The Baemin (배달의민족) app supports English, Japanese, and Chinese in-app, accepts foreign credit cards, and does not require a Korean phone number. The three delivery apps in this guide are Baemin, Yogiyo (요기요) and Coupang Eats (쿠팡이츠). Yogiyo and Coupang Eats are built primarily for the Korean market. Which app works for you at any given time depends largely on what phone number and payment card you have.
This guide covers the mechanics: what each app is, what "English" actually means, signing up, paying, entering your address, allergen labeling under Korean law, and how delivery fees work. For finding and evaluating restaurants, see Finding Good Restaurants in Korea. For halal dietary sourcing, see the Halal Food in Korea guide.
The three apps and how they differ
Baemin, Yogiyo, and Coupang Eats are separate companies with separate apps.
Baemin (배달의민족) is the largest of the three by card-payment share, at 57.6% in the Fair Trade Commission's 2024 figures. The Baemin app has in-app multilingual support and is usable without a Korean phone number or a Korean-issued bank card.
Yogiyo (요기요) is a third delivery platform operating in Korea. It is built primarily for the Korean market.
Coupang Eats (쿠팡이츠) is operated by Coupang, the same company that runs Coupang's online shopping service. If you already have a Coupang account, try that login when you install the app. For everything else Coupang does, including Rocket Delivery and Coupang Play, those are covered in the separate Coupang guide.
The factors that matter most to foreign residents are which phone number and payment method the app accepts, and whether the interface is in a language they can read.
What "English" actually means on each app
Baemin's page for foreign users states: "Our app is available in English, Japanese, and Chinese. Even first-time users can easily place orders thanks to our intuitive menu and ordering system." If you install Yogiyo or Coupang Eats, look for a language option in the app settings.
The practical result: if reading Korean is not yet comfortable, Baemin gives you an English checkout flow and states that it accepts foreign cards. Keep a translation app to hand while you browse menus.
Signing up: phone numbers and identity verification
Baemin explicitly states: "No Korean phone number required." If you do not yet have a Korean SIM card (see the Korea SIM Card guide for how to get one), Baemin is the one to start with.
For Yogiyo and Coupang Eats, install the app and see how far the signup flow gets you before committing to it. Keep Baemin as a fallback.
The barrier can differ by app, by phone number type, and over time.
Paying: foreign cards and what to expect
Baemin accepts foreign-issued credit cards. Its page for foreign users states: "We accept foreign credit cards, as well as convenient payment methods such as WeChat Pay and Alipay+."
For Yogiyo and Coupang Eats, test a small order before you rely on a foreign card, and keep a backup payment method ready.
Baemin shows the delivery fee and final total before you confirm your order. Its page for foreign users states: "Delivery fees and any additional fees are clearly displayed before you place your order. Confirm your final total at checkout for a worry-free ordering experience." There is no surprise charge added to a Baemin order after you tap confirm.
Getting the address right
The address you enter must be specific enough for a courier to locate you, especially in an apartment complex or officetel where multiple units share one entrance.
Enter your building using the road-name address system (도로명주소, the standard Korean postal address format), then add your unit number, floor, and building or tower number if your complex has more than one building. Those details are what a courier needs to reach your door rather than your gate.
If your building has a shared entrance passcode (공동현관 비밀번호), write it in the delivery request note (요청사항) field. Alternatively, if your building's entrance intercom lets couriers dial your unit number to be buzzed in, write your unit number clearly and note that the intercom is available.
For a studio apartment (원룸) or officetel (오피스텔) where the building does not have clearly marked exterior signage, include an informal building name or a distinguishing landmark in the request note. Courier navigation apps often rely on locally known building names rather than the formal address.
Follow the labels in whichever app you are using. If your address is complex, use the in-app call or message function to contact the courier once the order is on its way.
Request notes and allergen labeling
Writing a delivery request note
Look for the delivery request note field (요청사항) when you order, and use it to write instructions for both the restaurant and the courier. Notes can include dietary requests, entrance codes, and specific delivery instructions such as which floor or entrance to use.
A note written in Korean is more likely to be read and understood. If you write in another language, keep instructions short and specific.
If you are offered separate notes for the restaurant and the courier, put dietary instructions in the restaurant note and delivery logistics, such as entrance codes or floor numbers, in the courier note.
What Korean law requires on allergens
Korean law requires large chains to display allergen information in-app, next to the product itself.
The obligation comes from the Special Act on Safety Management of Children's Dietary Life (어린이 식생활안전관리 특별법). The law reaches food-service businesses that mainly sell children's preferred foods (어린이 기호식품), when that business is a snack-bar or rest restaurant, a general restaurant, or a bakery, and when the franchise network meets the location-count threshold. The easylaw.go.kr page on this obligation cites the threshold directly from the enforcement decree as "그 가맹사업의 직영점과 가맹점을 포함한 점포 수가 50개 이상인 경우" (where the total number of locations including directly operated and franchised outlets is 50 or more).
