GLN International

What GLN International does

GLN International is a Seoul-headquartered cross-border payment infrastructure provider spun off from Hana Bank in July 2021 under Hana Financial Group, with Kakao Pay holding a 4.9% strategic stake since April 2023. The company operates a B2B2C platform that integrates with national QR payment networks — including NAPAS VietQR Global (Vietnam), UnionPay International (47 countries/regions), and Tenpay Global's Weixin Pay (Mainland China) — enabling Korean users to make QR payments and ATM cash withdrawals in 14 Asian countries through their existing domestic banking and fintech applications without currency exchange, physical cards, or local app downloads.

Its core product is a Global QR Payment & Withdrawal Service embedded across major Korean super-apps including Toss, Naver Pay, Samsung Wallet, Hana Bank/Hana Money/Hana Card, Kakao Pay, KB Star Banking, and iM Bank, supplemented by an Overseas Remittance Service (via Remitly, BCEL, Panda Remit), a Tuition Payments Service for foreign students in Korea, and a Medical Payments Service for inbound medical tourists. The proprietary PurpleGLN app serves as GLN's direct-to-consumer front end alongside these partner integrations.

GLN monetizes through transaction-based fees on QR payments, ATM cash withdrawals, FX spreads, remittances, and tuition/medical payment processing — pricing is roughly one-third the cost of traditional card-based withdrawals (e.g., 85 THB vs. ~250 THB in Thailand). Capital structure is anchored by Hana Bank's commitment of up to 500 billion KRW (~USD 370M), and the company holds a Korean electronic payment settlement agency (PG) license, ISO 27001/27701 certifications, and an FSC Chairman AML commendation. Headcount is 51–100 employees, and revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

GLN International

Legal name

주식회사 지엘엔인터내셔널

Website

https://glninternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GLN International is a Seoul-based cross-border QR payment infrastructure provider, spun off from Hana Bank in 2021, that connects Korean banking and fintech apps (Toss, Naver Pay, Samsung Wallet, Kakao Pay, Hana, KB) to 200M+ QR merchants across 14 Asian countries via national QR networks like NAPAS, UnionPay, and Weixin Pay.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cross-Border Payment Infrastructure

NAICS

Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (5223)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Cross-Border & FX Payments Platforms (BPAMAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Remittance & Cross-Border Payment Rails (SWIFT, Local Clearing, RTP Connectivity) (FSAGAKAH), SME & Business Cross-Border Payments (B2B) (FSAMAIAB), Consumer Remittances (P2P) (FSAMAIAA), Payment Gateways & API Connectivity (FSAGABAB)

Keywords

• Cross-border QR payments
• Mobile payment network
• ATM cash withdrawal
• Overseas remittance services
• Foreign exchange services

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. QR Payment Transaction Fees: GLN charges transaction fees on QR payments made at merchant locations abroad. Fees are significantly lower than traditional credit/debit card withdrawal fees (e.g., 85 THB per QR ATM withdrawal in Thailand vs. 250 THB for card withdrawals).
2. QR ATM Cash Withdrawal Fees: GLN earns fees from QR-based ATM cash withdrawals at overseas ATMs, with competitive pricing designed to undercut traditional card-based withdrawals.
3. Foreign Exchange Spread: GLN generates revenue through foreign exchange spreads applied when converting currencies during cross-border payments and withdrawals.
4. Remittance Service Fees: GLN charges fees for overseas remittance services, allowing users to send money domestically and internationally.
5. Tuition & Medical Payment Processing: GLN charges fees for processing tuition payments for international students and medical bill payments for foreign patients in Korea through its platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

GLN International operates a QR-based cross-border payment infrastructure that connects Korean financial institutions, fintech apps, and digital wallets to national QR payment networks and ATMs across 14 Asian countries. The platform enables Korean users to make QR-code payments and cardless ATM cash withdrawals at more than 200 million merchant locations abroad using their existing domestic banking or fintech apps, without currency exchange or local app installation. Complementary services include cross-border remittance, tuition payments for international students, and medical bill payments for foreign patients in Korea.

Product overview

GLN International operates a multi-module cross-border payment platform, spun off from Hana Bank in July 2021 under Hana Financial Group. The core product is the Global QR Payment & Withdrawal Service, which allows Korean users to pay via QR code and withdraw cash from ATMs abroad through partner apps (Toss, Naver Pay, Kakao Pay, Samsung Wallet, Hana Bank, Hana Money, Hana Card, KB Star Banking, iM Bank) without currency exchange or local app installation. This is supplemented by an Overseas Remittance Service (cross-border money transfers via Remitly, BCEL, Panda Remit), a Tuition Payments Service (for international students paying Korean university tuition via home e-wallets), and a Medical Payments Service (enabling overseas patients to pay Korean hospital bills via home e-wallets). The own-brand app is PurpleGLN.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 퍼플GLN (Purple GLN): GLN's primary mobile application for QR payments and ATM withdrawals internationally.

