[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Young-gyun] Hwasun County, Jeollanam-do (County Governor Gu Chung-gon) announced on the 28th that it will operate a reporting center to block illegal distribution of the Hwasun Love Gift Certificates, which were distributed as various emergency disaster relief funds to revitalize the local economy stagnated due to the COVID-19 aftermath.
The county established the Hwasun Love Gift Certificate Illegal Distribution Reporting Center within the Job Policy Office's Local Economy Team.
In addition, the county plans to strongly respond to acts such as cashing out through personal transactions without using the gift certificates properly or demanding additional fees from merchants when paying with the gift certificates.
An illegal distribution task force will be activated to conduct surprise inspections on reported or suspicious merchants involved in illegal distribution, and the designation of gift certificate merchants will be canceled for businesses found guilty of illegal distribution.
According to the "Act on the Promotion of Local Love Gift Certificates" to be enforced from July, fines of up to 20 million KRW will also be imposed.
Governor Gu Chung-gon said, "We will strongly respond to illegal distribution to ensure that the Hwasun Love Gift Certificates revive the stagnant local economy and provide practical help to small business owners," adding, "Active cooperation from residents and small business owners is necessary for the proper circulation of the gift certificates and overcoming the COVID-19 crisis."
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