North Korea expands smartphone e-wallets, pushing cashless payments across cities

North Korean authorities are accelerating the move toward cashless transactions, with a variety of e-wallet platforms—including Samhung e-Wallet, Jonsong, Narae, Apnal, Saebyol, Huinnun and Manmulsang—now accepted at department stores, street vendors and even vegetable stalls. Mobile phone subscriptions reached roughly 6.35 million and broadband subscriptions about 5.79 million in 2024, per ITU data, though these figures do not directly reflect smartphone penetration.

The range of services has broadened to cover QR-code payments for transport, restaurant reservations, utility bills, grain coupons and lottery tickets. The state’s Electronic Payment Act, first enacted in October 2021 and updated in 2023, seeks to pull foreign currency held by citizens into the formal system and give officials clearer insight into market activity. Loading cash into e-wallets has become easier, with designated charging points increasing from around 200 in late 2022 to over 700 by early 2025. While many users appreciate the convenience, some remain wary of potential state scrutiny of their transaction records.