Second Round of Consumption Coupons: 100,000 Won for 90% of Citizens
230% of Median Income Used as Standard
Bottom 90% Income Bracket Eligible, Excluding High-Asset Households
Households with Property Tax Value Over 1.2 Billion Won or Finan
The second round of Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupons will begin distribution on the 22nd. High-asset households will be excluded first, and the coupons will be provided to households in the bottom 90% income bracket based on health insurance premiums. For a four-person household, those with an annual income of approximately 173 million won or less will be eligible to receive the second round of consumption coupons.
On September 12, the government held a joint briefing with relevant ministries at the Government Seoul Office and announced the plan for the second round of consumption coupons. Unlike the first round, which was distributed to all citizens, this round will provide an additional 100,000 won to the bottom 90% income bracket.
Kim Minjae, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, is holding a briefing on the second distribution of the livelihood recovery consumption coupons at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 11th. 2025.9.12 Photo by Jo Yongjun
The eligibility criteria have been eased compared to the 2021 National Support Fund, which targeted the bottom 80% income group. Han Soonki, Director General of Local Finance and Economy at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, "When the threshold was set at 80% in 2021, there were concerns that many citizens were excluded from eligibility. To address this, we raised the threshold by 10%, so only a portion of high-income earners are excluded, while the rest are included to stimulate consumption and support incomes, setting the threshold at 90%."
The second round of consumption coupons can be applied for from 9 a.m. on the 22nd until 9 p.m. on October 31. Recipients can choose to receive the coupons as credit/debit card points, local gift certificates, or prepaid cards. As in the first round, an application day system will be implemented during the first week: Mondays are for those whose year of birth ends in 1 or 6; Tuesdays, 2 or 7; Wednesdays, 3 or 8; Thursdays, 4 or 9; Fridays, 5 or 0; and anyone can apply on weekends.
Income Criteria Applied After Excluding High-Asset Households
Those deemed to be high-asset households will be excluded first. If the total assessed value for property tax in 2024 exceeds 1.2 billion won, or if the total financial income in 2024 exceeds 20 million won, all household members will be excluded from eligibility. This includes single-homeowners with real estate valued at approximately 2.67 billion won or more (based on official property prices), households with 1 billion won in savings at an annual interest rate of 2%, or households investing 1 billion won with a 2% dividend yield.
The criteria for selecting the bottom 90% income group are based on the total health insurance premiums paid per household as of June this year. In terms of median income, this corresponds to 230% or less. For employee subscribers, the combined health insurance premiums per household must not exceed 220,000 won for a single-person household, 330,000 won for two, 420,000 won for three, and 510,000 won for four. For a four-person household, this translates to an annual income of about 173 million won. For self-employed subscribers, the threshold is also 220,000 won for a single-person household, 310,000 won for two, 390,000 won for three, and 500,000 won for four. For "mixed households" that include both employee and self-employed subscribers, the thresholds are 30,000 won for two-person households, 420,000 won for three, and 520,000 won for four.
In particular, separate criteria have been set to ensure that single-person households or multi-earner households with high combined incomes are not excluded. Single-person households, which include a high proportion of young adults and the elderly, generally have lower income and health insurance premiums than other households. Therefore, the criteria were adjusted to prevent underrepresentation of single-person households. For employee subscribers, the eligibility threshold for single-person households is set at an annual income of 75 million won.
For multi-earner households, such as dual-income families, the selection criteria are based on the number of earners plus one. For example, a four-person household with two employee subscribers will be subject to the five-person household threshold (600,000 won), not the standard four-person threshold (510,000 won). For self-employed multi-earner households, the criteria apply if there are two or more household members with annual comprehensive income and separately taxed financial income of 3 million won or more in 2024.
Compared to the first round, the scope of eligible merchants has been expanded for the second round. Starting with the second round, military personnel will be able to use the consumption coupons at businesses near their place of service. While coupons must generally be applied for and used at the address listed on the resident registration, military personnel may apply at the community service center near their place of service for the second round. Also, starting with the second round, local cooperatives with annual sales exceeding 3 billion won will be included as eligible merchants, in consideration of promoting consumption of eco-friendly agricultural products and the public interest role of local cooperatives.
The government will notify potential recipients in advance of their eligibility for the second round through the National Secretary Notification Service. Starting at 9 a.m. on the 22nd, individuals can also check their eligibility directly. Online inquiries can be made through the application or website of the card company, call centers, automated response systems (ARS), and the National Health Insurance Service website or app. In-person inquiries can be made at card-linked bank branches or local administrative welfare centers.
The objection period regarding eligibility for the second round of consumption coupons will run from the 22nd until October 31. If there are changes in family composition, such as marriage or childbirth, or if income changes requiring adjustment of health insurance premiums have occurred since the selection reference date of June 18, objections can be filed. Applicants may visit their local administrative center or file online through the National Petition Portal.
The usage period for both the first and second rounds of consumption coupons is until November 30. Any unused balance after this period will expire.
Household Criteria Based on Resident Registration and Health Insurance Qualification
The "household" unit for the second round is determined by resident registration and health insurance qualification. As of June 18 this year, those listed together on the same resident registration are considered a single household. Even if the address is different, a spouse or child who is a dependent under health insurance is considered part of the same household. However, if the dependent is a parent at a different address, they are considered a separate household. Dual-income couples are considered separate households unless their combined insurance premium is more advantageous, in which case they may be recognized as a single household.
Accordingly, overseas Koreans listed on the resident registration and holding the same health insurance qualification as citizens, and foreigners listed on the resident registration with at least one Korean citizen and holding the same health insurance qualification, are eligible. For example, overseas Koreans who have suspended their Korean health insurance due to studying abroad are not eligible. Permanent residents (F-5), marriage immigrants (F-6), and recognized refugees (F-2-4) are eligible if they hold health insurance or receive medical benefits, regardless of resident registration status.
Vulnerable groups who were additionally eligible in the first round, such as basic livelihood security recipients, the near-poor, and single-parent families, totaling about 3.14 million people, are also eligible for the second round. Persons with unknown residence status are considered as separate single-person households and, if they meet the criteria, are eligible regardless of the household members listed on the resident registration.
98.7% Application Rate in First Round..."Increase in Small Business Sales"
On July 24, residents visiting the Siheung 1-dong Community Service Center in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, are applying for the Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupons. July 24, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung
The first round of consumption coupon distribution will close at 6 p.m. today. As of midnight yesterday, about 50.05 million people, or 98.9% of eligible recipients, had applied for the coupons. This surpasses the 98.7% application rate for the 2021 COVID-19 National Support Fund. The total amount distributed is 9.0634 trillion won.
There have been a total of 79 reported cases of fraudulent distribution of the consumption coupons as of the 5th: 17 cases of personal transactions, 3 cases of false transactions, and 58 cases of disguised merchants. Follow-up actions are underway.
Kim Minjae, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, emphasized at the briefing, "Following the first round of consumption coupons, we are seeing effects such as a recovery in consumption and an increase in small business sales." The consumer sentiment index reached 110.8 in July, the highest since 2021 when the consumption coupons were first distributed, and rose further to 111.4 in August. The Small Business Business Survey Index (BSI), which had declined for three consecutive months, also rebounded in August and reached the highest level this year (88.3) in September.
Vice Minister Kim stated, "We will ensure that the momentum for domestic demand recovery, which was hard-won through the first round of consumption coupons, continues with the second round, with all relevant ministries making thorough preparations."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
