Naver Map Launches ‘Passenger Ferry Route Finder’
Service Begins in Collaboration with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries
“8 hours and 38 minutes.”
That’s how long it takes to travel from Sindorim Station in Seoul to Dodong Port Ferry Terminal on Ulleungdo. By using Naver Map’s route-finding feature, this was confirmed assuming a departure at 4 a.m. the next day.
Naver Map has introduced a service for coastal passenger ferry routes, connecting islands with the mainland and island-to-island routes. This service is a result of collaboration with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Users can now check ferry operations through this service, which previously only guided on public transport like buses, subways, trains, and flights.
On the 13th, Naver announced the launch of the ‘Passenger Ferry Route Finder’ via its map service. This allows users to check routes using ferries to places like Jeju Island, Marado, and between Pohang in Gyeongbuk and Ulleungdo.
Users of the service can not only find routes involving ferries but also access information on terminals, ticket offices, ferry schedules, total travel time, and fare details using the latest data provided by the Korea Shipping Association (KSA).
The service also provides real-time updates on regular operations, delays, and cancellations based on information from the Korea Marine Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA).
Naver and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last year. Through this integration of ferry information, they aim to accurately provide operational information to island residents and tourists visiting island regions using coastal ferries. To support this, the service is available in English, Chinese, and Japanese.
Naver Map is evolving beyond a simple route-finding service into an ‘all-in-one’ platform. Users can book restaurants or leave video reviews directly within the Naver Map application.
According to Macromill Embrain’s PanelBigData, Naver Map was ranked the most-used map app as of September this year, followed by Kakao Map and Google Maps in second and third place, respectively.
The company attributed this success to their enhancement of user experience through the provision of a variety of features, including location-based information services, nationwide shop reservations, reviews, and payment integration. They also emphasized that user-experience-focused innovation and differentiated service strategies are emerging as key factors in determining market success.
Lee Eun-sil, the leader overseeing the Naver Map project, stated, “As an all-in-one platform, Naver Map plans to continue its service enhancement to support users’ journeys conveniently and with high connectivity from route exploration to actual travel.”