[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] On the 11th, the government began accepting applications and disbursing the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund, and consumption is expected to pick up this weekend. However, many consumers are still confused about where the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund can be used, so we have summarized the relevant information.
According to the industry on the 16th, the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund can be used at large supermarkets. However, usage is limited to rental stores operated by small business owners within the large supermarkets. It can be used at about 2,700 small business rental stores in the three major large supermarkets: Lotte Mart, E-Mart, and Homeplus.
In the case of E-Mart, out of about 2,400 rental stores located in 158 E-Mart and E-Mart Traders stores, approximately 30%, or about 800 stores, accept the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund. The main places where the fund can be used include rental stores operated by small business owners such as hair salons, optical shops, pharmacies, car washes, kids cafes, and photo studios located inside E-Mart.
For example, at E-Mart Seongsu branch, the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund can be used at 11 out of 26 rental stores, including hair salons, optical shops, pharmacies, kids cafes, shoe and key shops, car washes, dental clinics, and pediatric clinics.
At Lotte Mart, out of about 1,444 rental stores located in 124 stores nationwide, about 55.1%, or 795 stores, accept the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund. Rental stores where the fund can be used include small business-operated optical shops, cafes, and restaurants. Homeplus also allows the use of the government-issued Emergency Disaster Relief Fund at about 1,100 out of 6,000 rental stores located in 140 stores nationwide.
The three major large supermarkets plan to place notices indicating rental stores where the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund can be used throughout their stores, such as on moving walkways and elevators, to help customers easily find these stores.
In complex shopping malls like Shinsegae Starfield, the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund can be used at rental stores operated by individual business owners. Payment is not possible at stores where card sales are recorded under Shinsegae, but it is possible to purchase goods with the fund at stores directly operated by individuals or fashion brands.
The fund can also be used at convenience stores, which are among the most accessible places in daily life. Franchise stores accept the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund, but directly managed stores can only use it in the metropolitan area where the headquarters is located. Most major convenience stores such as GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, and E-Mart24 are franchises, so the fund can be used at virtually all their stores.
Additionally, most franchise stores registered as individual businesses accept the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund. Directly managed stores operated by headquarters can use the fund only in the metropolitan area where the headquarters is located. Starbucks, which operates under a direct management system, is a representative example.
The fund can only be used in Seoul, where the headquarters is located, but Starbucks card recharging is not possible even in Seoul. This is because Starbucks cards, which are prepaid and deducted as needed, are classified as gift certificates. Health & beauty stores like Olive Young and LOBs also accept the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund only at stores in Seoul for Seoul citizens.
The Emergency Disaster Relief Fund cannot be used at SSMs (Super Supermarkets) operated by large retailers such as Lotte Super, E-Mart Everyday, and Homeplus Express. However, it can be used at corporate supermarkets (SSMs) operated by GS Retail. GS The Fresh accepts the fund because its stores operate both directly and through franchises.
GS The Fresh has 314 stores nationwide, of which 152 are franchises. The fund can also be used at Nonghyup Hanaro Mart and E-Mart No Brand stores.
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