Pocheon City Strengthens Support for Small Businesses by Expanding Pocheon Love Gift Certificate Operations

Pocheon City in Gyeonggi Province announced on January 7 that it will revise the operational standards for the Pocheon Love Gift Certificates and implement customized support policies for small businesses to alleviate their management burden and revitalize the local economy.

Pocheon City Strengthens Support for Small Businesses, Expands Operation of Pocheon Love Gift Certificates. Provided by Pocheon City

Pocheon City has updated the operational standards for the 2026 Pocheon Love Gift Certificates to reflect the recently revised “Gyeonggi Local Currency Issuance Support Project Operation Guidelines,” following the transition of the local currency issuance support project to a national government-funded initiative.

The main changes in this revision include raising the annual sales limit for Pocheon Love Gift Certificate merchant registration to 3 billion won or less, aligning with the standards of the central government and Gyeonggi Province. Individual stores within large retail outlets such as Homeplus and Emart can also register as merchants if they meet this criterion. In addition, in accordance with government and provincial guidelines, Nonghyup Hanaro Mart stores located in “myeon” (township) areas are now eligible for merchant registration.

Pocheon City will also continue to provide consumer benefits for the Pocheon Love Gift Certificates. By maintaining a maximum benefit of 20%-combining a 10% recharge bonus and a 10% payment rebate-the city aims to enhance tangible benefits for citizens and strengthen the virtuous cycle of local consumption.

Furthermore, Pocheon City will implement customized support measures for micro and small businesses in conjunction with the Pocheon Love Gift Certificate policy. The “Pocheon City Special Electricity Bill Support Project for Small Businesses” will help reduce fixed costs by subsidizing a portion of electricity bills with Pocheon Love Gift Certificates. Eligible recipients are small businesses with annual sales of 300 million won or less, whose business location and owner’s address were both registered in Pocheon City before October 31, 2025, and who pay business electricity rates.

Online applications can be submitted via the “Jobaba Apply” integrated application system until February 28, 2026, while in-person applications will be accepted at the administrative welfare centers in each town, township, or neighborhood where the business is located until February 27. The support amount is up to 300,000 won, provided in Pocheon Love Gift Certificates. Applicants must submit a copy of their business registration certificate, a copy of their resident registration, and proof of electricity bill statements and payments from January to December 2025.

Additionally, through a special guarantee support project totaling 9 billion won, each business can receive a guarantee of up to 50 million won. In connection with this, an interest subsidy project will support annual loan interest rates of 3.5-4.5% for up to five years when loans are executed through partner banks.

A representative from Pocheon City stated, “By expanding the operation of the Pocheon Love Gift Certificates and providing substantial financial and management support, we will continue to implement various policies to help stabilize the management of small businesses and ensure the sustained vitality of the local economy.”