Imsil Sarang Gift Certificates, Purchase Limit Raised... Expected to Revitalize Local Economy

Published 18 Jan.2022 14:40(KST)

[Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Nosik] Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk announced on the 18th that it will temporarily raise the purchase limit of local love gift certificates from the existing 300,000 won to 500,000 won until next month to overcome the economic recession caused by the Lunar New Year holiday and COVID-19.

During the Lunar New Year holiday period, the county will expand the purchase limit per person from the current 300,000 won to 500,000 won until the 28th of next month, allowing purchases regardless of the type of gift certificate, and operate with the same 10% discount applied.

Despite the national subsidy being lowered from 8% to 4%, the county secured a 6% budget to revitalize the local economy and decided to maintain the existing 10% discount rate.

The Imsil Love Gift Certificate issued 22.5 billion won last year despite the economic downturn, establishing itself as a core of the local circulation economy.

With the introduction of electronic gift certificates such as cards and mobile, the number of affiliated stores has continuously expanded to about 2,000, invigorating not only small business owners in Imsil but also the local economy.

Earlier, the county expanded the issuance and sales points of card-type Imsil Love Gift Certificates introduced last year to build a local circulation economy and enhance consumer convenience.

The card-type gift certificates can be issued throughout Imsil-gun, including 20 locations such as the Agricultural and Livestock Cooperatives, the Forestry Cooperative, and Imsil Cheese Agricultural Cooperative, as well as four locations including Imsil Post Office and Imsil Saemaeul Geumgo.

Also, since charging is possible via mobile phones, there is no need to visit sales agencies separately, allowing 24-hour use, making it very convenient.

The county is making special efforts to activate gift certificates by providing various policy support funds such as farmers' allowances in the form of gift certificates.

In particular, last year, before and after the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays, the county autonomously conducted traditional market shopping events targeting public officials and employees of related organizations to revitalize the local economy and traditional markets.

This year, the county expects that expanding gift certificates will replace large-scale shopping events and greatly help activate the use of traditional markets in accordance with social distancing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

A county official said, “With the increased purchase limit of Imsil Love Gift Certificates ahead of the Lunar New Year, we hope many people will reduce their economic burden by using discounted gift certificates,” adding, “Thanks to this, local commercial districts will revive, playing a vital role in revitalizing the local economy stagnated by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.”