South Korean regulators and three payment firms have announced stronger notices for long-unused prepaid Pay/Money balances, together with directions for claiming a refund. The announcement does not say that an inactive balance will be deposited automatically. Users may check what they hold and choose whether to withdraw it. This account is based on the Financial Services Commission and Financial Supervisory Service release and its attachment, checked October 16, 2026; it is not a test of any individual's account or a live refund transaction.
Who qualifies for a notice?
For Naver Pay Money and Toss Money, the notice group comprises users with no top-up, payment or similar usage for at least two years and a prepaid balance of at least ₩1,000. For Kakao Pay Money, it is at least one year and at least ₩1. These are administrative notice thresholds, not limits that bar an active user or somebody with a smaller balance from using or requesting a refund under the applicable terms. The measure concerns paid prepaid Pay/Money balances—not every reward point or coupon in an app.
As of the end of August 2026, the release put the three firms' combined notification targets at 1.76 million including duplicate users, holding ₩25.5 billion. Do not mistake that for 1.76 million distinct people or for money already paid out. The firms are introducing the approach voluntarily first; broader adoption is an aim, not a completed universal mandate.
When and how will users be told?
The attachment schedules sequential notices from October 19, 2026. As this article is published on October 17, there is no basis here to say a particular account has already received one. The plan is to notify affected users at least once a year of their balance and validity period and provide a refund route. The channels described are Naver Pay's official Naver TalkTalk account, Kakao's AlimTalk message and Toss app push notifications. You can also open the official app yourself rather than wait for a message.
For these Pay/Money categories, the release describes a 10-year validity period for Naver and Kakao and no expiry for Toss. The one- or two-year inactivity classification is not itself an expiry date. Check the actual product terms, balance and account details rather than generalizing across all prepaid instruments.
Choose a refund through the official app
The company-specific appendix describes signing in through the official app and using the Naver Pay transfer, Kakao Pay account-transfer or Toss account-refund route to select an account and amount. Receiving a notice does not itself trigger an automatic bank transfer. App labels and eligibility can change; follow the provider's current guidance. Do not enter passwords, verification codes or account details on an unfamiliar email or text link that promises dormant-balance repayment. The regulators specifically warn against messages outside the stated official channels that demand account information.
Korean-language Naver edition: Life Mokcha on Naver.
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Life Mokcha reads primary announcements for practical dates, eligibility boundaries and next steps.
