The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on September 15 that it has selected a total of 20 winning entries for the "Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon Story Contest."
The ministry held the contest from July 31 to August 24 to collect special and touching stories related to consumption coupons, aiming to confirm changes in daily life and the recovery of local economies brought about by the Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupons. A total of 9,138 entries were submitted. The ministry evaluated the entries based on relevance to the theme, specificity, sincerity, and originality, ultimately selecting one Grand Prize winner, two Excellence Prize winners, seven Merit Prize winners, and ten Growth & Recovery Prize winners. It also announced that four special video interviews featuring the winners will be released on the Korean Government's YouTube channel starting September 18.
The Grand Prize will be awarded to Ha Heerim, a small business owner who runs a baby cafe. The story describes how the cafe, which had been struggling due to declining birth rates and the economic downturn, regained its vitality thanks to the consumption coupons. Since the implementation of the coupons, weekend reservation rates at the cafe increased by about 40%, and average monthly sales recovered by more than 25%. Above all, the story highlights that being able to continue providing a happy space for children and parents as a local childcare community brought value and satisfaction beyond just sales figures.
Excellence Prize winner Yoo Eunsook introduced the warm changes brought to a sign language interpretation center by the consumption coupons. Yoo, a sign language interpreter who helps elderly deaf individuals communicate, shared that after one of the seniors purchased art supplies with the coupons and started an art activity trend at the center, the daily lives of the elders became more relaxed and joyful. Yoo donated the entire 1 million won prize to the Seosan Deaf Association to support art supplies, delivering an even greater impact.
Other winning stories include a family who brainstormed ideas to help their elderly parents revive their beef soup restaurant by offering a dessert event for customers using the consumption coupons (Hwang Eunjung); a middle school student who bought a gift of encouragement for his cousin battling cancer (Ahn Taehyun); and a young volunteer from Ddasum in Paju who was treated to a feast by an 89-year-old senior expressing gratitude for their monthly meetings (Byun Saerin). These heartfelt and sincere stories were among those selected as winners.
Lee Jungeun, Director of Digital Communication at the Ministry, stated, "As intended, the consumption coupons have acted as a catalyst for recovery and growth, not only revitalizing the economy but also fostering the values of sharing, coexistence, solidarity, and harmony in people's lives." Lee added, "Just as the consumption coupons have helped drive economic recovery, we hope these special and moving stories will spread widely through the power of content and help reinvigorate local businesses."
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