So you’ve fallen deep enough into K-culture to want to live like a local, you’ve gotten every other thing on point, and you are now thinking of downloading some Korean apps to complete the vibes or even to connect with some locals, cute, except most of them don’t really work unless your SIM card is made in Korea.

For now, let’s talk about the semi-exclusive ones. I mean, the apps you can technically download but will still remind you you are not a Korean citizen.

KakaoTalk   

If WhatsApp and PayPal had a child who also doubled as your diary, social feed, and transport card, you’d get KakaoTalk. Everyone in Korea uses it, and when I say everyone, I mean literally everyone with a phone. The app is used to chat, send money, pay for subway rides, and shop. Outside Korea, though? You can message your Korean friends, sure, but half the features (like KakaoPay or KakaoStory) are locked unless you have a Korean phone number. So basically, you are not enjoying the full experience.

Coupang   

Imagine ordering something at midnight and seeing it on your doorstep before you even get out of bed. That's Coupang. They have a legendary “Rocket Delivery” system. It has a same-day or next-morning delivery anywhere in Korea. Sounds like an amazing thing only for a local, because as a stranger, even if you can browse all you want, you can’t actually buy anything without a Korean address or payment method.

Melon   

Yes, Spotify exists in Korea, but real locals? They use Melon. It’s the country’s biggest music streaming platform, and most K-pop chart rankings are based on Melon streams.
You can download the app internationally, but once you try to stream, Melon hits you with the “Korean verification required” message. Basically, no Korean ID, no playlist.

Naver

If Google is the world’s largest search engine, Naver is Korea’s entire encyclopedia. It has news, blogs, maps, cafes (Korea’s version of Reddit), and even its own payment system. The only problem? It’s built for Koreans, by Koreans, in Korean (Call it Korea's version of Democracy). You can still use Naver Maps or Webtoons globally, but you already know the "global version” isn’t really all the way global.

Toss   

You know how sending money abroad can take three business days and a prayer? (Lol) Toss lets Koreans send money instantly, split bills, check credit scores, and invest, all in one place, or better still, one app. But before you get excited, you need a Korean bank account and phone number to even register. So for foreigners, Toss is just that app you see in screenshots and sigh over.

In summary? You can download these apps anywhere, but to really use them, you need to breathe Korean air, eat Korean ramyeon, and own a Korean SIM card.

Your sign to start planning your trip to Korea, though. Anyway, watch out for the ones that you can’t download at all as a foreigner.