[Edaily Reporter Lee So-hyun] Naver Maps is enhancing its travel services for foreign tourists visiting Korea by introducing local restaurants and tourist attractions in Busan and providing support for reservations and payments.

Naver (#NAVER) announced on the 10th that it will run the ‘BE LOCAL’ campaign in collaboration with the City of Busan and the Korea Tourism Organization until July 19.

The BE LOCAL campaign is a program that introduces local hotspots—such as restaurants, tourist attractions, and lifestyle stores—to help foreign tourists more easily experience Korea’s local culture.

This year’s campaign, themed “How to Enjoy Busan in the Most Local Way,” will focus on Busan, which is gaining attention as a global culinary destination.

Naver will introduce approximately 300 hotspots in major areas, including Seoul, Haeundae, Seomyeon, and Gijang in Busan. Users who set the language of the Naver Maps app to a foreign language can view recommended locations at a glance via the ‘BE LOCAL’ tab at the top of the app.

Naver, the City of Busan, and the Korea Tourism Organization are collaborating with popular local restaurants to provide various benefits, making it more convenient for foreign tourists to enjoy Busan.

Foreign tourists can receive discount coupons for local eateries, including Michelin-selected restaurants, through the Naver Maps app. The app supports the entire process from reservation and payment to the actual visit.

A coupon pack called the “BE LOCAL Pass” is also available for foreign tourists. It includes coupons redeemable at lifestyle brands popular among foreigners—such as Amorepacific, CU, and Junohair—as well as convenience stores and retail shops. Content related to local tourist attractions, such as Busan Lotte World and the Beach Train, is also featured.

Naver has also introduced a “passport verification” feature to enhance convenience for foreign users. Foreign tourists can verify their identity using their passport and then use Naver’s reservation, ordering, and payment services.

Since launching multilingual maps in English, Chinese, and Japanese in 2018, Naver Maps has continuously enhanced features for international users.

According to Naver, compared to September of last year when the 'Non-Local' campaign Season 2 began, the number of foreign-language users of Naver Maps increased by 16.4% in April of this year, reaching an all-time high.

Choi Seung-rak, Head of the Naver Maps Division, stated, “Naver Maps is an all-in-one platform that allows users to explore hotspots and local trends, as well as handle reservations, orders, payments, and transportation all in one place,” adding, “We are enhancing our services so that foreign visitors to Korea can fully experience local culture.”

He emphasized, “With various global events, such as concerts and festivals, scheduled to take place in Busan in June, we expect the ‘Non-Local’ campaign to serve as a useful travel guide for foreign tourists visiting Busan.”