Real Vitality for the Local Economy
Issuing 15 Billion Won Worth
Wider Choices with Both Card and Paper Types
Introducing Transfer, Easy Mode, and Mobile Card
Enhanced Convenience for All Generations
Expanding to Daily Life Areas Including Taxi Payments
Additional Features Coming in the First Half of the Year
Gumi City in North Gyeongsang Province is increasing the discount rate for the Gumi Sarang Gift Certificate from the previous 9% to 12% for the Lunar New Year holiday and is significantly enhancing the app’s lifestyle-oriented features.
This measure aims to both boost holiday spending and revitalize the local economy.
The city will issue a total of 15 billion won worth of Gumi Sarang Gift Certificates, selling them at a 12% discounted price.
The gift certificates can be purchased from 9 a.m. on February 2 at 115 local financial institutions and through the Gumi Sarang Gift Certificate app. Both card-type and paper-type certificates will be available, giving citizens a wider range of choices.
This discounted sale is intended to promote local spending ahead of the Lunar New Year, thereby increasing sales for small businesses and supporting the recovery of the local economy. By significantly raising the discount rate, the city aims to enhance the tangible benefits for citizens and strengthen the virtuous cycle of local consumption.
Clockwise Gumi Sarang Gift Certificate App Transfer - App Policy Allowance - App Easy Mode / Photo by Lee Ihwan
Alongside the discounted sale, Gumi City will completely overhaul the functions of the Gumi Sarang Gift Certificate app. Starting in February, a new "Transfer" feature will allow users to easily send gift certificate balances to family or friends. This is expected to expand the use of local currency during periods of high demand for gifts, such as holidays and special occasions.
A new "Easy Mode" will also be added for middle-aged and older users. This allows users to easily adjust font size and screen elements, enabling those less familiar with digital devices to use the gift certificates without inconvenience.
The city also plans to provide training on how to use the Easy Mode for seniors through the Korean Senior Citizens Association.
Convenience for younger users will also be enhanced. For those accustomed to QR payments, a mobile card feature will be introduced, allowing payments without a physical card, and the app design will be made more intuitive.
In addition, a new display feature will make it easy to check whether policy allowances-such as farmers’ subsidies, youth worker retention incentives, and welfare points-can be used at affiliated stores with annual sales exceeding 3 billion won. This feature will be available after updating the app through Google Play Store and the App Store.
Furthermore, the city plans to develop a taxi payment feature and improve card designs within the first half of this year, continuously expanding the usage environment of the Gumi Sarang Gift Certificate across transportation, dining, shopping, and other aspects of daily life.
Park Younghee, Director of the Job and Economy Division, stated, "Through the 12% discount sale and the app feature upgrades, we will inject real vitality into the local economy ahead of the Lunar New Year," adding, "We will continue to improve the Gumi Sarang Gift Certificate so that it can become a lifestyle-oriented local currency that is easy and convenient for all generations to use."
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