GLN Expands QR Payment Network Across Korea to 1.5 Million Merchants
International travelers in South Korea can now use QR payments at 1.5 million locations following a partnership between GLN International and Coocon. By integrating the Seoul Pay network, the Hana Bank subsidiary has added 500,000 new merchants, significantly broadening access for tourists beyond traditional shopping districts.
The expansion comes as GLN reports a 1,000% surge in both QR transaction volume and value during the first half of 2026 compared to the latter half of 2025. This growth reflects a shift in spending habits, with tourists increasingly utilizing mobile payment apps from their home countries to bypass currency exchange and physical cards. Usage is no longer confined to Myeong-dong, as tourists now frequent retail brands in the trendy Seongsu district, including Musinsa and Daelim Warehouse, alongside convenience stores and transit hubs.
GLN CEO Lee Suk stated the company plans to broaden these services beyond current offerings for travelers from Taiwan, targeting visitors from the United States, Canada, Singapore, Vietnam, and Mongolia later this year. The company aims to support over 10 countries by 2027 while deepening merchant integration in key tourism hubs like Busan and Jeju. Currently, GLN facilitates cross-border payments for Korean travelers across 15 countries, leveraging a global network of more than 230 million merchants.
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