No Korean SIM? No problem! Seoul makes ordering from food delivery apps easier for international tourists

Seoul just made ordering Han River delivery easy for tourists.

For years, getting Korean fried chicken and other local street foods delivered directly to your picnic spot on the Han River required a Korean phone number and a local bank card. Now, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Woowa Brothers, operator of delivery giant Baedal Minjok (Baemin), have teamed up to fix that.

Under a new partnership launching Aug. 1, international travelers can order food seamlessly using foreign credit cards, Apple Pay, and global digital wallets—no local SIM card required.

"Ordering food at a riverside park is one of the top everyday cultural experiences foreign tourists want to try when they arrive in Seoul," said Cho Sung-ho, head of Seoul’s Tourism and Sports Bureau.

"This public-private partnership breaks down a persistent friction point, allowing visitors to effortlessly enjoy local culinary culture while driving tourist spending directly to nearby restaurants," he added.

To make pickup a breeze, Seoul is setting up multilingual maps, signs, and guides at designated delivery spots across the city.

In June, Naver updated their app to let international travelers verify their identity directly via smartphone using a foreign passport.

This helps tourists "enjoy a more convenient and satisfying travel experience in Korea." Previously, they would need a Korean mobile number or call customer support.