In Japan, paying taxes, utility bills, and mail-order purchases via bank ATM or online banking is deeply ingrained, and the standard channel for this is Pay-easy, a joint collection service run by financial institutions. Even after the cashless ratio climbed to about 40%, demand for paying directly from a bank account has remained, and Pay-easy is consistently chosen for high-value or invoice-style payments that don't rely on a card.

Merchants in Korea selling high-value products that tend to exceed card limits (travel packages, education programs, premium appliances, and similar items), or running invoice-based billing, can use Pay-easy to accommodate Japanese customers who prefer account-based payment. Because payment is made directly from a bank account, the lower risk of non-payment is also an advantage.

After placing an order, the consumer enters the issued payer number, customer number, and confirmation number at a bank ATM or through online banking (including mobile banking) to pay from their account. Once payment is confirmed, Hecto Financial receives the funds in JPY, converts the currency, and settles with the merchant in Korea in the contracted currency — USD, KRW, or JPY. Details such as the hours each financial institution supports need to be confirmed before integration.

Pay-easy is a collection service that uses Japan's joint financial institution network, and it can be considered for adoption on the basis of a company registered in Korea through Hecto Financial's integration. The business categories that can be handled, along with the settlement cycle, fees, and currency options, are finalized based on the review and contract terms.

• Business registration country

  Confirm contract eligibility for businesses registered in Korea

• Sales channel

  The integration approach differs depending on whether sales are online only or also include offline stores in Japan

• Product categories handled

  Check in advance whether your products fall under categories restricted by the Pay-easy operator's merchant policies

• Compliance with local regulations

  Confirm compliance with Japan's payment and foreign exchange regulations (see official sources below)

Payments made via Pay-easy are received by Hecto Financial in yen through the Japanese financial institutions' collection network. These are converted and paid out to the merchant in Korea in whichever of the three currencies — USD, KRW, or JPY — is specified under contract, with the settlement cycle and fee rate varying by contract terms. Because of how account-based payment works, refunds are often handled through a separate return process rather than a cancellation of the original transaction, so it's worth confirming the refund turnaround time at the contract stage.

• Bank of JapanProvides official information on Japan's payments and payment systems.
• Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) cashless policyOfficial data on the Japanese government's payment policy, including the cashless payment ratio. If the content of this page differs from actual regulations, the official source takes precedence.