April 25, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Alipay, China’s largest online payment platform, opened its first overseas customer center in Seoul on Nov. 22, a local trade agency said.

The Alipay service center is located at Seoul’s COEX exhibition center, and will provide various customer services to Chinese visitors ranging from online payment services to luggage storage and business lounge services, according to the Korea International Trade Association.

“The association will continue to expand its joint efforts with Alipay to support South Korean and Chinese start-up businesses, while also strengthening its marketing efforts for products from local small and medium enterprises,” KITA said in a press release.

A KITA official noted a number of shops at the COEX already allow Chinese visitors to make online payments using the Alipay platform.

“The number will certainly grow, along with the number of Chinese visitors to the COEX mall as Alipay will introduce its first overseas customer center located here to its Chinese users,” said Lee Joon-bong, an official from KITA’s Business to Consumer Support Department.

Alipay has more than 400 million users and just under a 50 percent share in China’s online payment market as of October 2016.

(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)