Officials from McDonald's Korea, the Korea Express Corporation, Shinhan Card and KIS Information & Communication pose for a picture after signing an agreement to adopt the Hi-Pass payment system at the Korean branch of the American fast food chain's headquarters in Seoul, on Thursday. Courtesy of McDonald's Korea

By Kim Jae-heun

McDonald's Korea has signed a multilateral business agreement with partner companies to introduce a Hi-Pass payment system at its drive-thrus for the first time in Korea, the company announced Thursday.
The Korean branch of the American fast food restaurant chain met with the Korea Express Corporation, Shinhan Card and KIS Information & Communication at its Seoul headquarters and agreed to adopt the e-toll system for faster and more convenient food orders.

The Hi-Pass system allows drivers to pay tolls without having to stop at toll booths. About 89 percent of the nation's total vehicles use Hi-Pass. So when a person enters a McDonald's drive-thru and orders food, the payment will be made automatically with the Hi-Pass technology installed in the vehicle.

The e-toll payment system will be introduced on Dec. 20 at McDonald's drive-thrus in Samsong area in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, and Songpa District in Seoul. The fast food chain plans to expand the use of the Hi-Pass payment system to 30 drive-thrus in the first half of next year.

Furthermore, McDonald's will also introduce a long-distance scanner at its drive-thrus so that its customers can use e-coupons.

"We are proceeding with this agreement to provide faster and easier drive-thru services with the new payment platform. The company will continue providing customers with the best drive-thru experience with generous investment and development in drive-thru platforms," a McDonald's Korea official said.

McDonald's introduced its McDrive drive-thru system in Korea at its Haeundae branch in Busan in 1992. Currently, about 60 percent of McDonald's drive-thrus in the country use the McDrive system.