Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about using Seoul Now for your trip to Seoul.

What is Seoul Now?

Seoul Now is a 100% free, non-commercial public-interest web app that helps international travellers navigate Seoul. It aggregates real-time data from official Korean government open data portals into a single, mobile-friendly interface with AI-powered search — covering live crowd levels, dining, essentials, safety, and 180,000+ points of interest.

Is Seoul Now really free?

Yes, completely. There are no ads, no paywalls, no premium tiers, no in-app purchases, and no user registration. Every feature is available immediately at no cost. Seoul Now is a public-interest project, not a commercial product.

Do I need to create an account?

No. Seoul Now requires no sign-up, no email, and no account. You can use every feature immediately just by opening the website.

Does Seoul Now collect my personal data?

No. Seoul Now does not collect, store, or share any personal information. We do not use cookies for tracking, we do not run analytics that identify individuals, and we do not have user accounts. If you use the location feature, your coordinates are processed in your browser only and never sent to our servers. Read our full privacy policy at /privacy.

Where does the data come from?

All data comes from official Korean government open data portals: Seoul Open Data Plaza (서울 열린데이터광장) for real-time crowd levels, weather, air quality, toilets, Wi-Fi, bike parking, and exemplary restaurants; data.go.kr (공공데이터포털) for police stations and tourist info centers; and the Korea Small Business Administration (소상공인시장진흥공단) for 135,000+ local eatery records.

How often is the data updated?

Real-time crowd levels are refreshed every 5 minutes directly from the Seoul Open Data Plaza API. Air quality data is updated every 5 minutes. 12-hour crowd forecasts are recalculated hourly. Static facility data (toilets, Wi-Fi, restaurants) is periodically re-ingested from government sources.

What areas does Seoul Now cover?

Seoul Now monitors 20+ major tourist hotspots across Seoul: Myeongdong, Hongdae, Gangnam Station, Itaewon, Insadong, Bukchon Hanok Village, Gwanghwamun, Jamsil, Yeouido, DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza), Namsan, Sinchon, Jongno, Apgujeong, and more.

What languages are supported?

The interface supports English (primary), Japanese (日本語), and Korean (한국어). You can switch languages using the globe icon in the header. The AI concierge understands and responds in all three languages. Place names are also dynamically translated using AI.

How does the AI concierge work?

The AI concierge uses Google Gemini to understand your question in natural language (English, Japanese, or Korean). It classifies your intent, queries live government databases for relevant data, and builds personalized walking plans. For example, you can ask "Where can I find halal food near Hongdae?" or "Is Myeongdong crowded right now?".

Can I use Seoul Now on my phone?

Yes. Seoul Now is a mobile-first progressive web app (PWA) designed for use on any smartphone browser. No app store download required — just open the website. You can also add it to your home screen for quick access.

How many restaurants are listed?

Over 140,000 dining establishments: curated halal, vegan, kosher, and gluten-free lists; 5,162 government-certified exemplary restaurants from Seoul Open Data Plaza; and 135,000+ small-business eateries from the Korea Small Business Administration registry.

What should I do in an emergency in Seoul?

Call 112 for police, 119 for fire/ambulance, or 1330 for the 24-hour multilingual tourist hotline (English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean). Seoul Now's Safe Times page shows nearby police box locations and emergency contact numbers.

I found incorrect data. How can I report it?

Since all data comes from government open data portals, corrections should ideally be reported to the source. However, you can also email us at [email protected] and we will investigate and relay the correction if needed.