'Delivery as Dining Out'… Government Includes Delivery Apps in Consumer Coupon Eligibility

The 21st Emergency Economic Central Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting and the 6th Korean New Deal Related Ministers Meeting

Strengthening Non-Face-to-Face Measures for Consumer Coupons and Christmas Market
Maximizing Recruitment for Senior Job Programs Within This Year
Adding 5 Emergency Ships in December to Resolve Export Logistics Issues
Discovering 100 Promising Regional Key Companies by 2022
"To Ensure Smooth Execution of COVID-19 Prevention, Economic Measures, and Direct Job Programs, Next Year’s Budget Must Pass the National Assembly Within the Deadline"

(Photo) [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Ju Sang-don] The government has decided to include delivery applications in the scope of dining discount coupons. In response to the recent sharp resurgence of COVID-19, the government plans to convert the suspended dining coupons into a non-face-to-face (untact) format for use again. Additionally, the government intends to focus support on digital ID cards and mobile electronic notifications to facilitate the transition to a non-face-to-face economy.

On the 26th, Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, chaired the 21st Emergency Economic Central Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting and the 6th Korean New Deal Ministerial Meeting held at the Government Seoul Office, where these agenda items were discussed.

Deputy Prime Minister Hong stated, "We will operate dining coupons in a limited manner within the possible scope, such as converting them to non-face-to-face use, and prepare in advance to resume issuance when quarantine levels are eased. We will also review non-face-to-face coupon options that can be used even if social distancing levels are raised by including delivery apps in the scope of dining coupons."

Dining coupons are one of the eight major consumer coupons the government planned to launch in August this year to stimulate consumption. Initially, a 10,000 KRW discount was to be applied on the next dining purchase after five payments of 20,000 KRW or more. However, the launch was delayed, and the number of uses was reduced to three, starting on October 30. But with the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, the program has been suspended again. Currently, only on-site payments through delivery apps are counted as dining performance. The government plans to resume dining coupons within this year. Kim Yong-beom, the first vice minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, explained, "We are reviewing aiming to operate it within this year as much as possible, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will announce the specific details once finalized."

The meeting also discussed additional fiscal spending plans and support measures to resolve export logistics issues. By reducing carryovers and unused funds in central and local budgets, the government plans to push for additional spending exceeding 4 trillion KRW. To alleviate export logistics difficulties, five emergency ships will be additionally deployed in December, and transportation capacity will be expanded by securing dedicated volumes for small and medium shippers (350 TEU per week). To proactively execute the 1.03 million direct jobs budgeted for next year, the government plans to recruit as many senior job program participants as possible within this year (from 740,000 in 2020 to 800,000 in 2021).

Furthermore, in connection with the Korean New Deal, to promote balanced regional development, the government will discover 100 promising companies from 2021 to 2022 to lead regional balanced New Deal initiatives on the ground, focusing on research and development (R&D) and commercialization support. Also, when newly designating regulatory free zones, the government will expand designations related to digital and green New Deal sectors. As part of ICT utilization measures for the transition to a non-face-to-face economy, efforts will be made to enhance convenience in daily life through digital identity verification (civil servant ID cards in 2020, driver’s licenses in 2021) and mobile electronic notifications for taxes and other matters.

Deputy Prime Minister Hong emphasized, "Overall, it is essential that the next year’s budget is finalized within the legal deadline (December 2) to ensure that COVID-19 prevention, economic measures, and direct job budgets can be executed without any gaps from the start of next year. We earnestly request the active cooperation of the National Assembly."