South Korea is one of the world’s most technologically advanced nations. It is home to digital innovation on every front.
From AI-powered customer service to mobile payments, they have aced it all. And, QR Codes in Korea are no different.
They’re everywhere in Korea, be it for marketing, or payments, or public services, and even everyday use.
This article talks about how Korean consumers and businesses utilize QR Codes. Learn everything you need to know about QR Codes in Korea.
Let’s get straight to it!
A. Why QR Codes are popular in Korea?
QR Codes in Korea have become immensely popular for three main reasons:
No. 1 is smartphone use. Today, almost 98% of South Koreans have a smartphone. People in South Korea find it very convenient to scan QR Codes because they’re available anywhere, anytime.
A 2022 survey revealed that nearly 91% of South Koreans had experience using QR Codes. This shows how widespread the acceptance and familiarity with this technology is among the population.
The second reason is that the Korean people have moved towards a cashless society. Digital payments are a norm now because QR Code payments provide a convenient and safe option.
In 2018, South Korea’s Financial Services Commission established standards for QR Codes in payments to ensure secure digital transactions and convenience.
These standards made QR Code payments forgery-proof and free of private information.
Government Initiatives are also actively favoring QR Codes in Korea. The government of South Korea has encouraged the use of QR codes for contact tracing (especially after Covid-19).
The adoption of QR Codes in Korea is also seen across the food safety industry. In Nov 2024, the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Administration reported that 101 products from 15 food companies were using QR Codes to provide food safety information.
This included major brands like Nongshim, Daesang, Lotte, and CJI too. The ministry plans to extend this practice to imported foods in 2025 and all domestic foods by 2026.
This will enhance consumer access to nutritional information and cooking methods as well.
Another important reason is that between 2014 and 2018, the Asia Pacific region saw an 83% increase in the use of QR Codes on packaging.
Countries like South Korea, China Japan, and India leading this trend. So now that you know why QR Codes are so relevant in South Korea, let’s take a look at how they’re being used in Korea.
Keep reading!
B. Usage of QR Codes in Korea
Let’s look at some examples of actual uses of QR Codes in various sectors across Korea:
1. QR Codes for contactless payments: KakaoPay and Naver Pay
South Korea’s leading mobile payment platforms, KakaoPay and Naver Pay, offer payments through QR Codes.
Customers simply need to scan a QR Code at checkout, and payment is made almost instantly. In 2022, over 40% of Korea’s mobile payments were made through QR Codes.
More recently, in the first quarter of 2024, KakaoPay processed transactions worth around 40.9 trillion South Korean won. This was a 26% increase compared to the same period last year.
Naver Pay also saw significant growth, with a 24.8% increase in payment volume, that reached 16.7 trillion won during the same quarter.
Together, these platforms handled about 57.6 trillion won in transactions. So, you see how actively Koreans use QR Codes?
2. QR Codes in restaurants: McDonald’s Korea
Global fast-food restaurants such as McDonald’s Korea have replaced physical menus with QR Codes.
Korean customers can scan a QR Code on their table to read the menu, order, and pay. The best part? They never have to talk to a cashier or handle cash again.
3. QR Codes at supermarkets and retail: Emart’s ‘Sunny Sale’ campaign
E-Mart, the largest supermarket chain in Korea, faced a challenge: sales declined during lunchtime.
To solve this, they launched the ‘Sunny Sale‘ campaign. They installed 3D QR Code sculptures across Seoul that were scannable only between 12 PM and 1 PM.
This was a very smartly designed campaign because when the sun’s position cast the perfect shadow to form the QR Code only then can the QR Codes be scanned and claimed.
Shoppers who scanned these codes received special discounts.
This innovative approach led to a 25% increase in sales during lunchtime and a 58% rise in new Emart online memberships.
4. QR Codes for public transport: Seoul metro’s QR ticketing
The Seoul Subway Metropolitan has started selling tickets through QR Codes. Commuters can purchase tickets online easily.