Products and services

• Global QR Payment & Withdrawal Service Cross-border QR code-based payment and ATM cash withdrawal service enabling Korean users to pay at overseas merchants and withdraw local currency from ATMs at 200+ million QR merchant locations across 14 Asian countries without currency exchange or installing local apps, accessed through partner Korean financial and fintech applications.
• PurpleGLN App GLN International's own mobile application providing Korean travelers direct access to overseas QR payments and ATM cash withdrawals across the GLN network, available on app stores and used as the primary app for promotional campaigns and fee cashback events.
• Overseas Remittance Service Cross-border money transfer service enabling users to send funds from Korea abroad or from abroad to Korea through integrated remittance partners including Remitly (United States), BCEL (Laos), and Panda Remit (China).
• Tuition Payments Service Service enabling international students studying in Korea to pay university tuition using home-country e-wallets, currently supporting BIDV (Vietnam), Alipay (China), and UnionPay (China).
• Medical Payments Service Service enabling overseas medical tourists visiting Korea to pay hospital medical bills using their home-country e-wallets without needing a Korean bank account, supporting providers such as Send MN (Mongolia).

Quantifiable outcome

• QR ATM withdrawal fee reduced by ~66% compared to traditional card withdrawal (85 THB vs ~250 THB per transaction in Thailand)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Tenpay Global (Weixin Pay / 위챗페이)flagshipTechnology or Integration · 13 May 2026GLN expanded QR payment coverage across Mainland China by integrating with the Weixin Pay network operated by Tenpay Global. This follows the existing UnionPay partnership and enables Korean users to make QR payments at all Weixin Pay merchants across China including subways, taxis, street food, and shopping — without requiring a separate local app.
• Moreta Pay (북미)coreTechnology or Integration · 27 April 2026Moreta Pay is a North American payment platform partner enabling local users to access GLN's cross-border QR payment services through their home-market app.
• 하나머니 (Hana Money Platform)coreTechnology or Integration · 6 April 2026GLN joined Hana Money's integrated financial platform alongside Hana Bank, Hana Securities, Hana Card, Hana Capital, Hana Life, Hana Savings Bank, Hana Trust, Hana F&I, FINK, Hana Alternative Investment Asset Management, Hana Ventures, Hana Fund Services, Hana Financial Find, Hanacard, FINK, and Hana Insurance. GLN's global QR payment services are integrated to provide overseas payment and withdrawal convenience within the Hana Money ecosystem.
• DeCard (싱가포르)coreTechnology or Integration · 25 February 2026GLN partnered with Singapore's DeCard app, enabling DeCard users to access GLN's overseas QR payment services in Thailand, Laos, Philippines, Cambodia, and Mongolia. This expands GLN's network in Southeast Asia through a Singaporean partner app.
• UnionPay InternationalflagshipTechnology or Integration · 11 November 2025GLN and UnionPay International launched UnionPay QR code payment services enabling Korean users to make seamless QR payments at UnionPay's global QR network spanning 47 countries and regions, and at Weixin QR code-acquiring merchants across Mainland China, through the GLN app and partner wallets including Toss, Hana Bank, Hana Money, and Hana Card.
• BIDV (Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam)flagshipTechnology or Integration · 1 August 2025BIDV serves as a settlement bank and develops payment acceptance networks for the Vietnam-Korea cross-border QR payment service. GLN connects to Vietnam's national QR infrastructure through BIDV, enabling Korean travelers to make QR payments across hundreds of thousands of VIETQRGlobal acceptance points in Vietnam. The partnership was formalized at the Vietnam-South Korea Economic Forum in August 2025.
• NAPAS (National Payment Corporation of Vietnam)flagshipTechnology or Integration · 1 August 2025NAPAS operates Vietnam's national retail payment infrastructure (VietQR Global system). GLN directly connects to NAPAS's national VietQR Global payment infrastructure, enabling users of partner Korean fintech apps to make payments across Vietnam without currency exchange. NAPAS is expanding cross-border QR connectivity with additional countries.
• Samsung Wallet (삼성월렛)coreTechnology or Integration · 13 January 2025Samsung Wallet integrated with GLN QR payment services, enabling Samsung smartphone users to pay at Thailand's 8 million+ and Japan's 1.5 million+ GLN-connected merchant locations without foreign currency exchange.
• Naver Pay (네이버페이)coreTechnology or Integration · 2 October 2024Naver Pay integrated GLN's overseas QR payment service, enabling Naver Pay users to pay at merchants across Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Laos, Singapore, Cambodia, Guam, Saipan, and Hawaii using their Naver Pay money and points.
• 7BANK (일본)coreTechnology or Integration · 2 February 20247BANK, Japan's leading ATM operator with presence in 7-Eleven convenience stores and airports, is a key partner for GLN's QR ATM cash withdrawal service in Japan. Kakao Pay, Toss, Purple GLN, Hana OneQ, KB Star Banking, Hana Money, and Hana Pay are all integrated for QR withdrawals at 7BANK ATMs.
• JCB (Japan Credit Card)coreTechnology or Integration · 14 December 2023JCB partnered with GLN to expand global payment network coverage. JCB is a major Japanese payment network and the partnership contributes to GLN's payment infrastructure in Japan.
• Toss (비터스)coreTechnology or Integration · 26 March 2023Toss, one of Korea's largest fintech platforms, integrated GLN's overseas QR payment and ATM withdrawal services, allowing Toss users to pay at merchants across GLN's 14-country network.
