790,000 Apply for Win-Win Payback on First Day of Registration

440,000 Applications Submitted in the Seoul Metropolitan Area

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on September 16 that approximately 790,000 people applied for the “Win-Win Payback” program on its first day of applications, September 15.

The Win-Win Payback program is a scheme that reimburses up to 100,000 won per month (with a maximum limit of 300,000 won over three months) in digital Onnuri gift certificates, which can be used at traditional markets and shopping districts. This applies to citizens aged 19 and older whose monthly credit card spending from September to November 2025 exceeds their average monthly credit card spending from the previous year. The reimbursement is 20% of the increased spending amount.

On the first day of the five-day staggered application schedule, 791,798 people applied through the Win-Win Payback website. By region, 440,000 people (55.5%) from the Seoul metropolitan area (Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon) applied, while outside the metropolitan area, Busan and South Gyeongsang Province had the highest numbers of applicants.

As of September 15, applicants will be notified via AlimTalk on September 17 whether they are eligible for support and what their average monthly credit card spending was last year. From September 18, cumulative credit card spending from September 1, 2025, can be checked on the “Check Payback and Consumption Lottery” menu on the Win-Win Payback website.

The range of eligible spending locations for the Win-Win Payback program has also been expanded. Previously, only 123 locations in “myeon” areas (rural administrative districts) with Hanaro Mart branches that did not have similar businesses such as supermarkets or convenience stores were included. However, with the implementation of measures on August 21 to improve the convenience of using livelihood recovery consumption coupons, the Win-Win Payback program also expanded its eligible locations to 657 “eup” and “myeon” areas with a lack of similar businesses, bringing the total to 780. In addition, 251 “local food direct stores” that sell locally produced agricultural products directly to consumers have been newly added as eligible spending locations.

Lee Daegun, Director of Small Business Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, “We will continue to promote the Win-Win Payback program so that no one misses out due to lack of awareness, and we will ensure smooth implementation of the project.”