They can then scan the QR Code upon entering instead of paper tickets or transit cards. This eliminates long wait times and queues.
5. QR Codes in banking: Secure logins by Shinhan Bank
Shinhan Bank, a major bank in Korea, enables customers to sign in and pay using QR Codes.
Rather than entering a password, users simply scan a QR Code with the banking app for a safer sign-in procedure.
6. QR Codes in government services: COVID-19 contact tracing
In South Korea, QR Code check-ins were made mandatory in public establishments during the pandemic.
Visitors had to scan a QR Code in order to get into malls, restaurants, and offices. This helped authorities to track COVID-19 cases and stop the pandemic.
7. QR Codes in K-pop and entertainment: BTS QR Code merchandise
K-pop labels such as HYBE (which is the record label for BTS) deploy QR Codes on albums and merchandise.
Eager fans scan these QR Codes to view special content such as music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and digital collectibles.
8. QR Codes in education: Digital textbooks at Seoul National University
Leading universities such as Seoul National University employ QR Codes in digital textbooks. Students scan a code to view study materials, lecture videos, and quizzes.
9. QR Codes for Tourism: Visit Seoul App
The Visit Seoul app, developed by the Korea Tourism Organization, offers QR Codes at tourist sites.
Visitors and travelers scan these QR Codes for immediate access to guides, maps, and translations.
10. QR Codes in healthcare: Yonsei University Health System
Hospitals such as Yonsei University Health System use QR Codes for patient check-in. Patients can scan these QR Codes to view appointment info and medical history.
11. QR Codes in advertising: Samsung’s QR Code billboards
Samsung actively employs QR Code billboards in Seoul to market new products. People walking by scan the code to view product demos, redeem discounts, or even pre-order these devices.
12. Tesco’s virtual subway store
Subway stations have huge footfalls and if businesses can grab the commuters’ attention the results good be very good for sales.
That’s exactly why Tesco’s Korean branch, Homeplus, introduced virtual stores in subway stations to cater to busy commuters.
They displayed images of products with QR Codes. Commuters could scan these codes to add items to their online shopping carts, which were then delivered to their homes.
This initiative made Homeplus one of the top online retailers in South Korea.
13. Innisfree’s and Laneige’s QR Code campaigns
Innisfree, a popular Korean cosmetics brand, uses QR Codes in Korea to provide customers with detailed info about products.
When people scan these QR Codes, they can see the ingredients, benefits, and usage of products like the ‘Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask.’
This approach enhanced transparency and informed purchasing decisions.
Laneige, another prominent cosmetics brand under AmorePacific, added QR Codes in their advertising campaigns.
When scanned, these codes directed users to videos and tutorials about product applications. This in turn enhanced customer engagement and provided added value.
14. Caffe Latte’s interactive advertising
Caffe Latte launched a campaign featuring QR Codes alongside images of the K-pop group 2 AM.
Scanning the codes led fans to exclusive content. This included behind-the-scenes footage and feature photos.
This approach merged product promotion with entertainment.
15. Blackpink’s collaboration with Oreo
In 2023, Oreo collaborated with the K-pop group Blackpink to release limited-edition cookies.
The packaging featured themed QR Codes that, when scanned, granted fans access to exclusive content such as behind-the-scenes videos and virtual meet-and-greets, enhancing fan engagement.
16. ENHYPEN’s ‘Dark Blood’ album
The boy group ENHYPEN added QR Codes to their ‘Dark Blood‘ album. Fans who noticed and scanned these codes received digital content.
This included exclusive music tracks and exclusive photos, leveling up the entire album experience.
17. Le Sserafim’s ‘UNFORGIVEN’ album
Le Sserafim’s ‘UNFORGIVEN’ album featured QR Codes that provided fans with access to digital versions of the album.
Fans got digital music tracks and photo books along with the traditional album releases.
18. TWICE’s ‘Talk That Talk’ music video
In their ‘Talk That Talk‘ music video, TWICE included a QR Code that led fans to their first Instagram post from 2015.
