TL;DR — 3 things to know about food delivery for foreigners in Korea
- Baemin is now the default for most foreign visitors. Since May 2024, Baemin accepts foreign phone numbers, has an English UI (set device language to English), and supports foreign Visa/Mastercard. The restaurant selection is incomparably larger than Shuttle.
- Shuttle is still the best app for Itaewon, Hongdae expat area, and PayPal users. If you're near US military bases or in expat-heavy Itaewon, Shuttle has better local coverage. If you need PayPal, Shuttle is your only option — Baemin doesn't support it.
- Outside Seoul or expat areas, use Baemin. Shuttle has almost no coverage in Busan, Jeju, Gyeongju, or suburban Seoul. If you're traveling Korea broadly, Baemin covers everywhere Shuttle doesn't.
📢 Changed in 2024 — Baemin Opens to Foreigners
Before May 2024, foreigners without ARC couldn't use Baemin at all. Shuttle was the only realistic option. That changed when Baemin introduced foreign phone number sign-up, an international card payment option, and guest checkout for one-off orders.
This fundamentally shifted the calculus. Shuttle is no longer the default recommendation for most foreign visitors — evaluate your specific situation using the comparison below.
This fundamentally shifted the calculus. Shuttle is no longer the default recommendation for most foreign visitors — evaluate your specific situation using the comparison below.
Shuttle vs Baemin 2026 Comparison
Current state as of June 2026 — Baemin's foreign-friendly features are now live.
| Feature | Shuttle | Baemin |
|---|---|---|
| English interface | 100% English natively | English (set device language) |
| Korean ID / ARC | Not required | Not required |
| Foreign phone number | Accepted | Accepted (since May 2024) |
| Foreign card (Visa/MC) | Supported | International card option |
| PayPal | Supported | Not supported |
| Restaurant count | Limited (expat areas only) | Nationwide, vast selection |
| Coverage outside Seoul | Almost none | Nationwide |
| Itaewon/US military area | Best coverage | Some coverage |
| Guest checkout (no sign-up) | No | Yes (비회원 주문) |
Which App Should You Use?
Situation-by-situation guide.
USE BAEMIN You're anywhere in Seoul (except Itaewon/expat areas)
Baemin's restaurant count in non-expat Seoul neighborhoods dwarfs Shuttle. Set your phone to English, sign up with your foreign number, add your Visa/Mastercard, and order. Delivery times average 30–45 minutes.
USE BAEMIN You're in Busan, Jeju, Gyeongju, or anywhere outside Seoul
Shuttle coverage outside Seoul is minimal to nonexistent. Baemin operates nationwide and serves every city and most towns in Korea.
USE BAEMIN You want to order once without creating an account
Baemin's guest checkout (비회원 주문) allows ordering without any registration. Enter your address, browse menus, pay with a foreign card. No sign-up, no password.
USE SHUTTLE You're in Itaewon, Yongsan, or near a US military base
Shuttle's coverage in expat Itaewon and around Yongsan and Camp Humphreys is deeper than Baemin for that specific niche. The English-language restaurants in those areas list on Shuttle first.
USE SHUTTLE You need PayPal payment
Shuttle supports PayPal. Baemin does not. If PayPal is your only reliable payment method (common for users in countries where Korean Visa/Mastercard acceptance is poor), Shuttle is your only delivery option.
Setting Up Baemin as a Foreigner
Step-by-step from install to first order.
1
Set phone language to English first
Before downloading Baemin, go to your phone's Settings → Language → set to English. Baemin reads device language and displays in English automatically. This must be done before first launch.
2
Download and sign up with foreign number
Search "배달의민족" or "Baemin" on App Store or Google Play. On sign-up: select your country code, enter your home number. You'll receive an SMS verification code. No ARC, no Korean ID required.
3
Add your delivery address
Enter your Korean address (hotel name + neighborhood is usually enough for map search). Baemin uses Kakao Map — search your hotel name in English and it will usually find the right location.
4
Add foreign card for payment
In account settings → Payment methods → Add card → select "International credit card (해외 신용카드)." Enter your Visa or Mastercard. Wise cards work reliably. The card is saved for future orders.
5
Browse, order, and use Google Translate for Korean menus
Most restaurants have Korean-language menus even in the English app. Use the Google Translate camera to read menu item names and descriptions. Look for restaurants with photo menus — these are easier to navigate. Minimum orders vary (typically ₩12,000–₩18,000).
"I used to only use Shuttle because it was the only English option. Now Baemin in English has 50x more restaurants and delivery is 30 minutes. Shuttle still on my phone for Itaewon specifically — the local burrito place is on Shuttle only."
r/seoulexpats · score 221 · March 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, since May 2024. Baemin now accepts foreign phone numbers for signup (no ARC required), supports foreign Visa and Mastercard via the international card option, and switches to English when your device language is set to English. Guest checkout is also available for one-off orders without registration.
For most foreigners visiting Seoul, Baemin is now the better choice due to its vastly larger restaurant selection and nationwide coverage. Shuttle remains worth using if: you're in Itaewon or near US military bases, you need PayPal payment (Baemin doesn't support it), or you want 100% native English UI without changing phone language.
Yes. Since May 2024, Baemin accepts any international phone number for account registration. Tourist Korean SIMs with a 010 number also work. There's no ARC requirement for basic ordering. Guest checkout requires no phone number at all.
Change your phone's system language to English before opening the Baemin app. Baemin detects device language and displays English. If you change language while the app is open, restart it. Individual restaurant menu items may still be in Korean — use Google Translate camera to read them.
Shuttle is a delivery app for expats and foreign residents in Korea, particularly in Itaewon and near US military installations. It has 100% English UI, accepts Visa/Mastercard and PayPal, and requires no Korean ID. Its main limitation is coverage — outside expat areas in Seoul, the restaurant selection is very thin.
Coupang Eats still requires a Korean phone number for signup as of June 2026. Foreign visitors cannot easily register without an ARC and postpaid SIM. Baemin is the better choice for most foreigners, while Shuttle covers expat-heavy Itaewon area.