Bangkok Bank joins BC Card, a major payment service provider in South Korea, to launch the Cross-Border QR Payment service. This enables South Korean tourists to use the Paybooc app to make payments in Thailand instantly, conveniently, and safely on a free of charge basis. Payments are processed using real-time exchange rates. In the next phase, the collaboration will expand to allow Thai customers to scan and pay in South Korea, further strengthening the Bank's position as a leader in digital banking in the region.
Bangkok Bank Senior Executive Vice President Chaiyarit said that the Bank is collaborating with BC Card Co., Ltd., a major payment service provider in South Korea, to develop the Cross-Border QR Payment service between Thailand and South Korea. In the initial phase, the service will be available for inbound transactions, allowing South Korean tourists visiting Thailand to use the Paybooc app to scan a QR code for convenient, safe, and fee-free payments at stores displaying the Cross-Border QR Payment - "pay like a local" symbol. This service was launched in June 2025.
Additionally, Bangkok Bank and BC Card are working together to expand the service to include outbound transactions in the next phase. This will allow Bangkok Bank Mobile Banking users to scan a QR code to pay for goods and services while traveling in South Korea as well.
"The collaboration between Bangkok Bank and BC Card marks another significant step in expanding our Cross-Border QR Payment service to a high-potential country like South Korea. In 2024, over 1.86 million South Korean tourists visited Thailand, and this number is expected to reach 2 million this year, generating approximately 50 billion baht for the Thai economy. On the other hand, Thai tourists traveling to South Korea are considered a high-spending group, with an average expenditure of around 59,000 baht per trip. The Cross-Border QR Payment service is a crucial piece of the picture for promoting the tourism economies of both countries.
It facilitates smooth and secure transactions, eliminating the need to carry cash or exchange currency, while offering real-time exchange rates. This will create a truly seamless 'cashless tourism' experience," said Mr. Chaiyarit.
Mr. Choi Won-Seok, CEO of BC Card Co., Ltd., said that BC Card, a leading financial service provider in South Korea, is very pleased to collaborate with Bangkok Bank, a leading bank in Thailand, to deliver an excellent cross-border payment experience to users and merchants in both countries. This collaboration will significantly enhance BC Card's services at a regional level and provide users with a seamless payment experience when visiting Thailand, one of the most popular destinations for Korean tourists. At the same time, BC Card is fully committed to supporting the Cross-Border QR Payment service to enable payments with merchants in South Korea as soon as possible by providing a similar excellent experience for Thai tourists.
BC Card is a leading payment service provider in South Korea, offering comprehensive support for various payment systems, including credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, digital payment solutions, and payment processing with its payment network of over 3.5 million merchants.
Currently, Bangkok Bank offers Cross-Border QR Payment services for both inbound and outbound payments, with a network of partnerships in eight countries: Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Hong Kong, Cambodia (inbound service only), and most recently, South Korea. The service supports both international tourists traveling to Thailand and Thai tourists traveling abroad, allowing them to "pay easily without carrying cash" under high security standards using their local banking apps or Bangkok Bank Mobile Banking. This emphasizes the Bank's role as a 'leading regional bank' that seamlessly connects opportunities for customers in every dimension.