Alipay+, Ant International’s global wallet gateway services, recorded an 18% increase in QR code payment transactions and a 16% growth in total payment volume (TPV) year-on-year in South Korea between January and November 2025, driven by increased tourist usage of its partner wallets and bank apps. This growth reflects the rising trend of digital payments for services ranging from beauty clinic treatments and transportation to F&B outlets.
South Korea has emerged as a key destination for tourists from regions including Southeast Asia and the Chinese mainland. The highest number of Alipay+-supported transactions occurred in cities such as Seoul, Jeju Island, and Busan. Beyond Chinese mainland tourists, the primary users of Alipay+-supported transactions in South Korea included visitors from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Macao, and the Philippines, all demonstrating rapid growth in both transaction volume and total payment volume.
Among the fastest-growing categories for Alipay+ transactions from January to November 2025 were transportation, beauty clinic treatments, and food & beverage. Transportation transactions saw a 120% increase year-on-year, with TPV growing by 23%. Beauty clinic transactions rose 90% year-on-year, accompanied by a 123% increase in TPV. F&B transactions grew 47% year-on-year, with a 54% increase in TPV.
As of November 2025, Alipay+ has integrated 21 international digital wallets and bank apps, connecting them to over 2 million merchants in South Korea, predominantly small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This enables tourists to make payments using the apps they utilize in their home countries. In September 2025, Alipay+ introduced Japan’s cashless payment service, PayPay, to South Korea, allowing Japanese travelers to pay at merchants displaying the Alipay+ logo.
Alipay+ supports payments across various scenarios for tourists in South Korea, from airport limousine buses at Incheon International Airport to convenience stores, cafes like Mega Coffee, and cosmetic retail stores. Merchants can also utilize Alipay+ solutions such as A+ Rewards, a digital marketing platform that offers tailored promotions powered by AI technologies. Travelers can also discover services via Alipay+ Voyager, an AI-powered travel agent integrated into partner mobile wallets like Alipay, AlipayHK, Touch ‘n Go eWallet, and GCash, aiding in itinerary planning, booking, and purchasing.
Alipay+ has also established partnerships with local transportation networks. In Seoul, Alipay+ partner wallets are accepted in over 70,000 taxis and more than 100 airport limousine buses from Incheon Airport. On Jeju Island, over 1,200 buses accept Alipay+ payments, and over 15,000 eZL taxis in Daegu also support digital payments via Alipay+.
Chinese tourists can use a mini-program within Alipay to purchase tickets from Korail Networks, South Korea’s railway operator, and the NAMANE x Alipay+ transportation pass. Additionally, a dedicated K-beauty mini-program allows bookings at over 1,500 beauty clinics, including popular establishments like PPEUM, Toxnfill, and GU.
Weixiao Jiang, General Manager North Asia and North America for Alipay+, Ant International, stated, “Alipay+ is committed to driving sustainable travel by empowering local businesses and enhancing travelers’ experiences, enabling them to explore more destinations and pay easily with their home wallets abroad. Our AI-driven solutions ensure that merchants, regardless of their size, can expand their business by engaging international tourists.”
Beyond inbound tourism, Alipay+ facilitates outbound payments for South Korean travelers. The platform has integrated South Korea’s Kakao Pay, Naver Pay, and Toss Pay across more than 100 markets, allowing South Koreans to use their digital wallets internationally. Kakao Pay users can also make contactless payments via near-field communication (NFC) technology at over 150 million Mastercard merchants globally, supported by Alipay+’s NFC payment solution.
As the global wallet gateway for Ant International, Alipay+ connects 40 mobile payment partners, including e-wallets and bank apps with over 1.8 billion user accounts, to more than 150 million merchants across over 100 markets. Alipay+ also collaborates with 11 national payment networks.
Alipay+ has formed local partnerships, including with i-Aurora, to enhance payment experiences for foreign visitors. Tourists using Alipay+ partner wallets can make cashless payments at various South Korean merchants, such as street vendors at Myeongdong Night Market, by scanning i-Aurora’s NAMANE payment QR code.
Youngsu Chang, CEO of i-Aurora, commented, “Our partnership with Alipay+ connects street vendors and local merchants to global travelers in South Korea by enabling them to accept QR code payments at tourist attractions and traditional markets. We aim to ensure convenient and secure digital payments for customers.”
Alipay+ and i-Aurora have also launched an Alipay+ transportation card for Chinese tourists to pay for subway and bus rides using Alipay. The companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop STAN, a tech-culture platform designed to integrate K-POP concerts, experiences, exhibitions, and merchandise, offering users cultural content both online and offline.
Separately, Alipay+ maintains a partnership with Shinsegae Group, where Alipay+ is accepted at Shinsegae department stores, duty-free stores, and other major affiliates. Shinsegae frequently conducts promotional campaigns for customers paying with Alipay+ partner e-wallets. Jongwoo Kwak, Senior Vice President of the Marketing Division at Shinsegae Duty Free, noted, “Through our collaboration with Alipay+, we have expanded our international customer base and provided them with Shinsegae’s exclusive benefits and a convenient shopping and payment experience, strengthening Shinsegae’s position as a leading duty-free and retail brand.”
