Accommodation, Performances, Exhibitions, Movies, Indoor Sports Facilities, Professional Sports, and Travel Sectors
Unified Application Starting Next Month, the Phase of Gradual Return to Normal Life
On the 14th, citizens are moving to watch movies at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. With the distribution of half-price discount coupons, new releases, and hot weather coinciding, the movie theater industry, which had been in a slump, is gradually regaining vitality. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
The government is resuming the issuance of consumer discount coupons for the cultural sector after more than a year. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 26th that from next month, the start of phased daily recovery, consumer discount coupons will be available for accommodation, performances, exhibitions, movies, indoor sports facilities, professional sports (early November), and travel (mid-November). This measure aims to promote citizens' cultural activities and consumption and support industries affected by COVID-19. Applications can be made on the websites of the respective sector's managing organizations and participating companies.
In the accommodation sector, discounts are limited to online reservations: accommodations costing up to 70,000 KRW receive a 20,000 KRW discount, and those exceeding 70,000 KRW receive a 30,000 KRW discount. As part of regional tourism revitalization, an additional benefit of a 50,000 KRW discount (limited to 70,000 coupons) is provided for accommodations over 70,000 KRW. Applications can be made on fifty domestic online travel agency websites. Participating online travel agencies are listed on the Korea Tourism Organization's official website. Travel sector benefits are offered on the TourVis website. Early reservations or prepayments for domestic travel products selected through public contests receive a 40% discount. Disabled persons and national merit recipients, who have faced difficulties traveling due to COVID-19, can use the service free of charge.
In the performance sector, an 8,000 KRW discount coupon is provided through eight online ticketing platforms including Interpark and Yes24. The 8,000 KRW discount coupon, which has been applied to online viewing on platforms such as Naver TV since May, will continue to be supported. A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official explained, "Combining in-person and online performances, individuals can receive up to 32,000 KRW in discounts every two weeks (8,000 KRW discount coupon × 4 tickets per person)."
In the movie sector, 2.03 million people will receive 6,000 KRW discount coupons (2 tickets per person per week, based on multiplex theaters). Applicable theaters include multiplexes, independent and art cinemas, small theaters, and individual single-screen cinemas nationwide, totaling 521 locations. The ministry official stated, "For multiplexes, discount coupons can be downloaded from their individual websites and applied. At other theaters, discounts can be received immediately when booking online or on-site."
Discount benefits also apply to museum and art gallery admission ticket purchases. For museums, applications can be made on the Culture N Ticket website. The ministry supports 40% of the ticket price (up to 3,000 KRW, 10 tickets per person). For art galleries, the maximum discount is 5,000 KRW (4 tickets per person per ticketing platform, 6 tickets per person via KakaoTalk channel). Applications can be made through Interpark, Wemakeprice, Ticketlink, Culture N Ticket, and the KakaoTalk channel (Art Exhibition Admission Support).
Applications for indoor sports facility discount coupons are available on the Sports Coupon website. Support of 30,000 KRW is provided to the first 1 million applicants. However, the payment amount at private indoor sports facilities must be at least 80,000 KRW. Discounts for professional sports game tickets are available to the first 400,000 applicants. Purchasing game tickets through each professional team's online ticketing site grants a 50% discount (up to 7,000 KRW). A ministry official said, "Coupons will be distributed in three rounds, with two tickets issued per round."
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will establish an integrated information portal on its website to coincide with the start of the consumer discount coupons. An information system will also be operated through the project managing organizations and operating companies. Support measures will be provided to ensure that local residents, the elderly, and people with disabilities who have difficulty accessing online services are not excluded. A dedicated customer center for people with disabilities and a chatbot service (both for accommodation) will be operated, and travel agencies will be enabled to make reservations on behalf of customers. Furthermore, thorough quarantine measures will be maintained by inspecting accommodations, performances, movies, exhibitions, and sports facilities, and strict personnel management will be enforced for transportation during travel.
Minister Hwang Hee of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated, "With the resumption of consumer discount coupons, we hope that citizens' cultural activities will recover and consumption will be stimulated, revitalizing the cultural, sports, and tourism sectors severely affected by COVID-19." He added, "We will visit sites to monitor progress and cooperate closely with quarantine authorities to ensure safe leisure and cultural activities through thorough quarantine."
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