On January 6, 2025, the HIVEX cross-border mobile payment platform launched in South Korea, offering a new and convenient payment option for international travelers. This initiative is the result of a collaboration between TBCASoft, South Korea’s ZeroPay, and ICB, a cross-border fintech company. The service aims to provide Taiwanese visitors with smoother, more secure payment experiences at over 1.9 million locations across South Korea.
Making Travel Easier for Taiwanese Tourists
The introduction of HIVEX comes at a time when Taiwan is one of the top sources of tourists to South Korea. In November 2024 alone, more than 119,000 Taiwanese visitors traveled to South Korea, contributing to a total of 1.35 million international arrivals that year. South Korea is especially popular among Taiwanese tourists for its food, shopping, and beauty products. With HIVEX now available, Taiwanese visitors can enjoy shopping, dining, and exploring the country without worrying about international transaction fees.
The service is particularly beneficial for those visiting South Korea for cultural experiences, such as food tours or shopping for exclusive beauty products. By simplifying the payment process, HIVEX allows tourists to focus on enjoying their trip rather than dealing with complicated payment methods.
Collaboration with ZeroPay and ICB
The heart of HIVEX’s integration is ZeroPay, a South Korean government-backed QR code payment system. ZeroPay was designed to eliminate credit card processing fees for merchants, making it a more cost-effective solution for businesses and an easier method for customers to pay. By partnering with ZeroPay, HIVEX gives Taiwanese visitors an easy and familiar way to pay using their preferred mobile apps.
The service is available in many high-traffic areas, such as convenience stores, department stores, and medical beauty clinics, where merchants now accept payments through the HIVEX system. ICB’s role in this partnership has also been key, enabling Taiwanese travelers to pay seamlessly without needing to switch apps or adjust to unfamiliar payment systems.
Expanding Payment Options for Taiwanese Travelers
ICB’s cross-border payment network plays a crucial role in making the service accessible to Taiwanese tourists. The integration of HIVEX into existing merchant systems is made possible by QR-Bridging technology, which allows South Korean businesses to accept international payments without needing to update their point-of-sale systems or incur extra costs.
With over 1.9 million merchants using ZeroPay, the launch of HIVEX greatly improves accessibility for Taiwanese travelers and boosts South Korea’s appeal as a destination for international tourists.
Global Impact on Travel Payments
The launch of HIVEX in South Korea signals a major step forward in cross-border mobile payments, simplifying travel for international visitors. As more countries adopt similar payment systems, travelers can expect smoother financial transactions when visiting foreign destinations. Whether paying for a meal in Tokyo, booking a hotel in Paris, or shopping in Seoul, mobile payment apps will make international travel more convenient.
For Taiwanese tourists, this means fewer obstacles and more opportunities to enjoy their time in South Korea. The success of HIVEX could inspire other nations and payment systems to implement similar technologies, meeting the rising demand for easy, secure mobile payment options.
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