Google Maps Still Can't Navigate in Korea — Even Though the Law Changed in February
Last verified: August 22, 2026. I live in Korea and re-check these posts as things change — and this one is changing fast. You downloaded Google Maps, typed in your hotel, and got nothing useful. No walking route. No driving directions. Just a blue dot and a map that clearly knows where things are but refuses to tell you how to get there. You are not doing it wrong. Google Maps genuinely cannot navigate in South Korea. Here is the part almost every other guide gets wrong right now: the law that caused this changed in February 2026. The Korean government approved Google's request after nearly two decades of refusals. And yet, as of today, your Google Maps still doesn't work. This post explains why, where things actually stand this month, and what to install instead. The short answer Google Maps in Korea gives you subway and bus directions, and not much beyond that. There is no walking navigation and no turn-by-turn driving navigation. Download Naver Map before you fl...