- UnionPay International Launches 'Explore China Your Way With UnionPay' Campaign
- Expanding Convenient Payment Services in China with the Unique 'One Card + One App' Strategy
Since the Chinese government began allowing visa-free entry for Korean nationals on November 8 last year, interest among Koreans in traveling to China has surged recently. In response, UnionPay International has launched the "Explore China Your Way with UnionPay" campaign, attracting attention. This campaign focuses on Shanghai, China, which has recently become a popular travel destination for Koreans. It includes the production of a separate video advertisement showcasing how Korean travelers can conveniently use UnionPay cards in the Shanghai area, as well as the concentrated distribution of large Korean-language outdoor advertisements and Korean-language guides for merchants in major commercial districts of Shanghai. Additionally, large-scale discount marketing in collaboration with major domestic issuers and special benefits for UnionPay customers at popular merchants in Shanghai are being actively promoted.
To further optimize payment services within China, UnionPay launched Project Excellence 2024 in March last year, establishing a convenient, inclusive, and accessible payment ecosystem in China through cooperation with various industry stakeholders.
Currently, over 60 million UnionPay cards have been issued in Korea, and applications can be made through online and offline channels of major card companies and banks such as BC Card, Shinhan, KB Kookmin, Woori, Hana Card, NongHyup Bank, and IBK Industrial Bank of Korea.
UnionPay cardholders can use payment services across China through various methods including ATM cash withdrawals, traditional card payments, mobile contactless payments, and QR code payments, all with relatively low overseas usage fees.
In particular, through the unique strategy called ‘One Card + One App,’ in addition to traditional UnionPay physical card payments, customers can register their UnionPay cards on electronic wallets they commonly use such as BC Paybook, Shinhan SOL Pay, KB Pay, Hana Pay, Woori Pay, Naver Pay, and NH Pay, enabling convenient access to China’s local mobile payment environment via QR code payments and contactless payments.
Moreover, before traveling to China, simply installing the Alipay or WeChat app and registering one’s UnionPay card allows users to experience QR code payments almost identical to those of local Chinese consumers. Especially when linked with a UnionPay card, the 3% additional fee charged by simple payment providers on transactions over 200 yuan is waived, providing extra benefits.
For Korean tourists visiting China, UnionPay is currently running various promotions in partnership with major domestic issuers. KB Card offers a 10% cashback benefit for payments over 100,000 KRW at online and offline merchants in China. Woori Card provides an 11% instant discount for payments over 250 RMB (approximately 50,000 KRW) in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Shinhan Card runs a cashback event of up to 13% for combined payments over 100 USD in mainland China and Greater China regions. Hana Card also offers a 10% instant discount in mainland China and Taiwan. Naver Pay provides a 10% instant discount for payments over 150 yuan in mainland China, and Samsung Card plans to apply a 10% instant discount for payments over 50 USD in mainland China.
Beyond the discount events from major card issuers, popular merchants such as Marriott hotel chains, the Shanghai Provisional Government Building, Lillian Bakery, H?agen-Dazs, and HEYTEA offer additional discounts to UnionPay card users.
Lee Myung-ho, head of UnionPay International’s Korea branch, stated, “UnionPay has long strived to provide optimized overseas payment services for Korean customers,” adding, “In this new market environment of visa exemption for China, we will continue to introduce more convenient and innovative payment solutions to enhance customer satisfaction and offer broader services on the global stage.”
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