Tourists without Korean phone numbers can now order K-food delivery at Han River parks

Foreign tourists visiting Seoul will soon be able to order tteokbokki, fried chicken and other K-food through an online food delivery app without needing a Korean phone number.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government signed an MOU with Baemin on Friday to reduce barriers foreign visitors face when using online food delivery services and to help them experience "K-delivery" culture at Han River parks and accommodations around the city.

Under the agreement, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will handle promotional outreach and on-site guidance for foreign visitors, while Baemin will improve its ordering and payment functions for international users and support service operations.

Baemin has been steadily expanding its services for foreign users, including introducing an option to place orders without a Korean phone number. The app currently accepts overseas-issued credit cards, Chinese mobile payment services and Apple Pay with foreign cards.

As their first joint project, the two organizations will run a K-delivery experience campaign for foreign tourists tied to the 2026 Han River Bamping event, which runs through Friday at Yeouido and Ttukseom Hangang Park.

Han River Bamping is an overnight tourism program designed to let residents and visitors enjoy the Han River's summer nighttime atmosphere from daytime through the early morning hours, combining swimming pools, festivals, performances, film screenings and food delivery services at Yeouido and Ttukseom Hangang Park.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will install multilingual information banners at delivery zones in Han River parks and provide guidance on how to use the delivery app and locate delivery zones through the city's foreign-language website and the Seoul Tourism Foundation's online channels.

In addition, the city plans to analyze reviews and inquiries from foreign tourists to identify further improvements to the ordering process, including address entry, payment and food pickup.

The city also plans to expand collaborative projects linking nighttime tourism programs, food content and local commercial districts, with the goal of channeling spending at Han River parks and major tourist sites into sales for nearby restaurants and neighborhood businesses.

"This agreement is a meaningful collaboration that lowers the barriers foreign tourists face when using delivery apps, making it easier to experience K-delivery culture throughout Seoul," said Jo Seong-ho, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Tourism and Sports Bureau. "We will continue to work actively with the private sector to address everyday inconveniences that foreign tourists encounter in Seoul and strengthen the city's competitiveness as a tourism destination."