Onnuri Gift Certificates to Block Fraudulent Distribution... Driving Digital Innovation

Ministry of SMEs and Startups Reviews Fraud Prevention Measures and Future Management Plans with Experts

On September 18, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that it held an "Onnuri Gift Certificate System Improvement Meeting" at the headquarters of the Small Enterprise and Market Service, together with external experts, Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corporation (the digital Onnuri gift certificate operator), and the Small Enterprise and Market Service.

This meeting, chaired by Choi Wonyoung, Director General for Small Business Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, was organized to focus on discussing measures to prevent fraudulent distribution and operational plans for Onnuri gift certificates, with the goal of establishing a sound distribution order and enhancing the credibility of the system.

The meeting began with a review of the implementation status of the "Comprehensive Improvement Plan for Onnuri Gift Certificates" announced last year. Participants shared market responses to key measures such as reducing the purchase and exchange limits for paper gift certificates, advancing the Fraud Detection System (FDS), and conducting monthly on-site inspections, and discussed future directions for improvement.

In addition, the meeting focused on discussing ways to improve the system and strengthen management and supervision in relation to the amendment of the "Special Act on the Promotion of Traditional Markets and Shopping Districts," which is currently pending in the National Assembly. The participants also discussed advancing digital app services to enhance the digital transformation of Onnuri gift certificates and improve convenience for small business owners, including improving the search function for affiliated stores, upgrading the UI/UX of the AI-powered chatbot for customer service, and providing themed guides to affiliated stores.

In particular, the meeting proposed providing consumers with personalized recommendations for affiliated stores and products by linking card company and POS data through consumption data analysis to enhance purchase convenience. For small business owners, the proposal included offering management analysis reports based on sales data by business type and region. Through these measures, Onnuri gift certificates are expected to evolve beyond a simple payment method into a data-driven platform that connects consumers and small business owners.

Choi Wonyoung, Director General for Small Business Policy, stated, "Onnuri gift certificates are a key policy tool for revitalizing the local economy," and added, "We will develop the system into one that can be trusted and conveniently used by both small business owners and consumers, by fundamentally blocking fraudulent distribution and accelerating digital innovation."