You landed at Incheon, opened Google Maps to find your hotel — and got that weird blank grid with no walking directions. Welcome to Korea, where the world's most-used navigation app quietly stops working. There's a legal reason for it (Korea doesn't export its map data), but here's what tourist blogs won't tell you: even Naver Map's English version has three settings that Seoul locals flip immediately. Without them, you'll still miss your subway transfer. I live in Seoul and use these apps every day. Let's fix your navigation before you leave your hotel. Quick Reality Check: What works: Naver Map English mode + Kakao Metro combo covers 95% of Seoul trips What doesn't: Google Maps walking directions, Google turn-by-turn driving, Uber-style ride hailing Surprise discovery: Most locals don't rely on one app — they switch between three depending on the task