For online delivery orders at covered businesses, allergen-inducing ingredients (알레르기 유발식품) must appear next to the product name or price on the app or website. The notice that sets this out names the app directly. Article 4(2)(2) of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety notice on allergen labeling for children's preferred foods (Notice 2019-99) reads: "홈페이지, 모바일 앱 등 온라인을 통해 식품을 주문받아 배달하는 경우에는 해당 홈페이지 또는 모바일 앱의 제품명이나 가격표시 주변에 해당 원재료명을 표시하여야 한다" (where food is ordered and delivered through a website, mobile app, or other online channel, the ingredient name must be displayed on that website or mobile app next to the product name or price display). The Ministry's consumer portal (foodsafetykorea.go.kr) restates the same rule for shoppers.
The limit of this law
This obligation covers large franchise chains in categories such as bakeries, pizza, burgers, and ice cream that meet the location-count threshold. It does not reach independent or small restaurants. If you order from a local place that is not part of a large franchise network, the law does not require them to display allergen information in the app.
A request note asking a restaurant to accommodate a dietary restriction is exactly that, a request. For halal dietary sourcing, see the Halal Food in Korea guide. For vegetarian and vegan requests, the separate vegetarian food guide covers phrasing and sourcing in detail.
Delivery fees and minimums: how they work
In the Korea Consumer Agency's December 2022 survey, restaurants set the share of the delivery fee the customer carries. They vary by distance, by the delivery type you select, and by what each restaurant has decided to charge.
Single-drop delivery (한집배달) means the rider carries only your order. Thrifty delivery (알뜰배달) means the rider may carry other orders on the same route. A Korea Consumer Agency delivery app survey from December 2022 found that single-drop delivery is typically faster and typically more expensive.
The minimum order amount is the cart total required before a restaurant will accept your order. If your cart is under the minimum, the app will not let you proceed.
The share of the delivery fee you carry can change when a restaurant updates its settings. Check the order screen each time rather than relying on a figure you remember from a previous order.
Korea's Fair Trade Commission has been active on delivery platform practices. In a press release registered in October 2025, it required Baemin and Coupang Eats to correct 10 types of unfair standard terms in their merchant contracts, and recommended Coupang Eats correct its commission calculation method within 60 days. This is background context for why fee structures keep changing in this sector. The FTC's actions address platform-to-merchant terms, not the delivery fee you see as a customer, but they reflect a sector where the economics are actively contested.
When something goes wrong
Open the order-history section of the app and find the order in question, then look for the support option attached to it. That is the route for reporting a missing item, a wrong order, or a delivery problem.
If the courier appears to be having trouble finding your building, check the order screen for a way to contact them. Look for a call or message option on that screen. Write your message in Korean if you can, or combine a short English note with the address details in Korean.
Cancellations are time-sensitive. Cancel as soon as you realise, from the order screen. Check the cancellation window before placing an order you are uncertain about.
Tipping
For tipping norms in Korean food service, see the Korean restaurant types guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I order food delivery in Korea without a Korean phone number?
Yes, on Baemin. Baemin explicitly does not require a Korean phone number. For Yogiyo and Coupang Eats, try the signup flow with your own number before you depend on it. Baemin is the safer starting point if you have not yet obtained a Korean SIM.
Does Baemin have an English app?
The Baemin app supports English, Japanese, and Chinese.
Will my foreign credit card work on a Korean food delivery app?
Baemin accepts foreign credit cards. Its page states: "We accept foreign credit cards, as well as convenient payment methods such as WeChat Pay and Alipay+." For Yogiyo and Coupang Eats, keep a backup payment method ready in case your card is declined.
Are allergens listed on Korean food delivery apps?
For large chains, yes. Korean law requires franchise food-service chains with 50 or more combined locations selling children's preferred foods (어린이 기호식품) to display allergen information next to the product name or price on the app. This covers categories such as bakeries, pizza, burgers, and ice cream. Independent restaurants are not covered. The duty is a labelling requirement on the chain, not a promise about how any kitchen handles your individual order.
How much does delivery cost in Korea?
Read the delivery fee on the order screen before you confirm. A Korea Consumer Agency delivery app survey from December 2022 found single-drop delivery (한집배달) typically costs more than thrifty delivery (알뜰배달), where a rider carries multiple orders. Check the order screen for the current amount.
Do I need to tip the delivery courier in Korea?
See the Korean restaurant types guide for tipping norms in Korean food service.
What do I do if my order is wrong or does not arrive?
Look for the support option attached to the order in question. Check the delivery tracking screen before assuming the order is lost: the courier may call or send a message if they cannot find your entrance.
How do I write my address so the courier can find me?
Use the road-name address (도로명주소) to pin your building, then give your unit number, floor, and building or tower number if applicable. Write any entrance passcode in the delivery request note field. For a studio apartment or officetel without clear external signage, include a nearby landmark or the informal building name your courier's navigation app is likely to recognize.