How to give foreign drivers accurate directions
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For drivers who can't easily read Korean addresses and use different navigation apps, here is how to guide them precisely, even without a shared language.
Why guiding foreign drivers is hard
- Korean addresses are written in Hangul and are hard to type into a navigation app.
- Drivers use different navigation apps. Google Maps does not offer driving directions in Korea, so searching there as usual will not start navigation.
- Explaining the location by phone is difficult across languages.
Guide with a single QR link
When a driver opens an addressQr link, the screen appears in Korean, English, Japanese or Spanish to match the phone's language. The language can also be changed at the top right.
Without reading the address, the driver taps a navigation app button and the destination coordinates are passed to the app to start navigation.
- For destinations in Korea, apps that offer navigation in Korea, such as TMAP, Naver Map and KakaoMap, are shown first.
- On Android, "Other navigation apps" lets drivers choose any other navigation app installed on the phone.
Tips for clearer directions
- Write the place name in both Korean and English, for example "B동 하차장 / Dock B", ideally matching on-site signs.
- Keep the driver note short, with numbers and landmarks, for example "Gate 3, no unloading on 2F".
- If the driver has no navigation app that works in Korea, ask them to install one in advance. Some apps support English, so let them pick one they are comfortable with.
- Send the link by SMS or messenger and post the same QR on site so drivers can check again just before arriving.
Common issues
- The app does not open: the app is not installed. Follow the "Install the app" prompt or tap another app.
- The screen is in Korean: the phone language is Korean, or Korean was chosen before. Change it from the language menu at the top right.