Kakao Mobility announced the launch of ‘K-Ride,’ a global mobility platform designed specifically for foreign users, enabling convenient travel without the barriers of nationality, culture, or language on June 4.
Kakao Mobility has been attentive to the inconveniences that international travelers often face when using mobility services abroad, due to differences in language and payment methods. Building on its advanced platform technology and operational expertise, the company aspires to become a globally unified platform by integrating mobility services from around the world into the ‘K-Ride’ app.
‘K-Ride’ is currently available for download in app stores across 14 countries, including South Korea, the United States, Japan, Singapore, and China. Users from these 14 countries can conveniently use Kakao’s T Blue, Venti, Black, and Premium taxi services in Korea through the K-Ride app, free from language, account, or payment issues. The range of services offered through the app will gradually expand.
The sign-up and usage process is straightforward. Users can easily register without a Kakao account by entering their phone number and verifying it via Google or Apple account, or through email. Automatic payments with foreign-issued cards are also available. There are plans to introduce easy overseas payment options in the future to enhance payment convenience.
The app supports four languages for use, including English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Japanese. Additionally, K-Ride offers automatic translation for about 100 languages during destination searches and chats with drivers, enabling users to search for tourist spots in their native language and communicate with drivers seamlessly.
Kakao Mobility plans to expand its service operations to over 30 countries within the year. Moreover, the company aims to offer various integrated services targeting travelers in each of these countries, including ride-hailing.
Yoo Geung-seon, CEO of Kakao Mobility, stated, “Based on the successful platform model established in the domestic market, we are creating diverse global expansion cases, including calls for overseas vehicles and linking overseas apps, as well as applying technical infrastructure in foreign markets. Now, through K-Ride, we intend to present a global tailored service that users around the world can use conveniently and familiar with.”
Meanwhile, Kakao Mobility has previously supported the mobility of foreign visitors to South Korea by integrating overseas app services and enabling the registration of foreign-issued cards within the ‘Kakao T’ app. With the launch of K-Ride, the company aims to bolster its activities to attract foreign tourists visiting Korea, contributing to the success of the ‘2023-2024 Visit Korea Year’ initiative.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr