, anywhere in real-time!
Naver Papago—AI Translator
Whenever you need translation during your travels, business trips, or while studying a language, just bring Papago, a smart parrot who can translate multiple languages for you.
Mango Languages Learning
Mango is a convenient and simple foreign language learning app that features authentic content, interactive features, and an algorithmic review activity designed to adapt to your individual learning path. Forget about boring language lessons in a classroom, digitize your experience with Mango!
Google Voice
Google Voice gives you a phone number for calling, text messaging, and voicemail. It works on smartphones and computers and syncs across your devices so you can use the app in the office, at home, or on the go.
Travel and Entertainment
Visit Korea
Apps that provide all the information tourists may need when traveling to Korea, such as finding directions and public transportation information, and emergency contacts to make their trip more convenient and safe.
Visit Seoul—Official Guide
Explore the ins and outs of Seoul with the optimized mobile platform of the Visit Seoul app.
Agoda: Cheap Flights & Hotels
Agoda is your ultimate holiday planner. Find cheap flights and affordable hotels and accommodations in just a few taps! The Agoda app is your best tool for finding and booking travel deals anywhere in the world. Book flights on Agoda for domestic and international
routes seamlessly.
Daegu Trip
Daegu travel integration platform.
ArirangTV
This free app for phones lets you watch Arirang TV live 24/7 and past episodes of Arirang programs. Also, you can get the latest world and Korea video news from business to k-pop, sports.
Arirang Radio
Arirang Radio is Korea's first all-English radio station, providing facts and information on Korea for foreigners. Arirang Radio is broadcast 24 hours a day. The station delivers an eclectic array of music, including traditional, classic, pop, mainstream, and world music, as well as information, including the news, current affairs, culture, life, weather, and traffic.
Transportation and Navigation
Waze
Community-driven navigation app that helps millions
of users with real-time road alerts and up-to-date
maps. Waze saves time by notifying you of traffic,
construction, crashes, police, and more. From reroutes
to safety updates and low gas prices, Waze is drivers
helping drivers. Most useful on U.S. installations in
Korea; may be less accurate on local roads.
NAVER - Map/Navigation
South Korea's GPS navigation and local attractions, and more!
KakaoMap—Map/Navigation
KakaoMap will show you the fastest routes in Korea! With KakaoMap, you can find everything you want in a map app, from directions to hot restaurants.
Exchange taxi: exchange, taxi
Taxi-matching application that can be used by USFK troops.
Kakao T—Taxi, Driver, Bike
Kakao T innovates our lives to become more comfortable, fun, and valuable, without any
concerns about mobility.
Tmoney Go
An integrated mobile platform in your hands! Experience a mobility life that adds to your life with the new T-money GO. Just register your transportation card and use public transportation to earn rewards! Check your own traffic data through your registered transportation card!
Subway Korea (route navigation)
The Subway Korea app provides the fastest and most accurate subway station timetable among all the public transit and subway map apps.
Korailtalk
Korail train ticket reservation service in English, Chinese, and Japanese.
Shopping, Food, Miscellaneous
GMarket Global
Korean No. 1 Shopping destination, Gmarket Global. A wide range of Korean products at affordable prices!
Coupang
Coupang is the perfect place for savvy shoppers. Baby, Kids, Fashion, Beauty, Home & Kitchen, and Electronics—you name it! We have millions of items in our selection, and we can also deliver them to your doorstep faster and cheaper than anybody else.
MyExchangeFood
Find your favorite restaurants on the app directly. Enjoy the online ordering experience.
Coupang Eats—Food Delivery
Browse eateries and take advantage of Coupang member discounts.
Market Kurly
From everyday ingredients harvested on the same day to products with rare value, Kurly has been leading a new food culture through Morning Star Delivery.
Shuttle
Browse restaurants, bakeries, and shops across Korea available for pickup & delivery. We deliver on-demand food from your neighborhood's best restaurants so you can enjoy great food in the comfort of your home, office, or wherever you happen to be.
IQAir AirVisual | Air Quality
The most trusted and reliable air quality information from the world’s leading air pollution data provider. Covering 500,000+ locations from a global network of government monitoring stations and IQAir's own validated sensors. Recommended for sensitive people (allergies, asthma, etc.), a must-have for families, and great for athletes, runners, cyclists, and outdoor sports activities. Plan the healthiest day with health recommendations and 48-hour forecasts, and check the real-time global air quality map.
Air Matters
Realtime broadcasting air quality information for more than 180 countries.
Why These Apps for Newcomers to Korea Matter
Adjusting to life in South Korea doesn’t have to be difficult, especially with the help of thoughtfully selected apps for newcomers to Korea. These tools empower military families, expats, and new arrivals to confidently manage daily tasks, stay connected, and explore with ease. From navigating public transit to finding local eats or accessing base resources, these apps offer the support you need right at your fingertips. Download a few before arrival, and you’ll be ready to hit the ground running.
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