Business · Companies · 4 hrs ago
Fees and rival payment methods narrow Apple Pay’s position in South Korea
South Korean card companies are wary of Apple Pay because of its fees.
The service lets users pay by tapping an iPhone or Apple Watch on a nearby wireless payment terminal after registering a card.
QR-code and face-based payment methods are spreading in South Korea.
These services let people pay after registering a payment method and confirming their identity.
The growth of these alternatives is narrowing Apple Pay’s position in the market.
The available information does not say what Apple or card companies plan to do next.
South Korean card companies are reluctant to adopt Apple Pay because of the fees involved.
The spread of QR-code and face-based payment methods is narrowing Apple Pay’s position in the country.
Apple Pay lets users register cards on devices such as iPhones and Apple Watches and pay by tapping an NFC terminal.
- Who
- Apple Pay and South Korean card companies.
- What
- Apple Pay’s position is narrowing as card companies hesitate over fees and rival payment methods spread.
- When
- The article was published on November 13, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- Card companies face fee costs, while QR-code and face-based payment methods are becoming more widespread.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Publication date
- November 13, 2026
- Payment method
- Apple Pay uses NFC terminals
- Devices
- iPhone and Apple Watch
- Rival methods
- QR-code and face-based payments
1 source
What people are saying
Domestic card companies are reluctant to introduce Apple Pay because of the burden of fees, while simple payment methods using QR codes or faces are spreading, narrowing Apple Pay’s position.