Why does food delivery in Pyeongtaek feel frustrating and hard to access at first?
Pyeongtaek-si has a few issues which complicate English food delivery such as 1) many different neighborhoods that are spread apart so that English speakers aren’t in one central area, 2) a multi-national population with different delivery needs, and 3) multiple military bases that wreck-havoc on the gps location systems used in apps. All of the English food delivery app developers do their best but addressing accuracy around Pyeongtaek remains complicated AF.
Such complications mean that you might have the following issues when you signup for delivery 1) your address doesn’t load correctly, 2) you have trouble linking a payment account, or 3) the delivery driver may struggle to find your location because the app sent the wrong address or their map app can’t accurately find the address, and 4) there might not be an English language app in your area.
Don’t let these struggles with food delivery in Pyeongtaek get you down! Just find the right app or solution for your location. Ask for help if you need to! You can ask your real estate agent, language exchange friend, or co-worker to help you set up your food delivery system. They can help you set up your 1) home address and 2) payment options.
The delivery companies in Pyeongtaek work continuously to address the issues but it’s a struggle (South of Seoul knows the struggle is real because we face the same issues with our websites and apps. We do not envy the delivery app developers.)
Why is the food delivery app in my area only in Korean?
International residents make up only 3% of Gyeonggi-do’s total population. In Pyeongtaek-si, there are around 24,000+ international residents and an estimated 40,000 + USA military. This means that the economic viability of English language services remains limited. Although it feels like a huge opportunity to those that speak English and live in English-friendly areas, the truth is that the buying power of foreign language speakers pales in relationship to the 500,000+ Korean language residents who live in Pyeongtaek-si. Thankfully we have businesses like Shuttle that prioritize the needs of English language speakers.
Can I still order food delivery if the food delivery app is all in Korean?
Help Me Emo
Help Me Emo operates through Facebook and Kakao Talk. They are nationwide and can help you find who delivers in your area and place an order for you. This is great for anyone who can’t figure out the delivery apps or who lives in a rural area where delivery might be managed by individual restaurants. They charge a small fee per order (around 2,000 won as of 2020).
YES! You can still order food! If you find yourself living in an area of Pyeongtaek that doesn’t have English language food apps, you have two options that have been tested and approved by many Pyeongtaek Food & Fun group members:
- Contact Help Me Emo: You can use an online food delivery assistance service called Help Me Emo. You contact Help Me Emo and they will help you order food and have it delivered to your house for a small fee.
- Use Google Translate: Access the food delivery apps via their websites and use the Google Translate Extension in Chrome. The language translation extension will automatically translate the Korean text to English (text on images will not be translated). This is not foolproof. It can be frustrating, but it also can be a fun challenge.
Why can’t I pay with my international credit card?
There are a few reasons that international bank cards and credit cards are not accepted on apps developed in South Korea for South Korean residents. For example, international credit card fees are so high they feel unsustainable to many businesses. Additionally, there are issues with system compatibility within the apps. The result is that it doesn’t make financial sense for Korean developers to fix the issue. Therefore, the Korean-developed apps often only accept Korean debit and credit card transactions.
Can I still order food delivery if I only have an international bank account?
Such issues make everything online harder in South Korea if you do not have a local bank account and resident number. This includes food delivery. If you can’t pay for food using your international bank account we recommend using Help Me Emo or Shuttle.
Do food delivery apps deliver on US military bases?
They do not. However, the delivery drivers can deliver to outside the Camp Humphreys walking gate and the Osan Air Force Base walking gate. Order your delivery and pick-up your food on the Korean side of the USA military base walk-in gate. It’s totally worth it.
What delivery apps are available in Pyeongtaek?
Shuttle Delivery
Shuttle Delivery provides delivery services from a variety of Korea’s best restaurants, so you can enjoy the best food in the comfort of your home, office, or wherever you happen to be! They offer a fully bilingual service where customers can place orders in either English or Korean. If you are not sure what to eat, you can check out the full range of options by selecting by cuisine! Click on the website link to get signed up! They have a website and a phone app. Use what’s comfortable for you. South of Seoul volunteers will get a discount and so will you when you place your first order.
- Food DeliveryApp name:Shuttle Delivery
- Delivery Areas in Pyeongtaek: Near Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Force Bases only.
- App Interface Language(s): English or Korean depending on your phone’s language
- Help Desk Language(s): English
- Pros: Designed with English-speaking users in mind with full English-speaking support. Specializes in international food options. This is the easiest option if you have access to it. Don’t play yourself. Download it.
CoupangEats
CoupangEats is like the UberEats of Korea. They often have a wider delivery area than other apps. The app has an English interface.
- Food DeliveryApp name: Coupang Eats
- Delivery Areas in Pyeongtaek: Most of Pyeongtaek except rural areas
- App Interface Language(s): Korean and English Mixed
- Help Desk Language(s): Korean
- Pros: Coupang Eats is in more places than the English language apps
Yogiyo Food Delivery App
Yogiyo is one of Koreans most established food delivery apps. The app is only in Korea but you can Google blogs and videos that will help you get registered. Remember, it will take some time to get it setup so don’t wait until you are hungry to start the process.
- Food Delivery App name: Yogiyo 배달요기요
- Delivery Areas in Pyeongtaek: Most of Pyeongtaek except rural areas
- App Language(s): Korean
- Help Desk Language(s): Korean
- Pros: Korean restaurants in more areas
- YouTube Tutorial: Click here for help
Baemin Delivery App
Korean language delivery app that operates across Korea. You can download it to any phone by searching ‘Baemin’. Watch Google YouTube videos to learn how to navigate the app in Korean.
- Food DeliveryApp name:배달의민족
- Delivery Areas in Pyeongtaek: Most of Pyeongtaek except rural areas
- App Interface Language(s): Korean
- Help Desk Language(s): Korean
- Pros: Korean restaurants in more areas
- YouTube Tutorial: Click here for help
What can I do if I can’t get the food delivery app to work at home?
- Confirm you the apps delivery area includes your house.
- Visit your real estate agent to see if they can set your account up.
- Ask a friend from a language exchange for help.
- Post your struggle in the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook group
- Use screenshots and a translator app like Google Translate or Naver Papago (This works better than you think. You can just translate the image on your smartphone.)
- Watch the videos we included for extra help.
GO FORTH AND EAT!!!!!!
Founded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences.
