Applications Open Today for Those Born in Years Ending with '1' or '6'
Applications Open to All Starting This Weekend
Use Restricted to Jurisdiction of Registered Address
Applications for the "Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon," which is distributed to all citizens to boost the economy, begin on July 21. Households with lower income levels will receive greater support, and additional funds will be provided to regions outside the Seoul metropolitan area to promote balanced regional development.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on July 21, applications for the first round of Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon distribution will be accepted from 9:00 a.m. on this day until 6:00 p.m. on September 12. Applicants can choose between a credit/debit card, a local gift certificate, or a prepaid card as the issuance method.
To prevent congestion and system overload, a five-day rotation system based on the last digit of the applicant's birth year will be implemented for the first five days. On July 21, only those whose birth year ends in 1 or 6 may apply. On July 22, those with 2 or 7; on July 23, those with 3 or 8; on July 24, those with 4 or 9; and on July 25, those with 5 or 0 may apply. Starting from the weekend of this week, anyone can apply regardless of their birth year.
The consumption coupon provides a basic amount of 150,000 won per person to all citizens. For the lower-income class and single-parent families, the amount is increased to 300,000 won per person, and for basic livelihood security recipients, it is 400,000 won per person. To promote balanced regional development, residents of non-metropolitan areas, excluding Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon, receive an additional 30,000 won, while residents of 84 rural and fishing communities with declining populations receive an extra 50,000 won. The coupons must be used by November 30; any unused balance after this period will be reclaimed by the central or local government.
To support small business owners, the use of the consumption coupon is restricted to the address listed on the applicant's resident registration. Those who receive the coupon as a local gift certificate can use it at affiliated merchants within their local government jurisdiction. In particular, in rural areas without similar businesses such as supermarkets, superstores, or convenience stores, Hanaro Mart has been included as an eligible merchant. If the coupon is received as a credit/debit card or prepaid card, it can only be used at establishments with annual sales of 3 billion won or less. The coupon cannot be used at large discount stores, department stores, duty-free shops, online shopping malls, or directly operated convenience stores. For delivery applications, the coupon can be used if payment is made in person using the merchant’s own terminal.
The government has also prepared separate application and usage procedures for special cases. For military personnel, considering their restricted mobility, postal applications are allowed, and a photograph of the power of attorney is accepted instead of the original document for proxy applications. If a soldier receives the coupon on a Nara Sarang Card, it can be used at military stores (PX).
The scope of proxy applications has been expanded for residents of nursing homes and hospitals to include siblings, and the required documents for proxy applications have been simplified. Applicants need to provide: ▲the proxy’s ID ▲documents proving the relationship between the recipient and the proxy ▲proof of admission to the nursing facility or hospital. Applications can be submitted at the community service center with jurisdiction over the facility or hospital. For seniors, people with disabilities, or other residents who have difficulty applying themselves, local governments will operate a "visiting application" service, where staff visit the applicant’s home to collect the application.
The second round of Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon distribution will be provided to 90% of the population, excluding the top 10% by income, following an income screening process. The amount will be 100,000 won, and applications are scheduled to begin on September 22. Prior to the first round, the government already allocated 8.1 trillion won out of the total 12.2 trillion won budget to local governments on July 15.
Moving, Birth, Death... File an Objection in Case of Changes
If there have been changes such as address relocation since the reference date of June 18, applicants can file an objection to receive the consumption coupon according to their current circumstances. The objection period runs from July 21 to September 12.
Newborns born after the reference date are also eligible to receive the consumption coupon. After completing the birth registration, they become eligible through the objection process. However, those who have died after the reference date are not eligible. If a recipient dies after receiving the coupon, the remaining balance will be reclaimed. If the head of household dies and there are minors in the household, the remaining balance of the coupon received as a credit/debit card can be converted to a local gift certificate or prepaid card.
If a person moves from the metropolitan area to a non-metropolitan or population-declining area after the reference date and completes the move-in registration, they can receive additional funds as a local gift certificate or prepaid card through the objection process. If the move-in registration is completed before receiving the coupon, the applicant can change the usage area when applying for a credit/debit card both online and offline, and can also apply for a local gift certificate or prepaid card at the community service center in the new area. If the coupon has already been received, the usage area for credit/debit cards can be freely changed online or offline. However, if the coupon was received as a local gift certificate or prepaid card in the previous area, the usage area cannot be changed.
Additionally, if a person newly qualifies as a lower-income class or basic livelihood security recipient during the objection period after the reference date, they can receive the amount corresponding to their new status through the objection process.
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