Kakao Pay becomes first simple-payment service to support Seoul Pay+

Kakao Pay announced Monday that it will become the first simple-payment and app-card service in South Korea to support Seoul Pay+ transactions. With the addition of Seoul Pay+, users can now pay through Kakao Pay across Samsung Pay and Zero Pay as well, giving the platform the broadest offline payment network among domestic simple-payment services.

Even at merchants not affiliated with Kakao Pay, users can open the app and switch seamlessly between Seoul Pay+, Zero Pay and Samsung Pay (Android only) from a single payment screen. Seoul Pay+ is the Seoul Metropolitan Government's mobile simple-payment platform, supporting the purchase and use of Seoul Love Gift Certificates as well as the disbursement and spending of policy allowances.

Each Seoul Pay+ transaction made through Kakao Pay earns Kakao Pay points up to four times per payment. On top of the base rewards tied to individual payment methods — such as credit cards and local gift certificates — Kakao Pay offers additional point accumulation of up to 30,000 points per month.

To pay via Seoul Pay+ through Kakao Pay, users select the "QR Scan" menu in the upper right corner of the payment tab in the Kakao Pay app, or through the payment menu in KakaoTalk's More tab, then scan the Seoul Pay+ QR code displayed at the store. Kakao Pay Money is supported as the payment method.

"It is now easier and faster to pay with Kakao Pay at 270,000 Seoul Pay merchant locations across Seoul," the company said, adding that it aims to "break down the barriers dividing the offline payment market so that opening Kakao Pay anywhere delivers the most convenient and rewarding payment experience, without a second thought."