Naju Sarang Gift Certificate, 10% Discount Rate Extended Until September

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Kang In-gyu) announced on the 23rd that it will extend the 10% special discount period for purchasing Naju Sarang Gift Certificates, which was temporarily applied from March to this month, until September.

The city will issue an additional 18 billion KRW worth of gift certificates with this discount rate extension, and the 2 billion KRW budget required will be secured by reflecting it in the 4th supplementary budget.

This measure is because the local commercial district, which had been depressed due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, is showing signs of recovery through large-scale gift certificate distribution.

Gift certificates that can only be used locally lead to the prevention of regional income outflow, establishment of a virtuous economic cycle, and actual income increase for small business owners due to reduced card fees.

According to a recent survey and interview conducted with 100 affiliated stores, unlike the sharp decline in sales in February and March, 98% of all affiliated stores saw an increase in sales in April and May when the 10% discount sale was implemented and policy-supported gift certificates were actively distributed.

Also, from March to this month, a 10% discount was implemented with a sales target of 5 billion KRW, but as purchases surged afterward and the budget was exhausted early in early last month, the city has been maintaining the discount rate until this month by injecting its own funds.

Through this, the gift certificate sales have exceeded 12 billion KRW to date.

In addition, the amount of COVID-19 policy-supported gift certificates such as the farmers and fishermen’s public interest allowance and government-type emergency disaster relief funds amounts to 31.5 billion KRW, and when added to general sales, the total supply of gift certificates reaches 43.5 billion KRW.

The city plans to actively consider extending the 10% discount until the end of the year, taking into account future government support situations.

Meanwhile, Naju Sarang Gift Certificates can be purchased up to a maximum of 700,000 KRW per month per individual at 52 designated financial institutions including NH Nonghyup Bank Naju Branch, local Nonghyup, Credit Unions, Saemaeul Geumgo, and Gwangju Bank.

The gift certificates can be used at about 2,800 designated affiliated stores in Naju, including restaurants, marts, gas stations, pharmacies, and hospitals.

From this month, the city is supplying gift certificates made with a smaller size and softer material than before to enhance user portability.

Starting from mid-August, the city plans to issue card gift certificates that complement the shortcomings of paper gift certificates to expand the user base including office workers, youth, and housewives.

Mayor Kang In-gyu said, “Although financial conditions are tight due to various COVID-19 related policy supports, we extended the 10% discount period as the distribution of gift certificates is revitalizing the local commercial district,” and added, “I hope all citizens overcome the COVID-19 crisis together through sharing and good consumption by actively participating in the use of gift certificates.”

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