Toss Gives International Students a Way to Pay in Korea

• Prepaid card works online and in stores nationwide, without a Korean bank account
• Available through international offices at 15 universities

Toss, Korea's leading financial SuperApp, is offering newly arrived international students a convenient way to make payments without needing a Korean bank account, just as the new semester begins.

The Toss prepaid card, which can be loaded with funds and used for online and in-store purchases nationwide, will be available at 15 universities across the country. After receiving the card at their school’s international offices, students can top it up with cash at CU, a major convenience store chain. To make payments for online purchases, the card needs to be registered with Toss Pay on the Toss app.

The initiative addresses a common challenge for international students arriving in Korea. To be issued a Korean card, they first need a Korean bank account, which in turn requires an Alien Registration Card (ARC) – the residency ID for foreign nationals. While waiting for their ARC, students' payment options have been largely limited to cash, cumbersome for larger payments, or cards issued back home that aren't always accepted and often carry foreign-transaction fees. Toss aims to address this pain point by giving students another way to make essential payments while they get settled in Korea.

"We want international students to be able to start managing their finances in Korea with greater ease and convenience," a Toss representative said. "We'll continue developing services that reflect the needs of international users and make financial services more accessible."

Toss is also working directly with international students to better understand their needs in Korea. Through its Toss Foreigner Bridge Crew, international students propose and help bring to life ideas for Toss products and marketing initiatives. The program is currently in its second cohort, and Toss plans to build an ongoing community where participants can continue sharing feedback and ideas beyond the program.