[2022 National Audit] "Need to Inspect the Actual Condition of Onnuri Gift Certificates"

Only 61.6% of Traditional Market Onnuri Gift Certificate Affiliated Stores Surveyed

Minister Lee Young (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] During the National Assembly audit of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, concerns were raised about the need to inspect the actual status of Onnuri gift certificates. Shin Young-dae, a member of the National Assembly’s Industry, Trade, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, cited data submitted by the Small Enterprise and Market Service on the 6th, pointing out that only 61.6% of all traditional markets are affiliated with Onnuri gift certificates.

According to Representative Shin, the affiliation rates by region were highest in Daejeon (98.8%), Jeonbuk (84.9%), and Sejong (84.8%), but the business locations in Incheon (46.8%) and Seoul (46.5%)?the lowest rates?had less than half of their stores enrolled. Out of a total of 1,401 traditional markets, 571 markets had affiliation rates below 50%. Representative examples include Namdaemun Market in Seoul (28.0%) and Gamgok Market in Eumseong, Chungbuk (22.0%). Notably, among traditional markets, 224 locations such as Bangsan General Market in Seoul (9.7%) and Yesan Market in Chungnam (0.3%) had affiliation rates below 10%, and 107 markets had no affiliated stores registered at all.

Shin emphasized the urgency of increasing the number of stores where Onnuri gift certificates can be used, as the Yoon Seok-yeol administration plans to raise the issuance scale of Onnuri gift certificates from 3.5 trillion won to 4 trillion won next year, an increase of 500 billion won. He stated, "The Ministry of SMEs and Startups should conduct campaigns encouraging affiliation across all 1,401 markets nationwide, support facility modernization projects, and provide parking lot budget incentives to improve affiliation rates actively at the market level. Additionally, measures should be taken to cancel affiliations for stores that have closed or had their business registrations canceled, establishing a government-level system for effective management of affiliated stores."

In response, Lee Young, Minister of SMEs and Startups, said, "It would be meaningful to flexibly review the changing trends regarding Onnuri gift certificates and local currencies."