South Korea-based KakaoBank and Shinhan Card have launched the KakaoBank Chak-Boot Shinhan Card, a co-branded credit card (PLCC) that offers a 10% discount on online mobile payments and on recurring subscription fees for generative artificial intelligence (AI) services. The card marks the second joint PLCC issued by the two companies, following the KakaoBank Joop-Joop Shinhan Card launched in 2025. The product is designed to be managed entirely within the KakaoBank app, from application to transaction tracking.
Discount structure spans online and offline spending
The card's principal benefit applies to payments made through Kakao Pay, Naver Pay, and Shinhan SOL Pay, which receive a 10% discount capped at USD 3.6 per transaction. A separate 10% discount applies to recurring payments for ChatGPT and Claude subscriptions, though only when billed directly through the providers' official websites; purchases made through mobile app stores are excluded. Recurring payments for Naver Plus and Coupang Wow Membership qualify for a 50% discount. Offline, a 10% discount applies at retailers including E-Mart, Traders Wholesale Club, Olive Young, Daiso, and coffee chains.
Discounts are subject to monthly caps tied to the cardholder's spending in the prior month. Customers with prior-month spending between USD 360 and USD 720 receive discount caps of USD 7.2 per month for online and offline categories respectively. Those spending USD 720 or more in the prior month receive caps of USD 18 per month for each category, with combined monthly discounts capped at USD 36.
Annual fees are set at USD 14 for the domestic-only version and USD 17 for the international version, issued on the Mastercard network. A metal-plate design variant carries an additional issuance fee of USD 58.
Launch promotion and eligibility conditions
To coincide with the launch, KakaoBank and Shinhan Card are running a promotion worth up to USD 510 in combined benefits. Through 31 October 2026, applicants who register via a dedicated promotional page and use the card will be entered into a prize draw for 400 winners, selected across two rounds, each receiving cashback of up to USD 360 applied to their card balance. Separately, customers who register by the end of August 2026 and spend USD 140 or more by the end of September 2026 will automatically receive a USD 110 balance credit, with a further USD 36 available for spending of USD 360 or more between October and November 2026. Eligibility requires no Shinhan credit card usage or cancellation history in the preceding six months, consent to marketing communications, and registration of a KakaoBank account as the payment account.
The inclusion of AI subscription discounts distinguishes the card within South Korea's credit card sector, reflecting growth in paid subscriptions to services such as ChatGPT and Claude. The extension of the KakaoBank-Shinhan Card PLCC partnership to a second product indicates a continuing arrangement rather than a single collaboration, with card management consolidated within the KakaoBank app reflecting closer integration between fintech platforms and card issuers.
