Since it's autumn, a lot of people start planning a foliage trip the moment they land at the airport. Have you ever felt confused when you opened Google Maps, tapped in your destination, and got nothing but the message "Can't find public transit route"? The map itself shows up fine, but directions—especially bus or subway route guidance—just don't work. It's not broken. That's just how it is in Korea. ## Why Can't Google Maps Find the Way The reason lies in the map data. The Korean government strictly restricts, by law, the export of precise map information outside the country. This is because they believe that, due to the division situation, maps containing detailed terrain or facilities could affect national security. Google's servers are located outside Korea, so they can't take this data. That's why major roads and buildings show up, but real-time public transit info and detailed directions are blocked. Since this regulation has been in place for a long time, it's more comfortable to just use a different app from the start when planning your trip. ## So what should you use Most Koreans use Naver Map or KakaoMap to find their way around. Both apps support English and give accurate bus and subway transfer info. It's a good idea to search "Naver Map" or "KakaoMap" on the app store and install it before you arrive. If you're only planning to take the subway, a dedicated app that just shows the route map is handy too. For confusing station names, the app shows both Korean and English together, so even if you don't know the station name, you can just tap around like a picture to get where you're going.