What was reported about South Korea
Seoul Economic Daily reported the halt on September 15, 2026 in its Korean and English editions, citing financial industry sources, and the crypto outlet Bloomingbit carried it the same day. The reports say:
Seoul Economic Daily also reported about 25,000 RedotPay app downloads in South Korea between January 2025 and the end of July 2026, the most among the major crypto cards it tracked. As of September 26, 2026, we found no announcement of the halt on RedotPay's website or help center.
Timeline: South Korea, the official lists and Apple Pay
"RedotPay stopped working" stories often mix the Korea halt with the earlier Apple Pay change. This timeline keeps them apart and marks where each fact comes from.
| Date | Event | Source type |
|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | New physical cards paused in South Korea; virtual cards still available. Physical issuance resumed a few months later. | Media report (recounted on September 15, 2026) |
| August 22, 2025 | New Apple Pay additions suspended after Apple reviewed Hong Kong card programs; cards already in Apple Pay kept working. | RedotPay help center |
| July 21, 2026 | Last update of the Card Delivery Restrictions list. | RedotPay help center |
| July 26, 2026 | Last update of the Apple Pay card-upgrade article (app 3.0.1 or later). | RedotPay help center |
| August 28, 2026 | Last update of the Unsupported Countries, Card Issuance and Location-Based Access lists, before the Korea halt was reported. | RedotPay help center |
| September 7, 2026 | Korean affiliate program with partners and influencers ended. | Media report |
| September 15, 2026 | Reports that new physical and virtual card issuance has stopped in South Korea. | Media report |
| September 26, 2026 | We rechecked all four lists: South Korea not listed. | Our check |
Why the official restriction lists did not show it
RedotPay publishes four country lists in its help center. We checked all four on September 26, 2026. South Korea is on none of them; the only entry containing "Korea" is North Korea.
| Official list | What it blocks | Entries | South Korea | Last updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unsupported Countries/Regions | KYC and service use for citizens of listed countries | 41 | Not listed | August 28, 2026 |
| Card Issuance Restrictions | Virtual and physical cards for residents; billing addresses | 47 | Not listed | August 28, 2026 |
| Location-Based Access Restrictions | App access from listed locations | 38 | Not listed | August 28, 2026 |
| Card Delivery Restrictions | Physical card shipping | 47 | Not listed | July 21, 2026 |
The Card Issuance Restrictions list includes the United States, Mainland China, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Turkey, Morocco, Nepal, Russia, Ukraine, Iran and a number of sanctioned or restricted jurisdictions. If you live in one of those, no invite or workaround changes that.
Two conclusions follow:
- Being absent from the lists does not guarantee that RedotPay will issue you a card. In South Korea the halt appeared in the app's application screen, not as a list update.
- The lists are still worth checking first, because if your country is on them the answer is already no.
For the full country and document checks, see RedotPay supported countries and KYC documents.
Is any other country affected?
As of September 26, 2026, we found no report or official notice of a similar halt outside South Korea. Claims about other countries do circulate: Japanese blogs and social posts, for example, have described a temporary pause and later resumption of physical cards for Japanese residents in 2025. We found no RedotPay announcement for that, and the posts disagree on timing and scope, so we treat it as unverified. The same rule applies everywhere: the app's Card screen is the only reliable answer for your account.
Not the same as the Apple Pay problem
Some "RedotPay stopped" searches are really about Apple Pay. RedotPay's help center says that, after Apple reviewed Hong Kong "Cards-as-a-Service" programs, new Apple Pay additions were suspended from August 22, 2025, while cards already in Apple Pay kept working. RedotPay's later article (updated July 26, 2026) describes a free card upgrade: update the app to version 3.0.1 or later, open Card, tap Upgrade, and add the new card, which gets a new number, CVV and 3-year expiry, to Apple Wallet. The upgrade prompt is sent to eligible users gradually.
That is unrelated to the South Korea issuance halt. If Apple Pay is your problem, follow RedotPay Apple Pay not working.
Three checks in the app before paying a card fee
South Korea shows that a regional halt can appear in the app before any list changes. Wherever you live, confirm these before you fund your balance.
Open Card and see whether you can proceed with a virtual or physical card. If you get a message that applications are unavailable in your region, save the screen and ask RedotPay support.
Make your country of residence, address and ID document consistent and complete KYC before applying for a card. Mismatches are a common reason verification stalls.
The card fee (10 USD virtual, 100 USD physical) is deducted from your balance when the card is issued, the 5 USDs sign-up reward cannot pay it, and a paid virtual card application cannot be canceled or refunded.
If card issuance stops where you live
- If you have not applied yet: do not send funds just to pay a card fee. Wait for in-app notices or a reply from RedotPay support.
- If you already have a card: the Korean reports cover new issuance only. Watch the in-app notices for anything about existing cards and avoid keeping more balance than you need.
- Do not misstate your country or use someone else's identity: a mismatch between your KYC details and reality can lead to account restrictions or a freeze, and you may not be able to withdraw your balance.
- Do not rely on one card: compare an alternative such as the KAST card or Tria card so that one issuer's policy change does not leave you without a way to pay.
How solid is each fact on this page?
Everything below was checked on September 26, 2026.
FAQ
Did RedotPay stop issuing cards?
In South Korea, according to Korean media. Seoul Economic Daily and Bloomingbit reported on September 15, 2026 that RedotPay had stopped issuing both physical and virtual cards to users in South Korea. As of September 26, 2026 we found no official RedotPay announcement and no report of a similar halt in another country.
Why can't I apply for a RedotPay card in South Korea?
According to the reports, applicants in South Korea see a message in the app saying card applications are temporarily unavailable in their region. RedotPay has not publicly explained why. Seoul Economic Daily noted, as background, that South Korea's cryptocurrency taxation is set to take effect in 2027.
Can existing RedotPay cards in South Korea still be used?
The reports describe a halt to new card issuance and do not say whether cards already issued are affected. We could not confirm the status of existing cards from an official source as of September 26, 2026, so check the in-app notices if you already hold a card.
Is South Korea on RedotPay's restricted country list?
No. As of September 26, 2026, South Korea does not appear on any of RedotPay's four official lists: Unsupported Countries/Regions, Card Issuance Restrictions, Location-Based Access Restrictions and Card Delivery Restrictions. The only Korea entry is North Korea. The halt showed up in the app's application screen, not in the lists.
Which countries can't get a RedotPay card?
RedotPay's Card Issuance Restrictions list, last updated August 28, 2026, has 47 entries, including the United States, Mainland China, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Turkey, Morocco, Nepal, Russia, Ukraine, Iran and North Korea. Residents of those places cannot get a virtual or physical card and cannot use them as a billing address.
Is the RedotPay Apple Pay problem related to the card issuance halt?
No. It is a separate issue. RedotPay says new Apple Pay additions were suspended from August 22, 2025 after Apple reviewed Hong Kong card programs. Its help center, updated July 26, 2026, describes a free card upgrade in app version 3.0.1 or later that issues a new card which can be added to Apple Wallet.
Sources checked
Checked on September 26, 2026. The restriction lists, Apple Pay changes and card fees come from RedotPay's help center. The South Korea halt comes from media reports, not an official RedotPay announcement. If RedotPay publishes an official notice, it takes precedence over this page.