300,000 Won for Next-Lowest Income Bracket and Single-Parent Families
400,000 Won for Basic Livelihood Security Recipients
Additional Payments for Non-Metropolitan Areas and Others
Application Day System Applied During First Week
Second Round Excludes Top 10% Income Earners
The distribution of livelihood recovery consumption coupons, which provide up to 450,000 won per person to all citizens, will begin on July 21. The second round of distribution, which will provide support to 90% of the population based on income screening, will start on September 22.
On July 5, Acting Minister of the Interior and Safety Kim Minjae held a joint briefing with related ministries at the Government Complex Seoul and announced the "First Distribution Plan for Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupons" containing these details.
Acting Minister Kim stated, "In order to quickly strengthen our economy's consumption capacity while also providing tailored support based on income levels, the first round will be distributed to all citizens, and the second round will be distributed to citizens excluding the top 10% income earners. The distribution of the livelihood recovery consumption coupons will proceed in stages. To promptly stimulate consumption, the first round will start first, and the second round will begin on September 22 after the income screening process."
The basic support amount is 150,000 won per person for all citizens. For those in the next-lowest income bracket and single-parent families, 300,000 won per person will be provided. For basic livelihood security recipients, 400,000 won per person will be given.
There are also additional amounts by region. Residents living outside the Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon metropolitan areas will receive an extra 30,000 won, while residents of 84 rural and fishing village areas experiencing population decline and at risk of extinction will receive an additional 50,000 won.
Consumption coupons can be applied for at the local government office corresponding to the address listed in the resident registration as of the reference date. Adults born on or before December 31, 2006, can apply and receive the coupons individually. For minors, the head of household listed in the resident registration must apply and receive the coupons on their behalf. However, in the case of minor-headed households with no adult members in the resident registration, the minor head of household may exceptionally apply directly.
Eligible citizens can apply for the consumption coupons online or offline from 9:00 a.m. on July 21 until 6:00 p.m. on September 12. They can choose to receive the coupons in the form of credit/debit cards, prepaid cards, or local gift certificates.
Citizens who wish to receive the coupons as credit or debit card points can apply online via their card company's website, app, call center, or ARS, or by visiting a bank branch affiliated with their card. The consumption coupons will be credited the day after application and will be distinguished from existing card points. When making payments at eligible stores with the corresponding credit or debit card, the consumption coupon balance will be used before the regular card payment. After each use, the remaining coupon balance will be notified via text message or app notification service.
Citizens who wish to receive the coupons as mobile or card-type local gift certificates can apply online via the local government’s gift certificate app or website. In this case as well, the coupons will be credited the day after application.
For paper-type local gift certificates or prepaid cards, citizens can visit their local administrative welfare center (or community center, town or township office) to apply for and receive the consumption coupons.
To prevent congestion and system overload during the first week of both online and offline applications, an application day system will be implemented based on the last digit of the applicant's birth year: Mondays for 1 and 6, Tuesdays for 2 and 7, Wednesdays for 3 and 8, Thursdays for 4 and 9, Fridays for 5 and 0, and all citizens can apply on weekends.
For those with limited mobility, such as the elderly, a "visiting application" service will be provided, where the local government will visit in person to process the application and distribute the consumption coupons.
Usage restricted to registered address area... Some industries excluded
The area where the livelihood recovery consumption coupons can be used is restricted to the local government jurisdiction of the registered address. Residents of special or metropolitan cities may use the coupons within their respective city, and residents of provinces may use them within the city or county corresponding to their address. The government explained, "The places and industries where the coupons can be used were set to support small business owners, while also allowing citizens to conveniently use them according to their individual consumption preferences and circumstances."
Citizens who receive the coupons as local gift certificates can use them freely at all affiliated stores within the jurisdiction of their local government, just like previously purchased local gift certificates. In rural areas without marts, supermarkets, or convenience stores, 125 Hanaro Mart locations are included as eligible places to use the gift certificates.
Citizens who receive the coupons as credit/debit cards or prepaid cards can use them at small business establishments with annual sales of 3 billion won or less, except for certain industries. Excluded industries include large discount stores, corporate supermarkets, department stores and duty-free shops, online shopping malls and delivery apps, entertainment and gambling industries, and cashable businesses.
The coupons must be used by November 30. Any unused balance after this period will be recovered by the central and local governments.
Second round: 100,000 won for all except top 10% income earners
The second round of distribution will provide an additional 100,000 won per person to 90% of the population, selected through an income screening process using health insurance premiums.
As the screening process takes some time, the second round of distribution will begin on September 22 and end on October 31.
For the second round, 90% of citizens will be selected based on health insurance premiums. To ensure fairness between regional and workplace health insurance subscribers, additional criteria will be established to exclude high-asset individuals beyond just health insurance premiums, and the final selection criteria will be announced in September.
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