Lee: "Onnuri Gift Certificates Overlap with Local Currency... Expansion Requires Caution"

"Local Currency Aims to Revitalize Regions, Not Just Boost Sales"
Concerns Over Policy Effectiveness if Expansion Is Unlimited

President Lee Jae-myung has called for a careful review regarding the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' plan to expand the use of digital Onnuri gift certificates, emphasizing the need to consider both the policy intent and effectiveness of local currency.

At the Ministry of SMEs and Startups briefing held at the Government Sejong Convention Center on the 17th, President Lee stated, "Onnuri gift certificates are only limited in terms of where they can be used, not by region," adding, "If we continue to expand this, eventually the use cases will overlap with local currency, so we need to think about this issue."

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Ministry of Industry, Intellectual Property Office, and Ministry of SMEs and Startups briefing held at the Government Sejong Convention Center on the 17th. Photo by Yonhap News

He continued, "The purpose of local currency is not to increase sales for small business owners, but to shift consumer spending to specific regions," explaining, "It is a structure in which consumers accept a certain level of inconvenience and the government provides support for the sake of balanced regional development."

Given this policy structure, his remarks are interpreted as highlighting the need to carefully consider the role and scope of expansion for Onnuri gift certificates.

Previously, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups finalized next year's budget for issuing Onnuri gift certificates at 458 billion won, a 17% increase compared to 2025. The aim is to foster the local business ecosystem by encouraging spending in traditional markets and neighborhood commercial districts.

Unlike local currency, which must be used only in the issuing region, Onnuri gift certificates can be used at affiliated stores in neighborhood-type shopping districts and traditional markets nationwide. To improve user convenience, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups is expanding the designation of neighborhood-type shopping districts and continuously increasing the number of places where Onnuri gift certificates can be used.

In response, the minister said, "We will look into the points you raised."