canonical: https://jentic.com/apis/developers.kakao.com/kakao-maps

# Kakao Maps Local API

The Kakao Maps Local API turns addresses and coordinates into structured location data across Korea. You can geocode an address, reverse geocode a coordinate into an address or administrative region, transform between coordinate systems, and search places by keyword or category. Every operation is a read that returns location results.

## For AI agents

Geocode Korean addresses, reverse geocode coordinates into addresses and region codes, transform coordinate systems, and search places by keyword or category. Read-only location lookups.

## Scope

Covers Korea-focused geocoding and place search. Does not render map tiles, calculate multi-stop routes, or provide global street-level coverage.

## Capabilities

- Geocode an address into coordinates
- Reverse geocode a coordinate into a street address
- Convert a coordinate into its administrative region code
- Transform a coordinate between supported coordinate systems
- Search places by keyword and return their locations
- Search places by category near a point

## Use cases

### AI Agent Address Geocoding

An AI agent can turn user-entered addresses into coordinates for mapping, routing, or storage. Through Jentic the agent finds the geocoding operation by intent and passes the address string, so a logistics or travel assistant can resolve locations across Korea without a developer wiring the endpoint by hand.

Example prompt: Geocode a Korean street address and return its latitude and longitude

### Reverse Geocoding and Region Lookup

A location-aware agent can describe where a coordinate falls by resolving it to a street address or an administrative region. The API reverse geocodes coordinates and returns region codes, so an agent can label a GPS point with a human-readable place or the district it belongs to.

Example prompt: Take a latitude and longitude and return the street address and administrative region for it

### Place Search Assistant

A recommendation or travel agent can find nearby businesses and points of interest by keyword or category. The API searches places and returns their names and locations, so an agent can answer 'find cafes near here' or list restaurants in a category around a given point.

Example prompt: Search for cafes near a coordinate and return the names and locations of the closest matches

## Key endpoints

| Method | Path | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GET | `/v2/local/search/address.json` | Geocode an address into coordinates |
| GET | `/v2/local/geo/coord2address.json` | Reverse geocode a coordinate into an address |
| GET | `/v2/local/geo/coord2regioncode.json` | Convert a coordinate into a region code |
| GET | `/v2/local/geo/transcoord.json` | Transform a coordinate between systems |
| GET | `/v2/local/search/keyword.json` | Search places by keyword |
| GET | `/v2/local/search/category.json` | Search places by category |

## Key resources

- **Address Geocoding** — Convert an address into coordinates and structured location data
- **Reverse Geocoding** — Convert coordinates into an address or administrative region code
- **Coordinate Transform** — Transform coordinates between supported coordinate systems
- **Place Search** — Search places by keyword or category and return their locations

## Why Jentic

- **Setup:** Wiring Kakao Maps by hand means registering an app for a REST key, sending it in the Authorization header with the KakaoAK prefix, and mapping each geocoding and search operation. Through Jentic you install once, import the API, store the key once, and your agent calls it.
- **Permission scoping:** You choose which Kakao Maps operations the agent may call. Since every operation is a read-only lookup, a rule can allow just geocoding, or just place search, so the agent works within the exact set of lookups you approved.
- **Credential handling:** Your Kakao REST API key is stored encrypted by your own Jentic One instance and injected into the Authorization header at execution time. It never enters the agent's prompt, logs, or context window.
- **Discovery method:** Agents search Jentic by intent such as 'geocode an address' or 'search places by keyword', and Jentic returns the matching Kakao Maps operation with its input schema so the agent calls the right endpoint.

## Related APIs

- **OpenCage Geocoding** — OpenCage offers worldwide forward and reverse geocoding.
- **HERE Maps** — HERE Maps provides global geocoding, routing, and place search.
- **LocationIQ** — LocationIQ provides affordable global geocoding and reverse geocoding.

## FAQ

### Is there a Kakao Maps MCP server?

You don't need an MCP server to give your agent the Kakao Maps Local API. Jentic connects it directly from the API Directory: import it, store your key once, and your agent can geocode addresses and search places. Operations are discovered on demand, so no extra tool definitions sit in the agent's context.

### Can I control what my agent is allowed to do with the Kakao Maps Local API?

Yes. Every operation is a read-only lookup, so you write a rule that allows just the ones you need, such as geocoding but not place search. The agent cannot reach any operation you did not pick, and every call it makes is logged.

### What authentication does the Kakao Maps Local API use?

The Kakao Maps Local API authenticates with an API key, sent in the Authorization request header with the KakaoAK prefix per its OpenAPI spec. Through Jentic the key is stored encrypted by your own Jentic One instance and added to each request at call time.

### Can my agent turn coordinates back into an address with the Kakao Maps Local API?

Yes. The API reverse geocodes a coordinate into a street address and can return the administrative region code for that point. An agent can use this to label a GPS location with a human-readable place or district.

### What are the rate limits for the Kakao Maps Local API?

The OpenAPI spec does not specify rate limits. Check the Kakao Developers documentation at https://developers.kakao.com for the current per-key quota before running high-volume lookups.

### How do I geocode an address through Jentic?

Search Jentic for 'geocode an address with Kakao Maps', import the operation, and store your API key once. Your agent then resolves addresses and searches places on demand. To run it on your own infrastructure, install Jentic One from its GitHub repo.