Guro-gu 'Guro Sarang Gift Certificate' Early Issuance on April 1

Originally Scheduled for June... Moved Up 2 Months to Support Residents Struggling with COVID-19 and Revitalize the Economy... 15% Discount and 5% Cashback Until July... Expanded Tax Deduction, Up to 1 Million KRW Purchase Per Person Per Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Guro-gu (Mayor Lee Seong) will issue the ‘Guro Love Gift Certificate’ earlier than originally planned, releasing it on April 1 instead of June.

Guro-gu announced on the 31st, “We initially planned to issue the Guro Love Gift Certificate in June to expand local consumption and increase sales for small business owners and self-employed individuals. However, to support residents struggling due to COVID-19 and revitalize the local economy, we are advancing the sale by two months.”

The ‘Guro Love Gift Certificate’ is a regional mobile gift certificate that uses QR codes for payment at Zero Pay affiliated stores within the district when purchasing goods. Three denominations will be issued: 10,000 KRW, 50,000 KRW, and 100,000 KRW. The validity period is five years from the date of issuance.

Purchases can be made through nine mobile payment apps: Beeple Zero Pay, Moneytree, CheckPay, NongHyup All One Bank, Daegu Bank IM#, Gwangju Bank Personal Banking, Jeonbuk Bank New Smart Banking, Busan Bank Some Bank, and BNK Gyeongnam Bank. It can be used at approximately 4,600 Zero Pay affiliated stores in Guro-gu, including academies, marts, hospitals, traditional markets, and convenience stores. However, large-scale stores such as large marts, department stores, and gambling-related businesses are excluded.

Originally, the discount rate was planned to be 7-10%, with a 30% income deduction and a monthly purchase limit of 500,000 KRW per person. However, to help recover the consumption market weakened by the prolonged COVID-19 situation, significantly enhanced benefits will be provided until the end of July.

During this period, the discount rate will be increased to 15%, and when using the Beeple Zero Pay, Moneytree, or CheckPay apps, 5% cashback (up to 50,000 KRW in cash) of the amount spent will be returned. The purchase limit will also be raised to 1,000,000 KRW per person per month. However, the program will end early if the budget is exhausted.

For usage until the end of June, the income deduction will also be expanded from the existing 30% to 60%, and users who spend more than 10,000 KRW will be automatically entered into a prize event.

Small business owners and self-employed individuals will receive fee exemptions and value-added tax deductions on Guro Love Gift Certificate transactions regardless of their annual sales.

Registration as a Zero Pay affiliated store is possible through the Korea Simple Payment Promotion Agency website or the Zero Pay app. If installation is difficult, coordinators will visit stores to assist upon request to the Guro-gu Office’s Regional Economy Division.

A Guro-gu official stated, “By advancing the issuance date, Seoul’s emergency disaster living expenses can be used with the Guro Love Gift Certificate,” and added, “We will do our best to provide practical help to residents, small business owners, and self-employed individuals.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.