How to Use PeoMap
New here? Check out the main features and how to use them below.
Crowd Level Color Guide
Very crowded. Movement may be difficult and there may be safety risks. Consider postponing your visit or changing the time.
Somewhat crowded. Personal space is starting to shrink. Comfortable movement is difficult.
Moderate crowd level. People are present but movement isn't significantly hindered.
Comfortable. Easy to move around with no crowd-related inconvenience.
How to Use Each Feature
Check colors on the map
Open the map on the main screen to see color-coded circular markers across major Seoul areas. The closer to red, the more crowded. Tap a marker to see the area name and estimated population.
View the detailed list in the sidebar
Tap the 📊 button in the top right to open the area list sidebar. The list is sorted by crowd level — search for an area or filter by crowd level to see only what you want.
Add favorites
Tap the ☆ button next to an area you visit often to add it to favorites. Favorited areas are pinned to the top of the list for quick access. Favorites are stored on your device.
Set up push notifications
Use the 🔔 button on the right side of the screen to set up notifications. Allow notifications to receive a daily crowd-level summary at 8am.
Check nearby with My Location
Tap the location icon (⊕) at the bottom right to move the map to your current location. Easily see if there are crowded areas nearby.
Usage Tips
Peak crowd hours
Weekend afternoons from 2–7pm are the busiest for hotspots like Gangnam, Hongdae, Myeongdong, and Seongsu. Avoid these hours or check ahead of time.
Use favorites
Favorite your commute route or frequently visited areas to check them instantly at the top of the list every time you open the app.
Hide relaxed areas
Turn on "Hide relaxed" in the sidebar filter to show only crowded areas in the list — handy for spotting places to avoid at a glance.
Check forecast warnings
Areas that are relaxed now but expected to get crowded soon show an orange warning label. Be sure to check this when planning your trip.
Add to home screen
Choose "Add to Home Screen" from your browser's share button to launch PeoMap like an app, without typing the address every time.
Manual refresh
Tap the refresh button (↺) on the top badge to fetch the latest data immediately instead of waiting for the 5-minute cycle.
Crowd Patterns by Place Type
Crowd levels rise and fall differently depending on the type of place. Understanding these patterns helps you predict busy times more accurately when using PeoMap.
Subway station areas (Gangnam, Hongik Univ., etc.)
Crowd levels spike sharply during weekday commute hours (7–9am, 6–8pm). Stations with narrower exits reach "Crowded" faster even with the same number of people.
Commercial districts (Myeongdong, Hongdae, Seongsu)
Busiest on weekends rather than weekdays, especially between 2pm and 7pm. Crowd levels can spike sharply during pop-up store or new store openings.
Events & festivals (plazas, parks)
Crowds start gathering an hour before an event starts, peak during the event, and spike again for 30 min–1 hour right after it ends as people leave.
Narrow alleys & markets (Itaewon, traditional markets, etc.)
Narrow passages mean perceived crowding and risk can be high even with a small absolute number of people. Extra caution is needed during specific seasons like Halloween or year-end, when crowds can multiply several times over.
FAQ
For questions about the service overall — pricing, sign-up, ads — see the General FAQ.
Q.Is the data real-time?
Yes, we fetch fresh data from Seoul's open data source every 5 minutes. Check the last-updated time in the badge at the top of the map, or tap refresh to update instantly.
Q.When do notifications arrive and what do they contain?
If you set up notifications, you'll get a daily crowd-level summary at 8am covering major Seoul areas. The notification highlights especially crowded areas.
Q.What data does this use?
It uses Seoul's Real-Time City Data (Seoul TOPIS) API — a public crowd-level indicator calculated by the city from telecom mobility data, transit data, and more.
Q.Does it cover areas outside Seoul?
Currently only the 120+ major areas officially provided by Seoul City are supported. We're considering expansion in the future.
Q.My favorites got reset.
Favorites are stored in your browser's local storage. Clearing browser data or switching devices/browsers means favorites won't carry over.
Q.I'm not receiving notifications.
If browser notifications are set to "blocked," you won't receive them. Please allow notifications for the PeoMap site in your browser settings or OS notification permissions.
Q.The map loads slowly.
Due to the nature of the map library, the first load may take a bit of time. Please use a stable internet connection.