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Naver
Naver without a Korean number: what works now
The big change: since June 4, 2026 anyone with a passport issued abroad can verify their identity in Naver and use booking, ordering and payment in Naver Map without a Korean phone number. Older guides that tell you to ask a Korean friend to book for you don’t know about it.
At a glance — checked Oct 20, 2026
| App | Sign up / use without a Korean number | Pay with a foreign card | English in the app |
|---|---|---|---|
| NaverNaver Map, Naver booking, Naver Pay | YesSign up with an overseas number; passport verification for Naver Map booking and payment | PartlyNaver Pay global members pay with overseas cards only | YesNaver Map in English, Chinese, Japanese |
YesPartlyNoNot confirmed"Not confirmed" = we couldn't find it in an official help page or notice yet.
Making a Naver account with an overseas number
- Naver says you can sign up with the phone you use abroad — overseas numbers are accepted for sign-up, verified by SMS.Source: Naver Help (Korean) — signing up with a phone abroad · Naver Help (Korean) — phone verification limits · checked Oct 20, 2026
- One number can receive verification up to once a month and three times in six months, and can be linked to at most three IDs.Source: Naver Help (Korean) — phone verification limits · checked Oct 20, 2026
- If you untick the 실명 (real-name) option, phone verification alone is enough. A real-name ID needs a phone in your own name.Source: Naver Help (Korean) — signing up with a phone abroad · checked Oct 20, 2026
- A non-verified ID can use Mail, Blog and messages, but not paid services such as Shopping & Npay, MYBOX, VIBE, Series or Webtoon purchases.Source: Naver Help (Korean) — what non-verified IDs can use · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Naver’s help page for switching to a verified ID lists i-PIN or a phone in your own name; it doesn’t list the passport option.Source: Naver Help (Korean) — switching to a verified ID · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Verification texts come from a 1588 number.Source: Naver Help (Korean) — phone verification limits · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Not confirmedWhether the sign-up screens are available in English: not confirmed.Closest source: Naver Help (Korean) — signing up with a phone abroad · checked Oct 20, 2026
Passport verification (since June 4, 2026)
- NAVER announced that from June 4, 2026 any foreigner with a passport issued abroad can verify their identity with it using only a smartphone — no Korean number and no call to customer service.Source: NAVER press release, Jun 9, 2026 — passport verification for foreign visitors · NAVER press release (Korean), Jun 9, 2026 · checked Oct 20, 2026
- It covers travel features in Naver Map: booking, ordering and payment. NAVER says it will add more services and languages step by step.Source: NAVER press release, Jun 9, 2026 — passport verification for foreign visitors · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Not confirmedNAVER only says verification has “several steps”; the exact steps (photo, face check, NFC) and a dedicated help page: not confirmed.Closest source: NAVER press release, Jun 9, 2026 — passport verification for foreign visitors · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Not confirmedClaims that passport verification now covers Naver Pay generally, Webtoon or Chzzk: not in NAVER’s announcement or the reports we read.Closest source: NAVER press release, Jun 9, 2026 — passport verification for foreign visitors · checked Oct 20, 2026
Naver Map
- The app works in Korean, English, Simplified Chinese and Japanese: MY > Settings > Language (app version 5.1.3 or later). The AI place assistant answers in Korean only.Source: Naver Map Help (Korean) — changing the app language · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Saving places needs you to be logged in with a Naver ID.Source: Naver Map Help (Korean) — saving places · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Not confirmedWhether directions work without logging in: Naver’s directions help doesn’t mention a login requirement, but doesn’t say so either.Closest source: Naver Map Help (Korean) — public transport directions · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Public transport directions cover city and intercity routes nationwide; live guidance works on city routes, starting within 1 km of the route.Source: Naver Map Help (Korean) — public transport directions · checked Oct 20, 2026
- NAVER published Naver Map guides in English, Chinese and Japanese (Dec 30, 2024), and shows reviews translated into those languages.Source: NAVER press release, Dec 30, 2024 — Naver Map guides in English, Chinese, Japanese · NAVER press release, Dec 1, 2025 — Npay Connect terminals with the Korea Tourism Organization · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Reported, not in an official notice yetSome foreign visitors have complained that parts of the foreign-language version still appear only in Korean or are inaccurate.Source: Herald Economy (Korean), Apr 2025 — complaints about Naver Map foreign-language versions · checked Oct 20, 2026
Naver booking ({ko:네이버 예약})
- Without a Korean number, visitors can book through passport verification (since June 4, 2026).Source: NAVER press release, Jun 9, 2026 — passport verification for foreign visitors · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Some products are only for non-resident foreigners. They appear only to members identified as foreigners by the map app’s language setting and their verification details.Source: Naver Map Help (Korean) — products for non-resident foreigners · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Not confirmedWhether individual businesses still ask for a Korean number when you book: not confirmed.checked Oct 20, 2026
Naver Pay
- Without a Korean phone in your own name or an i-PIN, a short-term visitor can join as a Naver Pay global member: only the services opened to global members, paid with overseas credit or debit cards only.Source: Naver Pay Help (Korean) — Naver Pay global members · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Global members can pay up to 5,000,000 won a month.Source: Naver Pay Help (Korean) — global member payment limit · checked Oct 20, 2026
- A separate Naver Pay help page says only UnionPay cards work among overseas cards. It conflicts with the global-member page, so check which applies to your account.Source: Naver Pay Help (Korean) — overseas cards · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Not confirmedWhether passport verification makes you a Naver Pay global member: not confirmed.Closest source: Naver Pay Help (Korean) — Naver Pay global members · checked Oct 20, 2026
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