Delivery is part of everyday life in Korea. Almost anything — porridge, sushi, fried chicken, salads, coffee, cut fruit — can reach your door, often in under an hour. For visitors, though, the apps can be surprisingly hard to use.
The main delivery apps
The two big names are Coupang Eats and Baemin (Baedal Minjok). Both have huge restaurant choices and fast delivery.
Why it can be tricky as a visitor
- Phone verification. Sign-up often expects a Korean mobile number.
- Payment. Foreign cards don't always work, depending on the app and your bank.
- Language. Menus, options and restaurant messages are mostly in Korean.
- Addresses. You need your hotel's address in Korean, plus the right building and room details.
- Hotel rules. Some hotels don't let couriers go to rooms, so food is left at reception.
None of this is a problem when you feel well. After surgery — tired, swollen, perhaps with blurry vision — it's a lot to deal with on a phone screen.
How AfterOp handles it
AfterOp was set up for patients recovering in hotels around Incheon. Instead of a delivery app, you use our in-room dining menu:
- English menus with photos from trusted local restaurants that deliver to your hotel.
- A "Gentle" tag on soft, mild dishes that suit recovery.
- Only restaurants that are open right now can take orders, so nothing gets stuck.
- No account, no Korean phone number, no app to install — just your name, hotel and room.
- We place the order in Korean and you follow it on a tracking page. Meals usually arrive 30–40 minutes later, at your door or at reception depending on the hotel.
Tips if you order yourself
- Save your hotel's address in Korean in your phone notes.
- Add a delivery note such as "Please leave at reception" (프런트에 맡겨 주세요) if your hotel requires it.
- Check opening hours — many restaurants close mid-afternoon or after 9 pm.
- After facial surgery, choose mild dishes: see what to eat after facial surgery.