🔍Limitations of the Point System for Small Businesses

In 2023, mobile payments reached 1.4740 trillion won, accounting for 50.5% of total payment transactions. For the first time, the amount paid via mobile devices such as smartphones and smartwatches surpassed that of physical card payments.

<Figure 1. Payment ratio trend by access device> Source: Credit Card Companies

According to the Bank of Korea's report on "The Status of Electronic Payment Services in the First Half of 2024," released on September 23, the average daily transaction amount for simple payment services in the first half of this year was 939.2 billion won, marking the highest level since statistics began in 2016.

As mobile payment usage continues to rise, point systems are evolving in response to changes in payment methods. While large franchises actively adopt various services, including digital coupons, small business owners face high development and system maintenance costs, making it difficult for them to push for mobile integration. As a result, many offline stores still rely on paper coupons, which puts them at a disadvantage in competition with franchises that have digitized their point systems. This reality poses limitations on the current social structure aimed at fostering mutual growth.