More and more North Koreans are using electronic payment services such as online payment apps and offline payments using QR codes, Daily NK has learned.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, a source in North Korea told Daily NK on Tuesday that “about six in 10 people use mobile phones to purchase shop items in the capital [Pyongyang], and while the number is a bit lower in the provinces, it’s still four in 10.
“Using a mobile shopping app to buy items is convenient because you don’t have to travel far on a hot day and carry items back with you, and [delivery people] quickly bring you your items after calling to see if you’re home rather than dropping them off in front of your door and running off. Women even say it’s better than husbands who never lift a finger.”
According to the source, more and more people are also using QR codes to make offline payments as of late.
“Many people also pay by scanning QR codes at shop stalls — about eight in 10 people in the capital and two in 10 people in the provinces do it.”
It appears that fewer residents of areas outside Pyongyang use QR codes because there are not as many brick-and-mortar shops that use electronic payment engines compared to the capital city.
“Anywhere, be it daily necessity stalls or seafood stalls, if you scan the code on your mobile card app and enter the amount requested, the total is taken out of your account,” the source said. “All you need to do is keep your mobile card wallet charged.”
On a related note, North Korea’s mobile payment app Ullim 2.0 enables simplified offline payments by providing users with unique QR codes.
Changing attitudes toward electronic payment platforms
North Korea is actively encouraging people to use electronic payments to promote cashless transactions. Since people in North Korea generally avoid exposing their financial transactions and cash holding amounts to the authorities, they gave electronic payment platforms the cold shoulder when they were first introduced. However, that reception appears to be changing.
The source told Daily NK that the number of electronic payment platform users has skyrocketed over the last couple of years as young people like how they can conveniently make payments at all state-run shops or private shops registered with the state with a single mobile phone, and because related services continue to expand.
“The perception has grown that [using electronic payments] is good because you won’t get your wallet pickpocketed or have to walk around with big wads of cash in your pockets,” the source said. “Wallets haven’t disappeared because of this, but even office workers and affluent people think electronic payments are more convenient, not just young people.”
The source added: “Older people say times have changed a lot from the time when you wore a wallet on your waist or hid it deep in your pants to go shopping, finding it strange that we now live in a world where you can shop without a wallet as long as you’ve got a mobile phone.”
Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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