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Everything You Need to Know About Ulsan

Essential Apps for Living in Ulsan

When you first arrive in Ulsan, it can be tough to navigate. Everything seems foreign and running at a pace far beyond anything that you have ever experienced before. Ulsan Online was created to help you navigate this amazing city. However, at the rate things change even we need help and that why you need these essential apps for living in Ulsan.

This list includes some of the best apps for navigation, public transportation and daily life. The apps will help you get from point A to Point B like a pro and even gets some delicious food delivered right to your door without ever having to nervously order in Korean and spend the next 45 minutes hoping that you said the right thing.

Kakao Messenger

If there is one app that you should automativally download it is Kakao Messenger. To say that this is an essential app in Korea is an understatement. It is by far the most widely used app in Korea.  It does everything from send messages to money, gifts, and coupons. Your work will most likely request that you have it as well. It is also great for group chats with friends and colleagues. Usually, your work or classmates will have a group chat that will keep you updated on what’s going on.

Apple iOS Download

Android Download

Kakao and Naver Maps

One of the biggest mistakes a lot of foreigners make when they first arrive here is to rely on google for their navigation. The second (if they drive) is to purchase an expensive “English” navigation system. With Kakao and Naver maps, you have everything that you need. Not to mention that the navigation is also in English. The reason why these apps are far superior to Google is the fact that they have a lot more data and flexibility than Google does here in Korea. As for the English navigation, the big issue is updating. Both these apps update regularly and sadly the expensive navigation devices rely of a manual updating system. So all that you need is a cheap car mount from Daiso and you are good to go.

Both of these apps offer real time traffic info and can update your route depending on the traffic situation. They also have bus routes, restaurant reviews with menu and hours, as well as street view and subway info. Click here for our article on how to use Kakao Maps in English if your app starts off in Korean.

** Also if you ever feel that a local taxi is taking you for a wild goose chase, you can use the navigation to give you a better idea of the fare and the route, right from the app.

Apple iOS  (kakao Download) (Naver Download)

Android Download (kakao Download) (Naver Download)

 

Kakao T

Due to the fact that Ulsan does not yet have a public transportation system like other cities across the country, getting around Ulsan requires a lot of taxis and buses, Kakao has both of those covered in these next two entries.  Kakao T formerly “taxi” is a great app that lets you call a taxi to your location and also keep you updated when waiting and because payment is made through the app you don’t have to worry about paying the driver directly. This is great because if you have ever been stranded somewhere hoping that a taxi will pick you up in the rain, only to be left waiting for what feel like an ungodly amount of time, you will know how handy this app is.

This app offers a few other notable features that should not be overlooked.  You can also unlock the Kakao Bikes around the city. We’ve written about these before and they are pretty handy to get around the city and come in very handy if you want to ride along the Taehwa River. However, in their recent update, you can also book your intercity bus tickets on the app as well. Also you can check on nearby parking lots to see if they are full or not. I am not sure why that last one isn’t in the maps or navigation apps but I guess with all the new features, that’s why they changed the name.

Apple iOS Download

Android Download

Kakao Bus

Once again, because Ulsan does not have a subway system, many people rely on the buses here. Ulsan Online used to have an updated database of the buses but simply put, Kakao Bus and and other bus apps are a 100 times better. Out of all of the apps out there, Kakao Bus is arguably the best and most often updated. There is an Ulsan Bus app but sadly it is quite slow and not updated regularly.

Apple iOS Download

Android Download

PapaGo

Finally getting away from the kakao apps, Papago is an insanely powerful translation app that is more helpful than google translate in many ways. Papago has a number of useful features such as your basic translation by text and speech but also incorporates the honorific speech into the translation. This means that you can select the honorific if you are speaking to your boss or the police. Papago can now also translate into other languages not just Korean and English. It also can translate text using photos and it also has a handy conversation function too. Overall, this is a great tool to help you navigate Korean and many other languages as well.

Apple iOS Download

Android Download

Emergency Ready App

Once you get your phone, you will encounter the annoying buzz from the emergency messages that pretty much everyone on a korean cellular carrier will receive. This is great if you know what they are saying. However, with things like COVID-19 the regular updates are frequent but essential. Emergency Ready App will send you a translated version of the message in English. Keep in mind that these are automatically translated messages which can have some peculiar translations. However, the app saves you the time trying to translate every single alert. It also gives some vital information for emergency situations and procedures in Korea.

Apple iOS Download

Android Download

Korail Talk

This is one of the more essential traveling apps for heading up to Seoul. More and more, places are switching to a mobile ticketing system. This is one of the areas where it fits in perfectly. The Korail Talk App is in English but I would argue that the services in Korea are a little better. This app lets you book train tickets and KTX/SRT tickets on your phone. This app has given me so much piece of mind when traveling across Korea. There is nothing worse than heading home on a Sunday up in Seoul, only to realize that everything is sold out. This app allows you to book in advance and change your ticket on the go. We wrote about this app previously and it is worth the read Click here for the link.

Apple iOS Download

Android Download

Yogiyo

Ulsan is a little more spread out than many cities and not all areas have exactly what you maybe craving. Fortunately, apps like Yogiyo are here to help keep you fed without the embarrassment of trying to order a “super combination” and ending up with a shrimp pizza or something like that. Sadly, this app is in Korean and there maybe some interaction with the delivery drivers if they can’t find your place but overall, it is a handy app to have. If you search online, there are a ton of posts about how to use this app and the finer points of ordering. Check this helpful one out.

Apple iOS Download

Android Download

 


This is just a few of the essential apps that you need when Starting out here in Ulsan. With these apps you will be will on your way to being fed and well traveled in no time. It should be noted that Korea is very well adapted to using mobile apps. So when you get your bank account, get them to set up your mobile app as well. Also when you get your phone ask if they have an app too. Places like KT telecom have a mobile points app that will get you discounts from places like the convenience store and the movies.