Transportation - Simple Life Stories

Is T-money Still the Best? Meet “Climate Card,” Seoul’s New Unlimited Transit Pass

Subtitle: T-money (Pay-as-you-go) vs. Climate Card (Unlimited). We break down the math for your 2026 Seoul trip. A New Way to Travel Seoul Welcome back to SimpleLifeStories in Korea! In my last post, we talked about the T-money Card, the trusty “reloadable wallet” that has been a travel essential in Korea for over a decade. […]

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Smiling female traveler holding a smartphone and stepping out of a Kakao Taxi on a traditional street in Seoul, Korea.

Navigating Korea Like a Local: Your Stress-Free Guide to Using Kakao T

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Picture this: You’ve just finished a delicious meal of Samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly) in a tucked-away alley in Seoul. Your stomach is full, and you are ready to head back to your accommodation to rest. But as you step out, you realize you are deep in a residential neighborhood, and there isn’t a taxi in

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Comparison of Naver Map and Kakao Map apps on smartphones for navigating South Kore

Master Your Moves in Korea: When to Use Naver Map vs. Kakao Map

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When you step out of Incheon Airport, you’ll quickly realize your reliable Google Maps isn’t so reliable here. To navigate Korea like a local, you need the “Big Two”: Naver Map and Kakao Map. Both apps now automatically sync with your phone’s system language, making the initial setup easier than ever. But which one should

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A traveler holding a smartphone with a navigation map in a busy Seoul street, illustrating essential apps for navigating South Korea.

Google Maps Doesn’t Work in Korea? 3 Essential Apps You Need Instead

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If you are planning a trip to South Korea, here is a crucial Deep K-Insight: Your trusty Google Maps will not work here as it does in other countries. Due to national security regulations, South Korea restricts the export of local map data to foreign companies. As a result, Google Maps cannot provide walking directions

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Korea T-money Card Guide: How to Buy & Recharge (Subway/MRT)

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When you first arrive in Korea, the first “key” you need to unlock the city is not a hotel key—it’s a T-money card. Whether you’re taking the subway in Seoul or a bus in Busan, this small card will be your best friend. Warning: You CANNOT recharge T-money with credit cards at subway machines! Prepare

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