Daiso Expands Cash-Free Retail in Response to Consumer Trends

Daiso has begun piloting a “cashless store” in the Ulsan region as part of its response to shifting consumer trends.

The pilot location fully blocks cash payments and operates exclusively with card and mobile payment methods. This initiative is widely seen as a strategy to enhance efficiency amid the rapid spread of digital payments and the broader shift toward a cashless society.

According to a Bank of Korea survey, cash usage among Korean consumers has fallen to 15.9 percent, half the level from a decade ago. As a result, retailers are expanding unmanned checkout systems and automated payment processes to improve turnover and reduce the operational burden associated with handling cash. Daiso also expects faster payment processing and reduced staff workload, and major supermarket chains are likewise adopting card-only unmanned checkouts.

However, not all age groups can adapt equally to this change. Elderly shoppers and teenagers without easy access to payment cards risk being left out of the new system, raising concerns about accessibility in a fully cashless transition.

Even so, as mobile payments continue to dominate daily transactions, the number of cashless stores is expected to grow steadily across the country.