Baedal Minjok to stop taking payments on delivery

South Korea's No.1 food delivery service, Baedal Minjok (Baemin), will no longer take payments on delivery as part of its efforts to strengthen its contactless payment system while reducing consumers' possible exposure to crime.

A Woowa Brothers official noted that delivery people were asked to leave the food at the door whenever customers had already paid online.

The official added that just a few pay on the spot anyway and that the delivery drivers don't carry cash to give change.

Meanwhile, restaurants that employ their own drivers still have the option to receive cash.

There are also concerns over the possibility of crimes committed by drivers as they are able to engage with customers in person and can easily find people's home addresses and other personal information.

According to an industry observer, Baemin's strategy would prompt other delivery players to consider other methods to adopt contactless payment.

However, some customers complain that the new payment system restricts them from using a company card or local business voucher.

But Woowa Brothers said its restaurants using Baemin 1 and Baemin Riders have never accepted business vouchers and that customers who wish to use a company card can register it on Baemin's mobile application.