Seoul Metro Reports Foreign Card Payments Rose Over Three Months
Foreign credit card transactions on the Seoul subway system reached 179,483 in September, averaging 5,983 daily, according to data released by Seoul Metro on October 19. That figure marks a 13.2 percent increase from June, when foreign card transactions totaled 158,553 with a daily average of 5,285.
Foreign Card Transactions Rise on Seoul Subway
The foreign card payment service launched on the Seoul subway in March with four major brands: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and UnionPay. Total transaction value across these foreign cards climbed 14.5 percent from June to September, rising from approximately 822.98 million won to roughly 942.46 million won.
Combining foreign cards and mobile quick payments, total transactions hit 253,566 in September, averaging roughly 8,452 per day. While card usage grew, mobile quick payments contracted by 23.8 percent over the same period, dropping from 97,280 in June to 74,083 in September. Seoul Metro attributed that specific decline to the expiration of the 30-day Climate Card transit pass promotion.
To capture growing demand from international travelers, Seoul Metro added American Express to its automated kiosks on October 1, bringing the total number of accepted foreign card brands to five.
Ma Hae-keun, head of the sales division at Seoul Metro, stated that the company would carefully observe the diverse payment demands of users and continuously improve the payment environment to ensure convenience for both citizens and foreign tourists.
Seoul Station Leads in Payment Growth
Seoul Station recorded the highest gains. Foreign card transactions at the station jumped 30.4 percent from 21,351 in June to 27,835 in September. Total payment value at Seoul Station climbed 32 percent over the same months, rising from about 108.51 million won to roughly 143.19 million won, surpassing the network’s overall growth rate.