mcp -kakao-map

This MCP server provides a Kakao Map-based place recommender for South Korea. The main tool, kakao_map_place_recommender, accepts a Korean-language query describing the type of places and location you want (for example, '이태원 맛집', '서울 병원', or '강남역 근처 카페') and returns relevant nearby places using Kakao's local/search APIs. To use it, ensure you have a Kakao REST API key with Kakao Map features enabled and supply it via the KAKAO_API_KEY environment variable. Once running, you can query the recommender with natural Korean phrases to receive a list of matches such as restaurants, shops, public facilities, and tourist attractions within South Korea. The tool is optimized for Korean queries and leverages Kakao’s keyword search to fetch precise results.

Prerequisites:

• Node.js (LTS version) and npm installed
• A Kakao Developers account with a registered app and the Kakao Map API enabled
• Access to the Kakao REST API key

1. Clone the repository (or download the MCP server package).
2. Install dependencies:

npm install

3. Create an environment file or set environment variables for the Kakao API key:

# Using a .env file (if supported by the project)
export KAKAO_API_KEY=YOUR_KAKAO_API_KEY

4. Start the server:

node server.js

5. Verify the server is running by sending a test query to the Kakao Map place recommender endpoint (as defined by the server's API documentation or usage guide).

Note: If the MCP server uses a different startup script or container, adjust the command accordingly (e.g., using npm start or a Docker run command).

Environment variables and configuration:

• KAKAO_API_KEY is required for Kakao Map queries. Ensure this key has Map API access enabled in your Kakao Developers console.
• If you encounter API rate limits or permission errors, verify that the REST API key and KakaoMap activation are correctly configured in the Kakao Developers dashboard.
• The client may need to specify language or locale preferences depending on the API wrapper; ensure requests reflect Korean queries for best results.

Troubleshooting tips:

• If the server fails to start due to missing modules, run npm install to fetch dependencies.
• Check network access to Kakao API endpoints and ensure no firewall rules block outbound HTTP requests.
• Review logs for any invalid API key or misconfigured environment variable names.