Users can now check real-time movement locations of coastal passenger ferries nationwide on KakaoMap.

Kakao said on Sept. 15 it applied a "high-precision ferry" service to KakaoMap. It covers 99 coastal passenger ferry routes operating from 306 passenger terminals nationwide.

Users can zoom in on ferry routes in KakaoMap to check a vessel's current location. Selecting the vessel icon on the map launches navigation mode, displaying operating information such as time remaining until arrival, travel speed and destination.

The service was built by linking passenger ferry traffic information held by the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority to KakaoMap. Kakao and the authority prepared the relevant system for about 1 year after signing a memorandum of understanding to link real-time ferry information.

Kakao plans to expand the information and functions provided. It will add operating timetables, whether operations are controlled due to worsening weather, and onboard amenities to ferry terminal detail pages, and will introduce a booking function in stages.

As ferries can be delayed or cancelled depending on weather conditions, real-time location information can also be used by passengers to check travel progress. It can also be used to check operating status for family or acquaintances traveling to and from island areas.

The service was selected as an outstanding case in the public-private cooperation category at the 2026 Kakao Public Innovation Awards. It is an example of combining transportation data held by public institutions with a private map service.

KakaoMap is expanding high-precision services that show the current location of means of transport on a map. Starting with high-precision buses in 2019, it added high-precision subway and Han River Bus services in 2025. It currently provides related services in about 30 locations nationwide, including the Seoul metropolitan area.

A Kakao official said, "We prepared this service to help revitalize the use of coastal passenger ferries and create a safe maritime travel environment." The official said, "We will expand the scope of high-precision services so that users can check a variety of transportation information on KakaoMap."