Onnuri QR Alipay for Foreign Visitors: Agent Guide

The short answer

Korea plans to link Onnuri QR, the payment network used at traditional markets and small local shops, to Alipay+, so foreign visitors can pay with the app they use at home. It was announced on 1 October 2026 for next year. Explera DMC briefs every Korea group on how to pay at market stops.

The question we hear most at a Korean market stop is not about the food. It is "can I pay with my phone?" At most small stalls the honest answer today is cash. A plan to open Onnuri QR to Alipay+ for foreign visitors could change that next year. Our Korea team has written the Onnuri QR and Alipay+ briefing. Here is what it means for groups.

What Did the Government Announce?

The overhaul. On 1 October 2026 the government presented the first overhaul of Onnuri gift certificates in 18 years at a meeting of economic ministers.
The foreign link. The digital Onnuri QR network is to be linked with Alipay+, so a visitor scans a participating shop's QR code with a payment app from home. No Korean app is needed.
The reach. Reports say the link would connect about 40 payment apps from several countries.
The timing. It is planned for next year. No start date has been published.

What Could It Change at a Market Stop?

Fewer people peeling off to find a cash machine, mainly. A group that can pay small stalls by QR spends less of its free time queueing and more of it eating. The plan also puts Onnuri shops on map apps and marks traditional markets on map services for foreign visitors, which helps on free afternoons. Until the link is live, though, guests still need some cash and a card. We say that plainly in every pre-departure note.

Our post on the KTO AI concierge for Korean markets covers the information side of the same visit, and payments on the ground sets out how we brief groups on money across our destinations.

How Do We Brief Groups Now?

Before departure, the tour leader gets a short note on which payment options work in Korea at the time of travel. On the day, the guide points out where QR is accepted and where cash is still quicker. When the Alipay+ link starts, we will update partners and change the brief.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can foreign visitors pay with Onnuri QR today?

Not with their home apps yet. The link to foreign payment apps is planned for next year. Until it starts, guests should plan on cards, cash or the prepaid cards sold to visitors.

Which payment apps will work with Onnuri QR?

The plan connects the Onnuri QR network to Alipay+, which reports say would link about 40 payment apps. We confirm what works before each departure.

Do guests need to install a Korean app?

No. The aim is that visitors scan the shop's QR code with the payment app they already use at home.

Does Explera DMC include market visits in Korea group programmes?

Yes. We plan traditional market stops with guides in Seoul, Busan and Jeju, and brief groups on how to pay at the time of travel.

Sources

Korea JoongAng Daily: Korea revamps Onnuri gift certificates to attract tourists, revive local markets (October 2026)

Where Explera Fits

We plan market visits and free-time briefings through tours and experiences. See our Korea destination page or visit the Explera DMC Korea website.

Write to b2b@explera.kr or message +66 93 656 8090 on WhatsApp. Explera DMC is IATA TIDS-registered (96215733) and an ASTA member (900408341); our KTO and KATA registrations in Korea are in application.