Ant Group allows use of Southeast Asian payment apps in South Korea

120,000 merchants accept e-payments from Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand

Ant Group has partnered with 120,000 merchants in South Korea to accept payments under the Alipay+ program. (Photo courtesy of Ant Group)

NORIYUKI DOI, Nikkei staff writer

September 28, 2022 00:27 JST

SHANGHAI -- Ant Group, the financial affiliate of Chinese tech heavyweight Alibaba Group Holding, has started to process cross-border payments in South Korea through four Southeast Asian e-wallet apps, eyeing the return of international shopping trips to the country.

Alipay+ debuted in 2020 as a platform that lets local e-wallet apps make international payments. Users of GCash of the Philippines, Hong Kong's AlipayHK, Touch 'n Go in Malaysia and Thailand's TrueMoney, the payment provider affiliated with local retail conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group, now can shop in South Korea and pay with the same apps they use at home.