The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Dec. 10 said it launched TripPass, a mobile passport app for foreign tourists, to boost convenience in services such as tax refunds and payment for public transportation. (Seoul Metropolitan Government)

By Israa Mohamed

A single mobile app allows foreign tourists in Seoul to use services in a more convenient and safer manner.  

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Dec. 10 said it launched TripPass, whose functions include identify verification, tax refund, transportation card and easy mobile payment.

The mobile passport produced by the app can be used by a foreign tourist as identification without needing their physical passport. The app can be also used at places where users are required to show ID or stores where a tax refund after shopping is available.

By adding value to the prepaid card automatically produced based on a mobile passport through a credit card, a user can use services such as mobile payment and immediate tax refund at branches of the convenience store chain CU and designated duty-free stores.

The transportation card function of the prepaid card allows access to all modes of public transportation such as the airport railroad, subway, intra-city buses and taxis without the need for cash.

The city government predicted that TripPass will also contribute to revitalizing smaller businesses and boosting convenience for sightseers. This is because the QR code technology-based app enables mobile payment without the need for a separate passport reader or a terminal that accepts credit cards issued outside Korea.

The app provides service in Korean, English, Japanese, and simplified and traditional Chinese. The city said Vietnamese and Thai will be added in the first half of next year.

This app can be downloaded from Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lordsystem.trippass&pcampaignid=web_share) or the App Store (https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/trip-pass/id1601159460).

ess8@korea.kr