Food delivery in Korea is genuinely world-class. Apps work smoothly, delivery times are short (often 20–35 minutes), and you can order from 6 AM to well past midnight in most neighborhoods. For newly arrived expats, the initial setup can be a bit of a hurdle — Korean phone number requirements, address entry in Korean, and payment method setup — but once you’re through that, it becomes second nature. Here’s a practical breakdown of the three main apps and everything you need to get started.
Baemin (배달의민족): The Market Leader
Baemin is Korea’s dominant food delivery platform, holding roughly 60% of the market. If you only set up one delivery app, make it Baemin. The selection is the widest, and in most residential areas, you’ll have 100+ restaurant options within delivery range.
Setup Requirements
- A Korean phone number (mandatory for account creation and SMS verification)
- A Korean payment method or international card (see payment section below)
- The app is available on both iOS and Android from Korean app stores
English Mode
Baemin added an English language mode in 2022. To activate it, go to My Page (마이페이지) → Settings (설정) → Language (언어) and select English. The interface switches to English, though some restaurant menus and item names may still appear in Korean.
Using the App
After entering your delivery address (more on address entry below), the home screen shows restaurants near you organized by category. Tap a restaurant, browse the menu, add items to your cart, choose your payment method, and confirm the order. You’ll receive live tracking showing when the rider has picked up your order and their real-time location on a map.
Baemin also has a “Baemin One” (배민1) service for faster delivery — typically 15–25 minutes — where Baemin uses its own delivery fleet rather than relying on the restaurant’s riders. This service costs slightly more per order but is worth it when you’re hungry and don’t want to wait.
Coupang Eats (쿠팡이츠): The Fast Delivery Option
Coupang Eats is owned by Coupang, Korea’s largest e-commerce platform. Its main selling point is speed: Coupang Eats historically offered a delivery guarantee (typically 30 minutes or less) and uses its own dedicated courier network.
Coupang Eats vs. Baemin
| Feature | Baemin | Coupang Eats |
|---|---|---|
| Market share | ~60% | ~25% |
| Restaurant selection | Widest | Moderate |
| Delivery speed | 25–40 min average | 20–30 min average |
| English interface | Yes (partial) | Limited |
| Delivery fee | ₩0–3,000 typical | ₩0–3,000 typical |
Coupang Rocket Fresh
If you have a Coupang account (separate from Coupang Eats), Rocket Fresh (로켓프레시) is a grocery delivery service with next-morning delivery on orders placed before midnight. It’s useful for fresh produce, meat, and pantry staples. Coupang Wow membership (₩7,890/month as of early 2026) provides free Rocket delivery on eligible items.
Yogiyo (요기요): The Third Option
Yogiyo is the third-place player with roughly 15% market share. Its interface is entirely in Korean with no official English mode. The restaurant selection is smaller than Baemin, and delivery fees and times are comparable. For most expats, Yogiyo isn’t the first choice, but it’s worth installing if you’re finding that a restaurant near you only lists on Yogiyo — some smaller local restaurants only register on one or two platforms.
How to Pay
Payment is one of the most common hurdles for new expats. Here’s what works:
- Korean credit or debit card: Any card issued by a Korean bank works on all three apps. This is the smoothest payment method once you have one.
- Kakao Pay (카카오페이): Korea’s dominant mobile payment platform. Link a Korean bank account or card to Kakao Pay and use it across all delivery apps. Kakao Pay sometimes offers discount coupons for app orders.
- Naver Pay (네이버페이): Similar to Kakao Pay. Accepted on Baemin and Yogiyo. Link a Korean card or bank account.
- Toss (토스): Another popular payment app. Accepted on most delivery platforms.
- International credit cards (Visa/Mastercard): Baemin and Coupang Eats accept some international cards directly, but payment failures are common — Korean payment gateways often reject foreign-issued cards, especially those without 3D Secure. If your card fails, try Kakao Pay linked to a foreign card (Kakao Pay accepts some international Visa/Mastercard).
Entering Your Address in Korean
All three apps require your delivery address in Korean. This trips up many new expats. The simplest approach:
- Open Naver Map or Google Maps and search your building name or street address in English
- Find the Korean address that appears in the map result
- Copy the Korean address and paste it into the delivery app’s address field
- The app will suggest matching results — select your building
- Add your unit/apartment number (동 and 호) separately in the detail field
Most apartment complexes in Korea have a 동 (building number) and 호 (unit number) — for example, “101동 502호” means Building 101, Unit 502. If you live in a villa or single-family home, just entering the road address plus your floor or unit number is sufficient.
Common Issues and How to Fix Them
Address Not Found
If the app can’t find your address, try searching by the building name (아파트 단지명) instead of the street address. For example, search “롯데캐슬” rather than the street address if you live in a Lotte Castle complex. If that fails, use the map pin feature to drop a pin on your building manually.
Payment Failure with Foreign Cards
Korean payment gateways frequently reject foreign-issued cards due to 3D Secure mismatches. The solution is to use Kakao Pay or Naver Pay linked to your foreign card, or to set up a Korean bank account and get a Korean debit card as soon as possible.
Minimum Order Amounts
Most restaurants on Korean delivery apps have a minimum order amount, typically ₩10,000–₩15,000. This is set by the restaurant, not the app. You’ll see the minimum order displayed before you enter the restaurant’s menu page.
Delivery Fees and Tipping
Delivery fees in Korea are generally ₩0–₩3,000, occasionally higher for distant locations. There is no tipping culture for food delivery in Korea. Riders do not expect tips and the apps don’t have a tipping feature. The delivery fee is the complete cost of the delivery service.
Coupang for Non-Food Deliveries
For everyday items — cleaning supplies, electronics, kitchenware, personal care products — Coupang (coupang.com or the main Coupang app, separate from Coupang Eats) is essential. Rocket Delivery items ordered before midnight typically arrive the next morning. The main Coupang app has a limited English interface, but you can use a translation app or browser extension to navigate the Korean product listings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Korean phone number to use these apps?
Yes, all three major delivery apps require Korean phone number verification during sign-up. This is one of the main reasons getting a Korean SIM card early in your stay is important. Pocket WiFi alone isn’t enough for these services.
Can I order from multiple restaurants in one order?
Baemin has a “bundle order” feature that allows ordering from multiple restaurants in some areas, but it’s not universally available. Generally, each order is from one restaurant. This is standard across all three platforms.
What are the operating hours for delivery apps?
The apps operate 24/7, but individual restaurants set their own hours. In most urban areas, you’ll find options from about 7 AM through 2–3 AM. In quieter areas, late-night selection is limited. The apps show a “currently open” filter to help you find available restaurants at any hour.
Is there a way to order in English from restaurant staff?
The order goes through the app, so there’s no direct communication with the restaurant for standard orders. Your food is delivered without any phone call needed. If you have special requests, use the order notes field — basic instructions like “no spice” (맵지 않게) or “no onions” (양파 빼주세요) are commonly understood.
Key Resources
- Baemin: baemin.com or search “배달의민족” on the App Store/Google Play
- Coupang Eats: store.coupangeats.com or search “쿠팡이츠” on app stores
- Yogiyo: yogiyo.co.kr or search “요기요” on app stores
- Kakao Pay: kakaopay.com — accepts some international cards for Korean app payments
- Naver Map: Use to find and copy Korean addresses for delivery app setup