Does Alipay Work in Korea? Alipay & WeChat Pay: Where Each Works

Both Alipay and WeChat Pay work in Korea, but not always at the same shops, because the two wallets come in through different networks. Alipay rides on Alipay+, which reaches Kakao Pay merchants and Zero Pay merchants and, per a December 2025 announcement, taxis and airport limousine buses; WeChat Pay comes in through separate partners. Here is where each one works (with the date of each source), what is still unconfirmed, and when to reach for a card or cash instead.

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• → Apple Pay in Korea: Where It Works, Subway Setup & the Top-up Catch
• → Kakao T for Foreigners: How to Call a Taxi in Korea (Sign-up, Cards, Fares)
• → T-money Card: How to Buy, Top Up and Get Your Refund

Last checked: 2026-10-12·Desk-researched — not yet verified on site

1. 1Two wallets, two different networks

   Alipay comes into Korea through Alipay+, a cross-border network that also carries AlipayHK, Macau's MPay, GCash, Touch 'n Go, TrueMoney and other wallets. WeChat Pay is not on that list. With Alipay+ you pay inside your usual app, in your home currency, by scanning the shop's QR code, showing your payment code, or tapping NFC. Alipay+ said that as of November 2025 it reached about 2 million merchants in Korea, with 21 overseas wallets and bank apps connected. In 2025 the most Alipay+ payments in Korea came from mainland China (Alipay), then Hong Kong (AlipayHK), Malaysia (Touch 'n Go), Japan (PayPay), Macau (MPay) and the Philippines (GCash). On the Korean side, Kakao Pay merchants can accept "foreign payments (Alipay+)" at no extra cost through the Kakao Pay merchant app. WeChat Pay comes in through separate partners such as Danal. So a shop that takes one may not take the other — check the logos at the counter, or ask before you order.

2. 2Shops where Alipay (Alipay+) works

   According to December 2025 reports, Alipay+ works at Shinsegae Department Store and Shinsegae Duty Free, at convenience stores, and at cafes such as Mega Coffee. Starbucks Korea announced in April 2024 a tie-up with Alipay+ covering all 1,916 of its stores, for Alipay+ wallets such as Alipay, AlipayHK and MPay (that is the 2024 announcement; we have not found a later notice). Zero Pay merchants have accepted Alipay and Alipay+ since 1 September 2023, with wallets from Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore added to those from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. In Jeju, the Jeju Tourism Organization counted ₩10.16 billion in Zero Pay-based mobile payments from 1 January to 12 October 2025, and Alipay alone made up ₩5.04 billion — half. Some Myeongdong street stalls display a NAMANE QR code from iAurora that you scan with an Alipay+ wallet (one December 2025 report).

3. 3Shops where WeChat Pay works

   Danal runs WeChat Pay's in-store QR payments together with Tencent, so you can pay with WeChat at Danal merchants — convenience stores, beauty shops, franchises and others. Danal's WeChat Pay transactions grew 62.7% in the first half of 2026 (August 2026 report). According to a September 2025 report, WeChat Pay works at 7-Eleven stores nationwide. GS Retail said that at GS25, spending by foreign customers rose 74.2% in 2025, and 97.7% of it was paid with Alipay or WeChat Pay. Convenience stores and payment companies run promotions often, but they change quickly, so we do not list them — check your app.

4. 4Taxis, airport limousine buses and trains

   In December 2025 Alipay+ said its wallets can be used in more than 70,000 Seoul taxis, more than 100 Incheon Airport limousine buses, more than 1,200 buses in Jeju, and more than 15,000 eZL taxis in Daegu. The announcement does not say whether you pay by QR or at a terminal in the vehicle, so show the driver your app and confirm before the ride starts. For hailing, since October 2023 you have been able to call a Kakao T taxi from inside overseas apps such as Alipay and WeChat, with the fare charged to the payment method in that app. As of May 2025 reports this worked from WeChat, Alipay and DiDi, and Amap was added on 27 May 2025. We found no 2026 notice, so if your app shows a Kakao T option, use it; if not, follow our Kakao T guide. For trains, the mainland Alipay app has a mini program that sells KORAIL train tickets (this is for mainland Alipay only, not AlipayHK or other wallets).

5. 5Food delivery: Baemin

   Baemin, Korea's big food-delivery app, added WeChat Pay and Alipay+ in September 2025 and also takes overseas-issued credit cards. Since February 2026 the app has been available in English, Chinese and Japanese. We could not confirm whether foreigners need a Korean phone number or anything else to sign up.

6. 6Places on dari that list Alipay and WeChat Pay

   Olive Young Myeongdong Town, Lotte Department Store (Main) and MUSINSA STANDARD Hongdae all list both Alipay and WeChat Pay among their payment methods in their official information. Each place page has the full payment details.

   Olive Young Myeongdong Town (Flagship) →Lotte Department Store (Main) →MUSINSA STANDARD Hongdae →

7. 7What is not confirmed, and your backup

   We found no evidence that Alipay or WeChat Pay gets you through subway gates or tops up a T-money card — see our T-money guide for transit. There is also no evidence that WeChat Pay works at Kakao Pay or Naver Pay QR codes, so ask the shop. There are no official published figures for exchange rates, fees or payment limits, so we give none; check the amount on the payment screen before you confirm. For shops that do not take your wallet, carry an overseas card (or Apple Pay) and some small cash.