• SCB (Siam Commercial Bank, 태국)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2021SCB operates Thailand's QR payment infrastructure and ATM network. GLN's QR withdrawal service in Thailand uses SCB ATMs (approximately 9,000 ATMs nationwide), enabling Korean travelers to withdraw Thai Baht without physical cards at a fee of 85 THB per transaction.
• BCEL (Banque pour le Commerce Extérieur Lao, 라오스)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2021BCEL is Laos's state-owned commercial bank. GLN launched remittance services with BCEL and enables QR cash withdrawals via BCEL ATMs in Laos. The partnership supports cross-border financial services between Korea and Laos.
• SuMi TRUST (Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, 일본)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2021SuMi TRUST Bank is a key partner in GLN's Japanese payment network expansion, providing connectivity to Japanese financial infrastructure.
• ACLEDA (캄보디아)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2021ACLEDA is a major Cambodian bank and payment processor integrated with GLN's network, enabling QR payments at ACLEDA-affiliated merchants in Cambodia.
• AUB (Asia United Bank, 필리핀)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2021AUB is a Philippine bank partner enabling GLN QR payment services across the Philippines, which covers over 10 million merchants including Grab, GCash, QR Ph, and Instapay networks.
• Liquid (싱가포르)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2021Liquid is a Singapore-based payment technology company and GLN partner enabling QR payment services in Singapore.
• CITCON (싱가포르)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2021CITCON is a cross-border payment platform integrated with GLN, enabling payment services for users traveling in Singapore.
• Remitly (미국)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2021Remitly is a U.S.-based digital remittance company partnered with GLN to provide international money transfer services, enabling GLN users to send remittances to the United States.
• Taishin Financial Holding (대만)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2021Taishin Bank (타이신페이) enables QR payments for Taiwanese users in Korea and vice versa. GLN users can also access services through Taishin Bank's platforms in Taiwan.
• EFTPAY, Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay, Panda Remit (홍콩)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2021Multiple Hong Kong-based payment platforms including EFTPAY, Alipay HK, WeChat Pay HK, UnionPay Hong Kong, and Panda Remit are integrated with GLN's network, providing QR payment services in Hong Kong SAR.
• KB Financial Group (KB금융그룹)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2021KB Financial Group provides GLN services through its KB Star Banking and KB国民지갑 apps, enabling KB Bank customers to access overseas QR payments and ATM withdrawals.
• Hana Money, Hana Card (하나머니, 하나카드)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2021Hana Money and Hana Card apps provide GLN's overseas QR payment, ATM withdrawal, and remittance services to Hana Financial Group customers. Hana Card's 12 million users can access services through Hana Pay.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Alipay+: Alipay+ is Ant Group's cross-border mobile payment and digital wallet connectivity platform enabling global merchants to accept payments from Asian wallets. Directly competes with GLN in connecting wallets to merchants across Asian corridors.
• TerraPay: TerraPay operates a global cross-border payments network connecting banks, mobile wallets, and financial institutions across 100+ countries. Comparable to GLN as a payment interoperability infrastructure provider targeting emerging markets and corridors.
• Thunes: Thunes operates a global cross-border payments network connecting financial institutions, mobile wallets, and banks across 130+ countries. Directly comparable to GLN as both serve as interoperability layers between domestic payment schemes and wallets, though Thunes is more globally diversified while GLN is Asia-focused.
• Remitly: Remitly is a U.S.-based digital remittance company and one of GLN's named partners for U.S. outbound transfers. Comparable as a cross-border consumer remittance and payment provider serving migrant and traveler segments.
• UnionPay International: UnionPay International operates the global UnionPay QR network across 47 countries and is both a GLN partner and a competing cross-border payment network. Highly comparable as a card-and-QR-based cross-border payments infrastructure.

Others

• Toss (Viva Republica): Toss is Korea's largest fintech super-app and one of GLN's primary distribution partners for QR payments/withdrawals abroad. Comparable as a Korean consumer fintech platform integrating cross-border payment capabilities via GLN.
• Kakao Pay: Kakao Pay is a Korean mobile payment platform and a GLN distribution partner (4.9% strategic shareholder). Comparable as a Korean fintech super-app channel through which GLN reaches users; not a direct competitor but a key ecosystem participant.
• Naver Pay: Naver Pay is a Korean mobile payment service operated by Naver, integrated with GLN for overseas QR payments. Comparable as a Korean payment wallet serving as a GLN distribution partner.

Broad incumbents

• Wise (TransferWise): Wise is a leading cross-border money movement platform with consumer and business payment products across 70+ countries. Comparable as a low-cost cross-border payment alternative, though Wise focuses on bank-account-to-bank-account transfers while GLN specializes in QR/wallet interoperability.
• Payoneer: Payoneer provides cross-border B2B payment and working capital solutions globally. Comparable as an established cross-border payment platform, though focused on SMB/marketplace payouts rather than consumer QR payments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@gln3569
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glninternational
• Instagraminstagram.com/gln_global

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GLN International