This QR campaign created a nostalgic experience and strengthened the bond between the group and their fans.
19. Seventeen’s ‘Face The Sun’ Album
Seventeen’s ‘Face The Sun’ album included a Weverse version with QR Codes that allowed fans to access digital content.
Fans received content such as music tracks and exclusive photos, enhancing the overall fan experience.
20. Gabriela Hearst’s ‘The Garment Journey’
Gabriela Hearst integrated QR Codes into the labels of her ‘The Garment Journey’ collection.
Scanning these codes provided customers with information about the materials, country of origin, production process, and carbon footprint of each garment.
This promotes transparency and sustainability.
21. Beanpole’s interactive QR Code campaign
Apparel brand Beanpole held an event where smartphone users could scan a red QR Code shaped like their Alyssa bag.
When participants scanned it, they entered a lucky draw for a chance to win prizes. This combined digital engagement with promotional activities.
SO you see how broad and innovative the use cases of QR Codes in Korea are. Let’s talk numbers now.
C. QR Code adoption in Korea: A statistical overview!
South Korea’s rapid technological advancement has made it a leader in QR Code adoption.
QR Codes have become deeply integrated into South Korea’s digital landscape. This reflects the nation’s technological advancement and adaptability.
Here are some key statistics highlighting QR code adoption in the country:
The statistics below reveal just how rapidly QR technology is spreading:
1. According to Statista, 91% of South Koreans have scanned a QR Code at least once in their life. This indicates how used and at ease people are with scanning QR Codes in Korea for different purposes.
2. OpenQR reported that 70% of South Koreans believe in QR Codes for safe transactions and that they are a trustworthy tool for payments and verification of personal data.
3. As we read above, over 40% of mobile payments in Korea (source: Tridge) are made via QR Codes.
This clearly indicates the preference of businesses and consumers to use QR Code payments due to their convenience and ease.
4. The government of South Korea has decided to make all domestic foodstuffs carry QR Codes by 2026.
This will allow customers to immediately view ingredient information, and trace their origin, and safety data.
These numbers are a reflection of how well-established QR Codes have become in the operations of business and the lifestyle of Koreans.
As more digital innovation develops, the usage of QR Codes is bound to expand throughout Korea.
D. The future of QR Codes in Korea
With the continued growth of technology, QR Codes in Korea will become even more dominant in all sectors.
With increasing smartphone usage and the move towards a cashless economy, their progress is unstoppable. The following are some trends we can look forward to:
1. More QR Code Payments: More and more small and local street markets will implement QR Code payments to enable instant and contactless transactions.
This will decrease the usage of cash and card machines.
2. AI-powered QR Codes: Businesses can implement AI-powered QR Codes in Korea that offer personalized experiences.
For example, Lets say a customer may scan a QR Code and be offered personalized product suggestions or special offers.
3. Blockchain-based QR Codes: As data security worries grow, blockchain technology can be mingled with QR Codes to offer more secure transactions.
4. Government expansion: More public services can see the adoption of QR technology. As an example, health records, tax payments, and social programs can implement the use of QR Codes for quicker, more efficient use.
5. Tourism and cultural services: As international travelers increasingly return to Korea, QR Codes will upgrade tourism experiences.
Tourists will be able to scan QR Codes in Korea to access multilingual guides, cultural tips, and transport information.
6. Smart cities integration: South Korea’s drive to be a leader in smart cities will see QR Codes at the forefront of public infrastructure.
This might promote QR-parking systems, public transport, and smart billboards with interactive experiences.
The Take
QR Codes in Korea are booming. From payments to marketing, businesses, and consumers utilize them on a daily basis.
The government and corporations keep extending QR technology and convenience.
As technology continues to advance digitally, QR Codes will have an increasingly larger part in Korea’s technologically advanced society.
If you visit Korea or conduct business there, QR Codes are part of the experience. And, if you’re impressed and you need QR Codes for your use case? Try Now!
