Hanam Mayoral Candidate Byeongdeok Kang: “15% ‘Hamoney’ Incentive and Double the Budget for Local Currency”

CPR for Struggling Neighborhood Businesses...

Gradual Expansion to 20 Billion Won Annually

Tailored Policies for Traditional Markets and Local Commercial Districts

Boosting Real Income for Small Business Owners

Stronger, Tangible Benefits for Citizens

Including Special Payback Programs During Holidays

Byeongdeok Kang, the prospective mayoral candidate for Hanam from the Democratic Party of Korea, announced on March 26 his first practical pledge aimed at easing Hanam citizens’ shopping burden and directly boosting sales for small business owners: a 15% Hanam Local Currency (“Hamoney”) incentive and a doubling of the related budget.

Traditional market shopping event hosted by the Democratic Party of Korea Hanam Gap Regional Committee during last Lunar New Year holiday. Provided by Byeokdoek Kang, prospective candidate.

Kang promised, “During Mayor Lee Hyunjae’s term, the Hanam local currency ‘Hamoney’ incentive rate has stayed at an average of 6–8%. I will immediately raise the base incentive to 10% year-round, and 20% during holidays, bringing the annual average to 15%.” To achieve this, he presented a concrete roadmap to gradually expand the current annual incentive budget—approximately 8 billion won—to 20 billion won per year during his term.

The core implementation plans for this pledge include: ▲ restoring the average Hamoney incentive rate to 15%, ▲ a special 20% incentive during holidays, ▲ more than doubling the incentive budget (to an annual scale of 20 billion won), and ▲ strengthening the policy’s effectiveness, especially for traditional markets and neighborhood commercial districts.

In particular, Kang plans to introduce a “Special Payback” scheme during high-consumption periods such as holidays, and to reasonably adjust the per-person purchase limit so that a greater number of citizens can benefit more equitably.

Regarding funding, he stated, “During the tenure of former Mayor Kim Sangho in the 7th popularly-elected administration, the Hamoney budget reached around 20 billion won, but after the People Power Party mayor took office, the budget was cut in half. I will secure resources as the top priority by strengthening city and provincial government matching and restructuring budgets for non-essential projects.”

Kang emphasized, “Regional currency is in line with the policies of the Lee Jaemyung administration, and it is more than just a payment tool—it is a key link in creating a virtuous cycle for the local economy. By expanding Hamoney incentives, I will reduce the burden on households amid high inflation, and inject real vitality into our local small business owners facing tough times.”

Meanwhile, starting with his local currency pledge announced today, Kang plans to sequentially and in detail unveil the ‘Top 10 Practical Hanam Policy Pledges’ aimed at improving citizens’ quality of life, including: ▲ Creating Happy Apartments (expanding subsidies for multi-family housing), ▲ Expanding public late-night hospitals and weekend pediatric care, and ▲ Building parking lots to alleviate parking difficulties.

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