On the morning of June 2, 2025, Samsung Pay, the widely used mobile payment service from Samsung Electronics, experienced a significant nationwide outage that left many users unable to complete transactions for several hours. Starting around 6:20 a.m., the service began to malfunction intermittently, causing widespread frustration among customers and merchants alike.
The disruption quickly became evident as users across South Korea reported difficulties making payments at cafes, convenience stores, and restaurants. One Samsung Pay user recounted their experience at a cafe, saying, "I tried to buy coffee this morning, but the payment wouldn't go through. None of the payment methods worked, from password to fingerprint authentication." This sentiment echoed across social media platforms and online communities, where numerous posts lamented the unexpected failure of the service.
Samsung Pay relies on users opening a dedicated app and authenticating payments via fingerprint recognition or password. During the outage, many users encountered a persistent message that read "Attempting payment," but the process never advanced to the actual payment screen. This glitch left customers, particularly those without physical credit or debit cards, in awkward situations. For example, an office worker described how they had to resort to an inconvenient bank transfer after Samsung Pay failed to process their coffee purchase on their way to work.
Merchants were also caught off guard by the outage. Convenience store employees reported having to guide customers toward alternative payment methods such as direct account transfers, which sometimes led to visible frustration among patrons. One store owner shared, "Payments suddenly stopped working, and some customers were upset. We just hope the system gets fixed soon." The outage caused long lines and confusion in some cafes and retail outlets, highlighting the growing dependence on mobile payment solutions in everyday transactions.
Samsung Electronics responded promptly to the situation, acknowledging the intermittent payment errors affecting some users but clarifying that not all customers were impacted. A company representative stated, "We are currently investigating the exact timing, cause, and future response measures regarding the issue." They confirmed that recovery efforts were underway but did not specify when the service would be fully restored.
After approximately three hours of disruption, Samsung Electronics announced that the service had returned to normal. The company issued a notice stating, "The error that occurred during card payment and registration attempts has been resolved, and normal use is now possible." However, the root cause of the outage remained under investigation at the time of the announcement.
This incident was not isolated. About a month earlier, on May 16, 2025, Samsung Pay experienced a similar glitch due to a temporary network equipment problem, which was resolved within three minutes. The recurrence of such issues has sparked concerns among users about the platform's stability and reliability. Many have called for a thorough review of Samsung Electronics' payment infrastructure to prevent future disruptions.
The growing reliance on mobile payment platforms like Samsung Pay reflects a broader trend toward digital financial transactions, which offer convenience but also pose risks when technical failures occur. The June 2 outage underscored the potential impact of such failures on daily life, from minor inconveniences to significant disruptions for both consumers and businesses.
As Samsung Electronics continues to investigate and address the causes of the outage, users are reminded to keep alternative payment methods handy, especially in light of the recent repeated disruptions. The company faces pressure to enhance the robustness of its payment systems to maintain user trust and ensure seamless service.
In the meantime, the episode serves as a stark reminder that even the most advanced digital payment technologies are vulnerable to unexpected failures, and that preparedness and resilience remain key in an increasingly cashless society.
