Pick up rental car – check. Take out Korean-style fried chicken and gimbap for the road – check. Full tank of gas, road trip buddies, and a hefty sense of adventure – check, check, and check.

Ready to set off for a road trip in South Korea? Here’s your first challenge: using the Korean GPS.

Driving in South Korea is a lot of fun. It’s a convenient and efficient way of getting around the country, especially if you plan to go beyond the major cities of Seoul and Busan. You can find what you need to know about renting a car and driving in South Korea here. (Or download a PDF version of the guide here.)

But usually the first (and hopefully only) hiccup prospective drivers in South Korea encounter is the infamous Korean GPS. Of course, if you know the language, it should be easy. But for non-Korean speakers, the Korean GPS challenge shouldn’t hinder you from enjoying road trips in South Korea.

Ideally, you should book a car online in advance (you can do that hassle-free and commitment-free here) and make sure to reserve an English-language GPS. But even then, it’s not an assurance that you will get one. It’s usually available only in airport pick-up points and sometimes they run out of it as well.

If you do get a Korean GPS, don’t fret! The really nifty thing is that you can use phone numbers for the Korean GPS – which is the reason this guide exists. With the help of other travelers and road trippers in South Korea, I compiled this list of useful phone numbers to input into your GPS while driving in South Korea.

I will update this list as often as possible. If you detect any inaccuracies or would like to contribute phone numbers to this guide, please comment below or email me – I would be very grateful for your input and you would surely help a lot of fellow travelers to South Korea.

Let’s start this with a quick guide to using the Korean GPS then a list of other resources you can check out to find your destinations’ phone numbers. If you already know all those, scroll all the way down for the list of GPS phone numbers for driving in South Korea.

Quick guide to using the Korean GPS

Bookmark and pin this infographic for future use:

Text on infographic:

Quick Guide – How to use the Korean GPS

1. On the main interface, click the tab that says: 길찾기 (Translation: Get directions)
2. Select the phone icon: 전화번호검색 (Translation: Search phone number)
3. Key in the destination phone number (see next section: How to find GPS phone numbers for your Korean GPS)
4. Confirm your destination by pressing this button: 바로탐색 (Translation: Quick navigation)
5. Wait for your route then press the button to begin driving: 안내시작 (Translation: Guide start)

How to find your destination’s phone numbers for your Korean GPS

Here are resources you can check out to find your destination’s phone number:

• This guide!
• Korean Travel Organization’s official website – they usually list contact details at the end of each destination’s information page, including a phone number you can use for your GPS
• If you’re already driving around, you’ll notice that establishments put up their phone numbers in big print over their store facades. If you plan to go back later on, write down the numbers to use for your GPS
• For your accommodations – search for the phone number of the hotel or any nearby establishment.

GPS phone numbers for driving in South Korea

Notes:

• If you’re driving in a busy city (like Seoul and Busan), enter the phone number into your GPS then look for nearby parking lots. Usually the listed phone number gives directions to the establishment’s operations office.
• For big complexes and districts, enter the phone number listed here then drive to the nearest parking lot to your destination.
• If you’re driving outside the city/region you are in, don’t forget to enter the area code.
• ALWAYS double check your destination after you enter the phone number and before starting your drive. You can do this by zooming out of the map and comparing it with another map (me is a good offline map).

Seoul

 Area code: +2

• Namdaemun market – 753-2805
• Myeong-dong shopping district – 774-3238, 778-0333
• Insa-dong shopping district – 734-0222
• Gyeongbokgung Palace – 738-9171
• Namsan Cable car to N Seoul Tower – 753-2403
• Tongin Market – 722-0911
• Lotte Department Store – Seoul Main Branch – 771-2500

Busan

Area code: +51

• Haeundae Beach – 749-5700
• Gwangalli Beach – 622-4251
• Dalmaji-gil Road – 746-6670 (Note: This is the phone number of Opera restaurant, one of the restaurants along Dalmaji-gil Road.)
• Taejongdae Recreation Center – 405-2004
• BIFF Square – 253-8523
• Gamcheon Culture Village – 291-1444
• Shinsegae Centum City – 745-1400 (Note: This is the phone number of the ice rink.)
• Haedong Yonggungsa Temple – 722-7744, 722-7755

Jeju

Area code: +64

• Jeju International Airport – 797-2525
• Cheonjiyeon Waterfall – 733-1528
• Seongsan Ilchulbong – 783-0959
• Seongsan Port – ferry to Udo Island – 782-5671
• Hallasan National Park – Eorimok Trail – 713-9950
• Udo Island – Seobinbaeksa Beach – 728-3393
• Jeju Love Land – 712-6988
• Lotte Mart Jeju – 798-2500
• Dongmun Traditional Market – 752-3001
• Gwandeokjeong Pavilion – 728-8665
• Jeju National Museum – 720-8000
• Jeju Stone Park – 710-7731

Andong

Area code: +54

• Andong Hahoe Folk Village – 854-3669, 852-3588, 840-6974
• Andong Folk Museum – 821-0649

Chuncheon

Area code: +31

• Nami Island – 580-8114

(Note for visiting Nami Island: drive to the Nami Island Ticket Office or Nami Island Dock. Park your car there then take the passenger ferry to the island.)

Gyeongju

Area code: +54

• Gyeongju Yangdong Village – 762-6263, 779-6123

Jecheon

Area code: +43

• Cheongpung Cultural Complex – 641-6734

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I hope you find this guide useful! I’ll be continuously updating this list so make sure to bookmark and pin for all your future South Korea road trips.

Again, if you detect any inaccuracies or would like to contribute phone numbers to this guide, please comment below or email me so I can update the guide. Thanks to all the generous and adventurous South Korea travelers who helped me compile this list! Happy travels!