Korean Card Issuers Push Agentic Payments

South Korean card issuers are developing agentic payment services that connect payments to the government’s “AI for Everyone” project. Shinhan Card and Hana Card joined the SK Telecom consortium, while BC Card joined the KT consortium; the project is led by the Ministry of Science and ICT and consortiums involving SK Telecom, Kakao and KT. The industry is targeting a launch in the first half of next year. Samsung Card, Hyundai Card, KB Kookmin Card, Lotte Card and NH Nonghyup Card, which are outside the consortiums, are also preparing to introduce services.

“AI for Everyone” is undergoing beta testing this month, with an official launch planned for December, but financial services are reportedly not included yet. Financial services are expected to be added next year after the project releases its prepared features. Shinhan Card and Mastercard completed what the companies described as the first live agentic payment transaction among South Korean card issuers. In a trial with global mobility platform Hoppa, an AI agent booked and paid for transportation suited to a destination.

Card issuers are also conducting or planning proofs of concept (PoCs) with payment infrastructure companies. KB Kookmin Card signed a trial agreement with SY Polaris, which holds an AI commerce patent, while NH Nonghyup Card is pursuing a PoC with AhnLab Blockchain Company. Lotte Card is discussing a PoC tailored to South Korea with Mastercard, and Samsung Card has reportedly completed a live transaction test. Several payment infrastructure companies have received proposals from card issuers to collaborate on trials.

Visa launched its “Visa Agentic Ready” program with partners. KB Kookmin, Samsung, Shinhan, KakaoBank, Hana and Hyundai cards joined last April, and Lotte Card is set to join next month. Visa plans to test transactions between card issuers and AI agents and strengthen its ability to handle them. The card industry sees commerce links to “AI for Everyone,” a project involving the broader public, as a way to generate varied payment revenue. With card payment revenue stagnant, issuers aim to use AI to expand the payment ecosystem.

South Korean card issuers are developing agentic payment services that connect payments to the government’s “AI for Everyone” project. Shinhan Card and Hana Card joined the SK Telecom consortium, while BC Card joined the KT consortium; the project is led by the Ministry of Science and ICT and consortiums involving SK Telecom, Kakao and KT. The industry is targeting a launch in the first half of next year. Samsung Card, Hyundai Card, KB Kookmin Card, Lotte Card and NH Nonghyup Card, which are outside the consortiums, are also preparing to introduce services.

“AI for Everyone” is undergoing beta testing this month, with an official launch planned for December, but financial services are reportedly not included yet. Financial services are expected to be added next year after the project releases its prepared features. Shinhan Card and Mastercard completed what the companies described as the first live agentic payment transaction among South Korean card issuers. In a trial with global mobility platform Hoppa, an AI agent booked and paid for transportation suited to a destination.

Card issuers are also conducting or planning proofs of concept (PoCs) with payment infrastructure companies. KB Kookmin Card signed a trial agreement with SY Polaris, which holds an AI commerce patent, while NH Nonghyup Card is pursuing a PoC with AhnLab Blockchain Company. Lotte Card is discussing a PoC tailored to South Korea with Mastercard, and Samsung Card has reportedly completed a live transaction test. Several payment infrastructure companies have received proposals from card issuers to collaborate on trials.

Visa launched its “Visa Agentic Ready” program with partners. KB Kookmin, Samsung, Shinhan, KakaoBank, Hana and Hyundai cards joined last April, and Lotte Card is set to join next month. Visa plans to test transactions between card issuers and AI agents and strengthen its ability to handle them. The card industry sees commerce links to “AI for Everyone,” a project involving the broader public, as a way to generate varied payment revenue. With card payment revenue stagnant, issuers aim to use AI to expand the payment ecosystem.