Yeoncheon County Proposes Expanding Consumption Coupon Usage Areas for Conscripted Soldiers

On August 5, Yeoncheon County in Gyeonggi Province officially proposed to Gyeonggi Province that the places where conscripted soldiers can use the "Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupons" be expanded to include the areas where they are stationed.

On August 1, during a meeting between President Lee Jaemyung and the governors of provinces and metropolitan cities across the country, Yeoncheon County made this additional proposal in relation to an earlier suggestion from Gangwon Province. The county requested the expansion of the "conscription soldiers' consumption coupon usage areas" as a measure to alleviate the economic difficulties faced by small business owners in border regions and areas experiencing population decline.

Currently, the Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon system is a policy aimed at boosting domestic demand and reducing the financial burden on citizens, and it is also provided to conscripted soldiers. However, the coupons can only be used in the soldiers' registered residential areas or at military stores (PX), which means the policy has not led to a tangible revitalization of the local economy.

In response, Yeoncheon County has been continuously urging for policy improvements so that conscripted soldiers can use the Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupons in the areas where they serve.

An official from Yeoncheon County stated, "Local merchants are facing severe difficulties due to the prolonged economic downturn, and it is a significant problem that the consumption by soldiers is not flowing into the local commercial districts." The official added, "Stimulating consumption near military bases is the most effective way to achieve the intended policy results."

The official further explained, "As the consumption choices of conscripted soldiers are restricted, their opportunities for improved welfare are reduced, and it becomes difficult to achieve the original goal of the Livelihood Recovery policy. We will continue to request that the coupon usage areas be expanded to include the regions where conscripted soldiers are stationed."

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