Danal Partners with World K-POP Center to Expand Foreigners-Only K-POP Payment Ecosystem

Danal has signed a strategic partnership with the World K-POP Center to build a foreigner-exclusive payment ecosystem linked to K-POP content.

On May 19, Danal announced plans to collaborate with the World K-POP Center, a global K-POP talent development institution, to expand an integrated payment infrastructure that connects K-POP experiences, training, auditions, and overall cultural activities.

The World K-POP Center is a leading domestic K-POP institution that operates programs ranging from K-POP experiences for foreign tourists to global auditions and specialized training for foreign artists.

Through this agreement, Danal plans to supply the foreigner-only prepaid card 'K.ONDA' to foreign visitors to the center, as well as to affiliated accommodations, overseas broadcasters, and educational institutions.

The two companies explained that their focus is on improving user convenience for foreign tourists visiting Korea who experience difficulties with payments due to not having Korean bank accounts.

K.ONDA can be easily recharged via a mobile application or kiosk, and offers integrated services essential for foreign visitors to Korea, including online shopping, delivery app orders, transportation card functionality, and ATM cash withdrawals.

Danal plans to install dedicated kiosks at the World K-POP Center and major tourist spots, allowing foreign tourists to instantly receive cards and use services on-site.

Notably, starting in the second half of this year, Danal will also provide services for pre-booked customers to purchase and receive USIM/eSIM package products at domestic airport roaming centers. With this, K.ONDA will support not only payment functions but also data and voice communication services.

Danal also plans to actively utilize global fandom platforms such as 'Click the Star', a global audition program operated by the World K-POP Center. By offering K.ONDA services first to program participants, the company aims to secure leadership in the K-POP-based payment ecosystem.

Moving forward, the two companies plan to further advance online and offline payment infrastructure across all center-operated services, including academies and auditions.

A Danal representative stated, "As seen in the recent BTS concert, which generated more than 55 billion won in consumption effects, K-POP has established itself as a core industry driving the foreign payment market. Through our collaboration with the World K-POP Center, we will offer new payment experiences to inbound tourists and connect foreigner-focused business with the revitalization of Korea's tourism industry."

Meanwhile, 'Click the Star' by the World K-POP Center is a global K-POP audition project held in 32 countries worldwide. It operates from local preliminaries, Korean finals, training, to debut linkage programs, and is being recognized as a platform for discovering the next generation of global K-POP artists.

Industry insiders believe that this collaboration could present a new model for expanding tourism and cultural consumption and for growing the foreigner payment market by combining K-POP content with foreigner payment services.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.