Local Currency 'Incheon e-eum' Payment Available Only at Affiliated Stores Starting July

Incheon e-eum Card

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Starting in July, the Incheon local currency card 'Incheon e-eum' can only be used at affiliated stores.

Incheon City announced that, following the revision of the Act on the Promotion of Local Gift Certificate Use, registration as an Incheon e-eum affiliated store will be mandatory from the 1st.

Until now, payments with the Incheon e-eum card were possible even at non-affiliated stores, and cashback was also available, but this will be restricted from that day forward.

Additionally, restricted business types such as large supermarkets, department stores, and franchise directly operated stores remain ineligible for affiliated store registration as before.

Last year, the number of affiliated stores that made at least one payment with the Incheon e-eum card was 118,703, of which 86%, or 102,602 stores, have completed affiliated store registration.

Incheon e-eum affiliated stores can continue to register at any time after July. Online applications are available through the Incheon e-eum app, and offline applications can be submitted at administrative welfare centers and the Incheon e-eum departments of each district and county. Payments with Incheon e-eum are possible from the day after the registration date.

The city plans to operate a dedicated call center for affiliated stores (1600-0836) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the first weekend, July 2-3, to prevent confusion caused by the mandatory registration.

Meanwhile, users will be able to check the list of affiliated stores through the Incheon e-eum app, making it easy to find stores where payment is possible.