Local Revitalization and Win-Win Consumption Promotion Plan
Automatic Entry for Purchases Over 50,000 Won
10 Top Winners to Share 1 Billion Won in "Grand Prize" Event
Focused Incentives to Create a Consumption Boom
The government has decided to distribute 8.1 million discount coupons for accommodations, exhibitions, and performances in order to spread the momentum of consumption recovery, which has begun to revive thanks to livelihood recovery consumption coupons, across the entire country. In particular, special coupons that can only be used in non-metropolitan areas have been added to boost local consumption. Additionally, a "grand prize" event has been organized, where those who purchase products from small businesses in non-metropolitan areas can win up to 20 million won in digital Onnuri gift certificates as prizes.
On August 7, the Ministry of Economy and Finance announced these details in the "Local Revitalization and Win-Win Consumption Promotion Plan" at the Economic Ministers' Meeting. The ministry explained that this measure follows President Lee Jaemyung's directive for each ministry to prepare additional consumption stimulation programs to further spread the recovery of consumer spending. The ministry noted that, unlike the metropolitan area, the pace of consumption recovery in non-metropolitan regions has been somewhat sluggish, and therefore a "boom-up" strategy is needed to accelerate the recovery in these areas.
Including 4.5 million movie discount coupons issued since last month, the ministry will distribute a total of 8.1 million consumption coupons. Starting in August, the government will provide 800,000 accommodation coupons, 1.6 million art exhibition coupons, 500,000 performing arts coupons, and 700,000 sports facility coupons. The accommodation discount coupons, available from August 20, can only be used when booking accommodation products in non-metropolitan areas. For products priced at 70,000 won or more, a 30,000 won discount will be applied, and for those under 70,000 won, a 20,000 won discount will be provided. In designated special disaster areas, the discounts will be increased to 50,000 won and 30,000 won, respectively.
For art exhibition and performing arts coupons, which can be obtained from August 8, additional "non-metropolitan exclusive coupons" will be issued. Basically, up to two coupons per person can be issued per ticketing agency, with a maximum of ten coupons in total. However, additional coupons that can only be used in non-metropolitan areas will be issued, allowing for two extra coupons per ticketing agency. Sports facility coupons will be provided from September, with a total of 700,000 coupons distributed, up to three per person, exclusively to basic pension recipients. These can be downloaded via the QR code on the ZeroPay application.
A ministry official stated, "Art exhibitions and performances are being held in non-metropolitan areas more often than expected. Based on the number of visitors, about half of exhibitions and about 40% of performances take place outside the metropolitan area," adding, "The intention is to provide incentives to regions where consumption recovery is relatively slow, so that a boom-up can occur."
Spend 50,000 won and win up to 200 million won in prizes for 10 top winners
A grand prize event will also be held to encourage local consumption. From August 1 to October 9, customers who make purchases of 50,000 won or more with a card at traditional markets or small business stores (nationwide, but only non-metropolitan purchases are eligible for the top prize) will be entered into a draw to win a total of 1 billion won in digital Onnuri gift certificates. For each purchase of 50,000 won or more, an entry ticket is automatically issued, with up to ten tickets per person. Only those who spend in non-metropolitan areas can win the top prize, which is 20 million won awarded to ten winners. The second prize consists of 2 million won in gift certificates for fifty winners.
In addition to coupons and prizes, the government will continue to host various tourism events centered on local areas, offering a series of discount benefits through the end of the year. In August, the "Accommodation Sale Festa" will be held; from September to November, the "Traveling Autumn" campaign will take place; in September and December, the "Companion Festival" will be held; in October, the "Duty-Free Festa"; in November, the "Korea Sale Festa"; and in December, the "Korea Grand Sale" will be launched. Notably, from September to November, the "Win-Win Payback" program will provide a 20% refund of the increase in card spending at small business and self-employed stores, with a maximum monthly refund of 100,000 won and a total limit of 300,000 won over three months, paid in Onnuri gift certificates.
The government will also encourage central ministries, public institutions, private companies, and non-metropolitan local governments to establish "win-win sisterhood partnerships" to promote local consumption. Each partnership region will be encouraged to hold at least one group event per year, such as workshops, seminars, or sports competitions, and employees will be encouraged to visit partner regions during vacation periods. If the partner local governments provide incentives such as accommodation and experience discounts, it is believed that inter-ministerial cooperation can help boost consumption.
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