Foreign tourists visiting Korea will soon be able to call taxis and book express and intercity bus tickets through the Wowpass app without needing to install separate transportation apps. This development is expected to lower the barriers for visitors struggling with domestic payment and transportation services.
Orange Square, the operator of Wowpass, announced on August 16 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tmoney Mobility to collaborate on mobility and payment services for foreign visitors.
Under this agreement, TmoneyGO's transportation services will be gradually integrated into the Wowpass app. Initially, users will be able to access taxi calls, express and intercity bus bookings, as well as personal mobility options like electric bicycles and scooters, and charter bus reservations through Wowpass.
Once the services are integrated, foreign tourists will be able to avoid the hassle of installing multiple apps for different modes of transportation. The goal is to allow taxi calls directly through Wowpass without the need for a separate app. The app will also support user registration, identity verification, payments, and multilingual guidance.
This collaboration aims to reduce the inconveniences faced by foreigners when using transportation services in Korea. Some taxi calling and express/intercity bus booking services have been criticized for their limited multilingual support and restrictions on foreign payment methods, making them difficult for visitors to use.
Wowpass has expanded its business from payment and currency exchange to include shopping and delivery services in K-beauty, food, and fashion. In the past three months, the app has averaged about 600,000 monthly active users.
In line with the expansion of transportation services, Orange Square plans to develop a dedicated mobility interface within the Wowpass app and establish an operational system and new services tailored for foreign users.
Lee Jang-baek, CEO of Orange Square, stated that as the number of Wowpass users among foreign visitors has increased to one in ten, the company aims to expand services so that users can manage payments, shopping, and transportation all within a single app.
Cho Dong-wook, CEO of Tmoney Mobility, expressed that this collaboration will enhance the convenience of transportation for foreigners in Korea while continuing to expand partnerships with global platforms.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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