One in Three Incheon Citizens Uses 'Incheon e-eum Card'... 10% Cashback Until June

March Payment Amount Increased by 65% Compared to Previous Month, 1.08 Million Subscribers
Contributing to Sales Growth of Small Business Owners Amid COVID-19 Crisis

Incheon e-eum Card

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Incheon city local currency 'Incheon e-eum (E-eum)' card payment amount and number of subscribers have significantly increased. The cashback, which was originally 4%, was raised to 10% in March and April, gaining strong public support. Incheon city has decided to extend the 10% cashback benefit until June to stimulate consumption and increase sales for small business owners.

According to the city on the 2nd, the Incheon e-eum payment amount in March reached 188.3 billion KRW, a 65% increase from 114.8 billion KRW in February. The number of subscribers also surpassed 1 million on the 3rd of last month, which is one-third of the entire population of Incheon. Since then, an additional 80,000 people have joined, bringing the current number of E-eum card members to 1.08 million.

Currently, the E-eum card cashback is 10% for monthly payments up to 500,000 KRW and 1% for payments between 500,000 and 1,000,000 KRW.

The city initially planned to temporarily increase the cashback benefit from 4% to 10% for March and April, but decided to maintain it until June to revitalize the local economy.

Additionally, to help increase sales for local small business owners, 61.1 billion KRW worth of temporary living support consumption coupons for low-income groups (about 108,000 people) were provided as E-eum card recharge amounts. Another 20 billion KRW in consumption coupons for special employment types and unpaid leave workers will be distributed in the same manner starting from the 8th.

Along with this, as part of the extended social distancing measures, the city plans to support the activation of Incheon e-eum’s non-face-to-face services such as 'Incheon Goods' and the telephone order service.

First, the cashback for the online shopping mall Incheon Goods, which sells excellent local products, was raised from 4% to 10%. Amid the recent increase in online shopping sales due to COVID-19, Incheon Goods’ sales rose 1.7 times from 210 million KRW in February to 379 million KRW in March.

The Incheon Goods section operates social economy malls, the 6th industry section, and a special section for social economy companies’ cotton masks, and plans to operate various themed sections such as traditional market sections in the future to support marketing and sales growth.

The telephone order service is a public delivery app responding to the recently monopolized private delivery app market. The city plans to enhance its functions in the second half of the year to improve convenience and accessibility.

Prior to this, the city simplified the subscription process to help small food delivery businesses join the telephone order service. Previously, benefits including 1-7% upfront discounts and franchise membership were prerequisites, but now business owners can join the telephone order service without bearing upfront discounts.

An Incheon city official said, "We have prepared various support measures such as increasing the E-eum card cashback to help small business owners facing a crisis due to COVID-19," and urged, "Citizens should maintain vigilance against COVID-19 while also supporting the use of Incheon e-eum."

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