KakaoPay launches discount promotion in Japan

South Korea’s Kakao Pay Corp. announced on Friday that it has prepared a large-scale discount promotion in collaboration with PayPay, the top QR payment operator in Japan, to coincide with the holiday season.

This promotion will take place primarily in Fukuoka, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan, frequently visited by South Korean tourists.

During the event period at BOSS E·ZO Fukuoka, an entertainment venue located in Fukuoka, when payment is made using KakaoPay money, up to two transactions per person will receive an immediate discount of 50% off the payment amount (up to a maximum discount of 15,000 yen or $109 per transaction).

BOSS E·ZO offers various amusement rides with panoramic views of Fukuoka, exhibition halls suitable for social media photo shoots, and a diverse range of restaurants, making it a popular landmark for tourists. The Boss E-Zo discount promotion will run until the end of December but may end early if the allocated budget is depleted.

Discounts will also be applied at Fukuoka International Airport. Users who make payments of 10,000 yen ($72.50) or more using KakaoPay money until the end of July will receive an instant discount of 1,000 yen. Lawson, a leading convenience store in Japan, will also offer discounts until the end of the year.

Customers who make payments of 1,000 yen ($7.25) or more using KakaoPay money can purchase items at a discount of 100 yen per transaction, up to two transactions per person. KakaoPay plans to continue offering various promotions through close collaboration with partner companies overseas.

Currently, KakaoPay users can use the payment service without the need for currency exchange at offline stores in Japan displaying the KakaoPay or Alipay Plus logos.

KakaoPay is available for payment or testing services in a total of 12 countries, including Japan, China, Thailand, France, Italy, Germany, the UK and Australia. The number of countries where KakaoPay payment services are provided is expected to continue to increase.

Write to Mi-Hyun Jo at mwise@hankyung.com