Papago is NAVER’s translation app, with tools for translating text, speech and text in photos. Its new Trend feature adds a way to discover Korean places and products, helping you decide where to go or what to look into before you encounter it in person.
NAVER announced Trend on October 19, 2026. It draws on international visitors’ image-translation activity and connects suggestions to translated local information, reviews and linked services. For tourists, that can help turn an unfamiliar neighborhood into a manageable shortlist. For foreign residents, it offers another way to explore nearby places and understand unfamiliar products. NAVER’s launch announcement explains the change.
Download Papago
Get NAVER’s Papago app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android.
Where to find it, and which language to expect
According to NAVER, the Trend button sits at the upper right of Papago’s home screen on devices set to a language other than Korean. Trend supports English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese; other non-Korean device languages receive English.
We have checked the announcement, not personally tested the feature on a phone. We cannot confirm every device, app version or location. If the button is missing, check your device-language setting and available app updates rather than assuming it is in a different menu.
Start with the decision you need to make
NAVER describes two sections. Products includes TOP 100, Rising, Beauty, Food and Health. Product entries offer AI Briefing and links to blogs and NAVER Shopping. Places includes TOP 100, Rising and Hot Spots; entries connect to NAVER Place details, NAVER Map Directions and reservation features.
Before browsing, choose one job for the app: find a café near your next stop, compare a souvenir, or investigate a product you have already noticed. This keeps a popular list from turning into a detour you never wanted.
Turn a place suggestion into a workable stop
Pick a place in the area you plan to visit. Check the exact branch and address, then look at its menu and opening information. Read a few recent reviews for practical details such as queues, seating and what people actually ordered.
Next, check the route from where you will be, not just from your hotel. Decide how much time you are willing to spend getting there and waiting. If booking is offered, check the date, party size, total cost and cancellation conditions before confirming. A listing or booking link alone does not establish that your reservation is complete.
Keep one alternative nearby. It makes it easier to enjoy the neighborhood if your first choice is full or your plans run late.
An example: a café before your next appointment
Imagine the following hypothetical scenario: you have 45 minutes for coffee before meeting a friend.
Give yourself a simple limit: somewhere you can reach in ten minutes, with enough time left to order and sit down. For each place, note its name and branch, walking time, opening time and one thing you still need to confirm. If the route or likely wait consumes the break, choose the closer alternative.
The useful outcome is a realistic coffee stop. You do not need to visit the highest-ranked place to have used the feature well.
Use product suggestions to ask better questions
For shopping, start with the exact product and size. Read beyond the short summary, compare the seller’s current price and check whether a multipack or smaller version changes the apparent bargain.
If you plan to buy in person, confirm that the shop carries that particular version. An online listing is not a promise of stock on a nearby shelf. Before paying, check the condition, expiry date where relevant, return terms and whether you still want it without the popularity label.
Treat a translated summary as help understanding what to investigate. For an ingredient or instruction that matters to your decision, check the original packaging and ask the seller to clarify anything unclear. If you cannot get a clear answer, leave the purchase for later.
A small shortlist beats a crowded itinerary
Our practical recommendation is to leave Trend with one or two usable options, not a day rebuilt around rankings. Save the exact names and addresses somewhere you can find them again, recheck time-sensitive details before setting out, and keep enough flexibility to change your mind.
Sources and further reading
NAVER: Papago Trend launch announcement, October 19, 2026. Source for the launch, access, language and feature descriptions. Checked November 3, 2026.
App Store: Naver Papago – AI Translator, published by NAVER Corp. Checked November 3, 2026.
Google Play: Naver Papago – AI Translator, published by NAVER Corp. Checked November 3, 2026.
This guide is based on published information, not a hands-on app test.
