Seo Samseok Calls for Full Allowance of Consumption Coupon Use in Rural Areas

Only 121 out of 2,208 Hanaro Mart Stores Accept the Coupon
National Assembly's Call to Expand Usage Sites Only Partially Reflected
"Purpose Undermined... Measures Needed for Eup and Myeon Areas"

Seo Samsuk, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

The "Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon" (hereinafter referred to as "consumption coupon"), which was introduced to revive consumer sentiment and support economic recovery amid sluggish domestic demand, has been criticized for its limitations in use in rural and fishing village areas, including islands, due to its disregard for local realities and on-the-ground conditions. Improvements are deemed necessary.

According to an analysis by Representative Seo Samseok of the Democratic Party of Korea (Yeongam, Muan, and Sinan in South Jeolla Province) based on data submitted by the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, only 121 out of a total of 2,208 Hanaro Mart stores, or about 5%, accept the consumption coupon. This is because, as of June 20, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety stipulated in its "Guidelines for the Operation of Local Love Gift Certificates" that the coupon can only be used at Hanaro Mart stores in township areas (myeon) where there are no similar businesses.

The consumption coupon was included as a key project in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s second supplementary budget (hereinafter "second supplementary budget") with the aim of revitalizing local economies suffering from reduced economic and consumption activity and stabilizing the livelihoods of citizens. During the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Budget and Accounts review, an additional opinion was given to consider expanding consumption outlets in towns and townships (eup and myeon) with insufficient infrastructure.

Although the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has stated that it is "reviewing the expansion of consumption outlets" in response to criticism of passive administration for not reflecting the supplementary opinion to expand consumption outlets in eup and myeon areas in the second supplementary budget, it is expected that rural residents will face even greater inconvenience in using the consumption coupon.

In fact, in Sinan County, South Jeolla Province, there were no fruit stores in any of its 14 towns and townships. Some island areas have convenience stores or marts in addition to Hanaro Mart, but since the range of products sold is limited, residents reportedly have to take a ferry for about four hours and then transfer to a bus to make purchases.

Representative Seo stated, "Although the government distributed the Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon to boost consumption and increase small business sales, rural residents are facing difficulties in using the coupon." He emphasized, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety must urgently review the National Assembly's supplementary opinion and quickly come up with measures to ensure that residents in rural areas with insufficient infrastructure, such as eup and myeon, can conveniently use the coupon."

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