How do I set up Kakao Pay and Naver Pay?

Kakao Pay and Naver Pay are everywhere in Korea and well worth setting up, though the full experience needs a Korean phone number and bank account. Kakao Pay lives inside KakaoTalk, the messaging app almost everyone here uses, so you start by installing KakaoTalk, then open the Pay section and register a Korean bank account or card and verify your identity, which for foreigners generally needs a Korean phone number in your name plus your ARC. Once set up, you can pay in stores by QR or barcode, send money instantly to friends by their Kakao account (splitting a restaurant bill becomes a tap), pay utility and delivery bills, and check out online without re-entering card details.

Naver Pay works similarly but is built around the Naver ecosystem and is especially handy for online shopping, since a huge share of Korean e-commerce runs through Naver, and it earns Naver points you can reuse. Both work at convenience stores, cafes, and many restaurants, and increasingly for transit. The main setup hurdle for foreigners is the identity verification step, so having your ARC, a Korean bank account, and a local phone number registered in your name first makes it smooth. Without a Korean bank account you can sometimes register a foreign card with limited functionality, but the money-transfer and full features really want the local bank link. Once it is working, you can leave your physical wallet at home most days.