GLN International, a subsidiary of Hana Bank, will link with SeoulPay to expand domestic QR payment merchants available to foreign tourists visiting South Korea to about 1.5 million.

GLN International said on Thursday it partnered with Coocon, the operator of SeoulPay, adding 500,000 small-business merchants in Seoul to its QR payment network.

The partnership will allow GLN's QR payments to be used not only in major tourist areas such as Seoul, Busan and Jeju, but also in Seoul's alley commercial districts including Myeongdong and Seongsu.

The service will also be available in more countries. Following tourists from Taiwan, tourists from the United States, Canada and Singapore will also be able to make QR payments at domestic GLN merchants using major bank apps or fintech apps in their home countries. GLN plans to expand the service later this year to tourists from Vietnam and Mongolia as well.

GLN said the number of QR payment transactions by foreign tourists and their transaction value in the first half of this year rose by about 1,000 percent each from the second half of last year.

Major places of use include stores in the Seongsu area such as Musinsa, Daelim Warehouse, Blue Elephant, New New, Romand and Ready Pharmacy, as well as shopping and distribution outlets such as Shinsegae Duty Free, Galleria Department Store and Daiso. Payments are also being made at dermatology clinics, plastic surgery clinics and pharmacies in Seoul, Busan and Jeju.

GLN International CEO Seok Lee (이석) said, "I hope this expansion of the QR payment service will allow foreign tourists visiting Korea to enjoy traveling more conveniently."