KDDI and au Payments will begin overseas use of “au PAY (code payment)” in early March. Starting with South Korea, the two companies aim to further expand overseas, focusing on countries and regions where smartphone payments are widespread, from April onward.
In Korea, where the service will be launched in early March, the service will be available at more than 300,000 merchants of “paybooc,” a major Korean code payment service provider, including convenience stores, restaurants in tourist areas, and food stalls. Functions such as smartphone payment and balance recharging, which are used on a daily basis in Japan, can be used in the same way for overseas travel and business trips, and Ponta points will be added according to the amount spent (1 point for every 200 yen spent on au PAY balance in Japanese yen equivalent). The number of stores where the service can be used will be gradually expanded, including CU, Ediya Coffee, and Lotte Duty Free. The service launch date will be announced at a later date.
The service also features a function that displays both Japanese yen and local currency balances, real-time exchange rates, and payment history, making it easy to keep track of the amount of money spent. It has been possible to use the au PAY balance overseas with the “au PAY prepaid card (Mastercard),” but with the new “au PAY (code payment)” compatibility, users can enjoy smoother and more convenient shopping, eating, and drinking using only their smartphones.
© Source travel watch