We have the same problem all the payment gateways were not suitable one to our business for example we were using the Paymentwall stand there were so many hidden charges and delays in payments that we decided to just stop that. The fact was there were keeping a portion of the payment for months in a couple of stage that at the end we couldn’t understand what has happened pulse they keep the last payment always because they said we have to make sure you will continue to sell. For us that we are dealing with expensive item sales its like not possible.
I am wondering if you could find a solution to your problem. We are also a Korean company wants to sell globally and collect payments.
Topic summary
Core Issue:
Shopify Payments is not available in South Korea, creating challenges for Korean-based merchants selling to US/Canadian customers. Sellers struggle to find suitable payment gateways that work for both their Korean business location and international audience.
Available Options:
- Third-party payment gateways are available for South Korea (searchable via Shopify’s gateway directory)
- Shopify charges transaction fees when using third-party providers
- PayPal is currently used by some merchants but proves time and cost inefficient
Key Challenges:
- Most third-party gateways don’t accommodate Korean sellers targeting US/international customers
- Stripe requires US citizenship for signup and doesn’t operate directly in Korea
- Alternative providers (Adyen, Airwallex, Useepay) don’t serve Korean citizens with Korea-based businesses
- Some gateways charge setup fees ($250-$750 USD) and have hidden charges or payment delays
- One merchant reported issues with Paymentwall holding payments for months
Suggested Solution:
Multiple participants recommend establishing a Stripe account in the US, EU, HK, or UK to accept international payments, though this requires setting up a business entity in those regions.