South Koreans used credit cards for transactions mostly at gas stations, discount stores and department stores. (image: KobizMedia/ Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – South Koreans’ use of credit cards jumped last year from a year earlier, central bank data said Wednesday, in the latest sign that a growing number of people favor credit cards over cash for transactions.
A survey of 2,500 adults by the Bank of Korea showed that credit cards are the most used payment method, accounting for 50.6 percent of financial transactions in 2015, compared to 34.2 percent a year earlier.
South Koreans used credit cards for transactions mostly at gas stations, discount stores and department stores.
In comparison, cash makes up 26 percent of transactions in 2015, down from 37.7 percent in 2014, the data showed.
The BOK said the use of credit cards rose as people used less cash for transactions.
Meanwhile, South Koreans carry 77,000 won (US$64.50) on average in cash in their wallets, compared to $63 for Americans and $156.60 for Germans.
The BOK said it carried out the survey between June and July.
(Yonhap)
