Yes. Tourists can currently use Baemin without a Korean phone number by ordering as a non-member instead of trying to complete the normal Korean member identity-verification process.
Baemin’s official Google Play developer response states that foreign users can verify an overseas mobile number, place an order as a non-member, and pay with an overseas credit card. You therefore do not need to buy a Korean phone number just to place a standard Baemin food-delivery order.
Quick answer: Use Baemin as a non-member, complete overseas mobile-number verification when requested, enter an accurate delivery address, and choose an available overseas payment method. Do not start by trying to complete Korean member identity verification.
What You Actually Need to Use Baemin as a Tourist
A Korean domestic number is not the main requirement for the tourist ordering route. What matters is being able to complete the overseas mobile-number verification required for non-member ordering.
- A smartphone with the Baemin app installed
- An overseas mobile number that can complete Baemin’s verification process
- Mobile data or Wi-Fi
- A usable delivery address in Korea
- A supported overseas payment method
This distinction matters if you are traveling with a data-only eSIM. A data-only eSIM provides internet access but may not provide a mobile number for Baemin’s verification step. If your phone supports dual SIM, keeping your home line available may give you another option for completing phone verification, depending on your carrier and roaming setup.
If you are still choosing connectivity for your trip, see the guide to eSIM vs physical SIM vs roaming in Korea. A Korean 010 number and Korean identity verification are separate things, so do not buy a particular SIM solely because you assume Baemin requires a domestic Korean number.
How to Order on Baemin Without a Korean Phone Number
Button names and screen layouts can change as Baemin updates the app, but the important decision is to continue through the non-member ordering route rather than trying to create a fully verified Korean member account.
- Install and open the official Baemin app.
- Use a supported language if necessary. Baemin currently provides multilingual support including English, Japanese and Chinese.
- Set your delivery address in Korea. Confirm that the correct building and map location are selected.
- Choose a restaurant and add your food to the cart.
- Continue as a non-member. Avoid entering the Korean member identity-verification process unless you specifically need a member-only feature.
- Enter your overseas mobile number when requested. Follow the current verification instructions displayed by the app.
- Select an available overseas payment method.
- Review the address, delivery instructions, order total and contact information before submitting the order.
Baemin’s official visitor page promotes delivery to hotels, Airbnb accommodation and even the Han River. It also highlights real-time delivery tracking and advance pickup.
Woowa Brothers, the company behind Baemin, has also documented its multilingual rollout in its official technical blog.
You Still Need an Overseas Mobile Number for Verification
“No Korean phone number required” does not mean that no phone verification is involved. Baemin’s official developer responses state that foreign non-member users complete overseas mobile-number verification before ordering.
If you plan to rely on your home mobile number, check how that line will function while you are in Korea. Travelers using a separate data-only eSIM should be especially careful not to disable or remove the home line before confirming how they will complete Baemin’s phone-verification step.
Baemin does not provide a simple public list guaranteeing verification for every overseas carrier or number. If verification does not work, first confirm the country information and number you entered, then check whether your home carrier allows the number to complete the required verification while you are in Korea.
Can You Pay With a Foreign Credit Card?
Yes. Baemin’s developer guidance states that foreign non-member users can pay with overseas credit cards. Baemin has also expanded international payment options for visitors.
This does not guarantee that every foreign-issued card will be approved. Your card issuer can still decline an overseas online transaction, require additional authentication or block the payment because of its security settings.
If the payment option appears but your transaction fails, check the issuer before repeatedly submitting the same card. The guide to what to do when a credit card does not work in Korea explains common issuer restrictions and useful backup steps.
Be Precise With Your Hotel or Airbnb Address
Phone verification and payment are only part of a successful delivery. The rider also needs to find the correct building, entrance or meeting point.
For a hotel, use the property’s exact address and check its delivery policy. Some hotels may require guests to meet riders in the lobby or outside rather than allowing outside delivery to individual rooms.
For an Airbnb, guesthouse or apartment, check the building name, entrance and any access instructions provided by the host. Do not assume that a delivery rider can enter a locked residential building.
If you need to meet the rider downstairs, choose an obvious location and monitor the delivery status so you know when to go to the entrance.
What If Baemin Sends You to Korean Identity Verification?
If you are a short-term tourist and Baemin asks for Korean identity credentials while you are trying to register for an account, do not assume that buying a different Korean SIM will solve the problem.
Return to the ordering flow and look for the non-member route. Baemin’s own developer guidance directs foreign users toward non-member ordering with overseas mobile-number verification and overseas credit-card payment.
A Korean tourist SIM and Korean identity verification are not the same thing. Even a travel SIM that includes a Korean phone number does not automatically give a visitor the resident identity credentials required by some Korean online services.
What to Do If the Non-Member Order Still Does Not Work
First identify which part of the process failed. Phone verification, payment and delivery-address problems have different causes and should be handled separately.
- Phone verification does not complete: check the country information, number format, your carrier’s roaming settings and whether the number can complete Baemin’s verification process.
- Payment is declined: try another supported payment method or check your card issuer’s overseas online-payment settings.
- Address is not found: use the exact Korean street address or building information from your accommodation rather than relying only on an English spelling.
- Hotel delivery is unclear: ask the property where outside food deliveries should be collected.
There is also an important customer-support limitation for non-members. Baemin has stated that non-member users may have difficulty connecting to in-app chat support. Its current official Google Play listing lists the main customer center as 1600-0987.
If delivery becomes more complicated than the meal is worth, pickup or eating at a restaurant can be a simpler backup. The guide to ordering food in Korea without speaking Korean covers menus, kiosks, translation tools and other practical ordering methods.
Do You Need a Korean SIM Just for Baemin?
No, not for the current non-member ordering route. If Baemin is the only reason you were considering a Korean-number SIM, an overseas mobile number that can complete Baemin’s verification process may be enough.
You may still want a Korean number for other parts of your trip, including local calls, reservation messages or services with different phone requirements. Choose your SIM or eSIM based on your whole trip rather than assuming Baemin itself requires a Korean domestic number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Baemin in English?
Yes. Baemin currently provides English support as part of its multilingual service, along with Japanese and Chinese. App interfaces can change, so follow the current language options available in your version of Baemin.
Can Baemin deliver to a hotel in Korea?
Yes. Baemin’s official visitor page specifically promotes hotel delivery. The hotel’s own access policy still applies, so enter the correct property address and be prepared to meet the rider in the lobby or at another designated location if delivery upstairs is restricted.
For most tourists, the practical rule is simple: use the non-member ordering route, complete overseas mobile-number verification, choose a supported overseas payment method and double-check the delivery location before paying. A Korean domestic phone number is not required for that ordering route.