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South Korea's Transit Revolution: Why Foreign Tourists Can Soon Use Credit Cards

South Korea is looking to make life easier for tourists. The government is studying a system that would let visitors use their own credit cards on buses and subways. This would replace the current need to buy special prepaid cards with cash. If approved, the new payment method could start rolling out by 2027.

Key Points: South Korea Plans Credit Card Use on Public Transit for Tourists

  • A new study will assess the budget and cost-sharing for the open-loop payment system
  • The system aims to end the inconvenience of cash-only top-ups for transport cards
  • Implementation could begin as early as 2027, following a phased expansion
  • The push comes as foreign visitors to South Korea increased by 15.2% this year
2 min read

S. Korea pushes system to allow foreigners to use public transit with credit cards

South Korea is reviewing a system to let foreign tourists pay for buses and subways with overseas credit cards, aiming to boost convenience for visitors.

"It would be difficult to roll out the system nationwide over a short period - Government Official"

Seoul, Dec 14

The government has begun reviewing a system that would allow foreign tourists to use buses and subways in South Korea with overseas-issued credit cards, officials said on Sunday.

The land and transport recently launched a bid to commission a study on introducing an open-loop public transportation payment system, which was to begin this month and run through the end of next year, according to the officials, reports Yonhap news agency.

The study aims to enable foreigners to pay public transportation fares directly with international credit cards. Currently, visitors must purchase and top up transportation cards with cash or buy prepaid cards designed specifically for foreigners, which often causes inconvenience.

Through the study, the ministry plans to estimate the budget required to introduce the new system and determine who should bear the related costs.

The need for improvement has grown as the number of foreign visitors rose 15.2 per cent on-year to 15.82 million during the January-October period.

Major global cities, including New York and London, have already adopted systems that allow passengers to use public transportation with their own credit cards.

"It would be difficult to roll out the system nationwide over a short period so that the government is likely to adopt a phased expansion in consultation with local governments and public transportation operators," a government official said.

If the study leads to a decision to introduce the system, actual implementation could begin as early as 2027, he added.

Meanwhile, the number of foreigners or ethnic Koreans with foreign citizenship living in South Korea has reached a record high of 2.73 million, with one in three being Chinese, government data showed.

The number of registered foreigners in the country came to 1.56 million as of end-June, with that of Koreans holding foreign citizenship and staying here reaching 552,419, according to immigration data from the Ministry of Justice.

The number of foreigners on short-term stays, including tourists, stood at 620,403, the data showed.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good step for tourism. Many Indian tourists go to South Korea now for K-drama tours and shopping. This will definitely improve the experience. Though 2027 seems far away for implementation. They should try to speed it up.
A
Aman W
While this is convenient, I hope they also keep the option for cash payments or prepaid cards. Not everyone is comfortable using credit cards abroad due to forex charges and security concerns. A balanced approach is best.
S
Sarah B
As someone who travels frequently, this is the standard in most major global cities now. London's Oyster card system is great, but being able to just tap your credit card is even better. South Korea is smart to catch up. It's all about removing friction for visitors.
V
Vikram M
The article mentions the high number of foreign residents too (2.73 million!). This system will help them as well. When you're new to a country, even small things like buying a transit card can be stressful. This is a move towards being more inclusive.
K
Karthik V
It's a good initiative, but I hope they ensure robust cybersecurity. Integrating international payment networks with public transit is a big task. The phased approach is sensible. Delhi Metro could learn from this study for its own future upgrades.

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