NAVER Introduces Passport Verification to Make Travel in Korea Easier for Foreign Visitors
NAVER Introduces Passport Verification to Make Travel in Korea Easier for Foreign Visitors
Convenient and Secure: From Hotspot Restaurant Bookings to Payments
NAVER Introduces Passport Verification to Make Travel in Korea Easier for Foreign Visitors
- Foreign users can use NAVER Map bookings and payments through Passport Verification without a Korean mobile phone number
- NAVER plans to expand supported services and languages to help global users travel safely and conveniently
June 9, 2026
NAVER has further enhanced convenience for foreign tourists, for whom the service has become an essential travel app in Korea.
NAVER Corp. (CEO Choi Soo-yeon) announced that it introduced Passport Verification on June 4, allowing foreign users to verify their identity with a passport and easily access NAVER Booking, NAVER Order, and payment services.
Foreign users with passports issued outside Korea can use Passport Verification to access NAVER’s travel-related services, including bookings, orders, and payments through NAVER Map. Verification can be completed easily on a smartphone without a Korean mobile phone number or the need to contact customer support. Multiple verification steps are also in place to strengthen reliability and security.
NAVER quickly advanced Passport Verification to address the inconveniences faced by short-term foreign visitors who do not have Korean mobile phone numbers, including difficulties making reservations at popular venues or paying at popular restaurants. The company has also expanded global login options so foreign users can travel in Korea more seamlessly with NAVER, and is preparing to broaden language support.
“NAVER introduced Passport Verification to help more foreign tourists enjoy a satisfying travel experience in Korea,” said Nah Yun-jae, Leader of NAVER Digital ID & Auth Platform. “We will continue to expand the services that support it in phases and strengthen language support so that more global users can use NAVER safely and conveniently.”
Since launching its multilingual map service in 2018, NAVER has continued to upgrade features for foreign users. Since December 2024, the NAVER Map Guide page has provided detailed multilingual guidance on everything from finding places to visit to using public transportation directions.
Alongside these efforts, NAVER Pay (Npay) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Tourism Organization last year and has been expanding Npay Connect, its offline integrated terminal, at major tourist facilities, popular local restaurants, airports, and other locations frequently visited by foreign travelers. Through these efforts, NAVER Pay is building a payment infrastructure that supports cash, cards, QR codes, and NFC, regardless of payment method. Reviews left by domestic users are also translated through Npay Connect into English, Chinese, and Japanese and displayed on NAVER Map, drawing strong interest from foreign users looking for cafés, restaurants, and attractions. (End)
