CU introduces unmanned currency exchange kiosks

CU convenience store chain's newly adopted unmanned currency exchange kiosk [BGF RETAIL]

CU convenience store has installed unmanned currency exchange kiosks to accommodate the increasing influx of foreign tourists in Korea.

The service allows users to seamlessly convert 15 different foreign currencies, such as dollars, euros and yen, into Korean won.

By scanning their passports and depositing foreign currency, customers can execute currency exchanges, with an individual cap set at $2,000. Users can also conduct transactions in their preferred language.

The initial deployment of these currency exchange kiosks took place in mid-November at two prominent locations — the Myeong-dong main branch and Yongsan IPark Mall branch, with plans to expand the service to stores frequented by foreign customers in the near future.

"The introduction of unmanned currency exchange kiosks is a direct response to the surge in tourists visiting Korea this year," a CU spokesperson said.

According to data from the Korea Tourism Organization, approximately 1.09 million foreign visitors visited Korea in September alone. Notably, CU's overseas payment transactions have experienced an uptick of 134.8 percent compared to the same period last year, until October.

In a parallel initiative, GS Retail, the operator of GS25 and GS The Fresh, has been operating unmanned currency exchange kiosks for foreign currency since January of this year.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]