KTO signs MOU for smartphone payment services

KTO executive vice president of international tourism division Lee Hak-ju (left) and AliPay Plus general manager of South Korea, Australia and New Zealand pose for photo after signing a memorandum of undertstanding at KTO Seoul Center in Jung-gu, central Seoul, on Wednesday. (KTO)

Chinese tourists will be able to enjoy more Alipay Plus-related travel and payment options starting in early February, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.

Lee Hak-ju, executive vice president of the KTO's international tourism division, signed a memorandum of understanding on Jan. 24 with his Alipay Plus counterpart Chung Hyung-kwon -- general manager of South Korea, Australia and New Zealand -- at KTO Seoul Center in Jung-gu, Seoul.

Under the deal, two companies will promote smartphone payment-themed campaigns targeted at Chinese holidaymakers in Korea, expand smartphone payments at major tourist sites and shopping, traffic and accommodation facilities.

The memorandum also included cooperation to create new marketing strategies to beckon Chinese travelers after evaluating their data on consumption patterns.

Starting Feb. 1, KTO is scheduled to hold a special smartphone payment service, giving customers discounts of up to 20 percent when they pay with Alipay Plus QR codes at Myeongdong-based Alipay Plus-affiliated stores and nationwide Zeropay Plus-affliated shops.

A smartphone payment-themed promotion will be held on the fifth floor of the Korean tourism publicity center HiKR Ground in Jung-gu, central Seoul.

The promotional venues will be opened to overseas travelers who used smartphone payment services during their trip or shared their HiKR Ground stories on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu.

A unique photo zone and a photo vending machine operated by franchise Life Four Cuts will also be available at the promotion.

By Lee Si-jin(sj_lee@heraldcorp.com)