'K-Delivery Culture' Becomes a New Tourism Trend: Foreigner Transactions Surge 3.7-fold

Foreign tourists visiting Korea are experiencing the country's food culture through delivery apps rather than traditional restaurants.

The "K-Delivery Culture" has emerged as a new tourism trend, leading to an explosive increase in transactions by foreigners on delivery platforms. According to industry sources on the 4th, as the travel style of foreigners shifts toward independent and long-term stays, the pattern of ordering delivery food has become widespread.

Woowa Brothers, the operator of "Baedal Minjok" (Baemin), reported that foreign payment transactions in the first quarter of 2026 increased approximately 3.7-fold compared to the same period in 2025.

This growth is attributed to the removal of language and payment barriers, as apps now support multiple languages and integrate with global simple payment systems. In September last year, Baemin became the first in the industry to introduce WeChat Pay and Alipay Plus. In February 2026, it further implemented generative AI technology based on Large Language Models to provide multilingual support in English, Chinese, and Japanese.

Other specialized services are also entering the market. Fintech firm SmartData provides "Orderplace," a contactless food delivery service for tourists, while Orange Square, known for the "WOWPASS" prepaid card, operates the "WOWPASS Concierge" service for ordering fried chicken.

Industry experts anticipate that as multilingual support becomes more sophisticated and delivery options diversify to include exotic cuisines favored by foreigners, the delivery app market will secure a consistent long-term growth engine.

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[ONLINE-KOREA: Letter from Korea]

Hi everyone! Long time no see! I’ve been so busy lately that I pushed myself a bit too hard and had to take a long break. I’m so sorry for the late post! 😰

Anyway, we all know how fast and convenient Korean food delivery is, right? But honestly, I’ve only ordered it once in my life, just out of curiosity.

Why? Because some delivery-focused places have hygiene issues, and many use ingredients from certain countries that I prefer to avoid for health reasons. While there are definitely clean restaurants using great ingredients, it’s honestly hard for us to verify that as consumers.

I totally get why you’d want to try "Baedal" after seeing it in K-dramas! 😄

It’s a fun experience, but I recommend doing it just once or twice. For the rest of your trip, I’d love for you to visit real restaurants to enjoy authentic, healthy Korean food and the local atmosphere.

I also hope that people in the food industry prioritize quality and hygiene so they can truly take pride in what they serve, rather than just focusing on sales.

I truly believe that Korean food is delicious. 🥗

Please take great care of your health and eat well! ✨

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