Bucheon Love Gift Certificate Sees Increase in Issuance and Merchants...Boosts Tourism and Sports Event Synergy

Consumption Spreads to Traditional Markets and Local Businesses
Targeting Issuance of 820 Million Won by Year-End

The paper-based local currency "Bucheon Love Gift Certificate" in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, is revitalizing the local commercial district as both its issuance volume and the number of affiliated merchants increase.

According to the city on April 15, when the Bucheon Love Gift Certificate was first issued in October last year, KRW 395 million worth was issued across 1,910 affiliated merchants. As of the first day of this month, six months later, the total issuance has reached KRW 525 million, an increase of 33%, and the number of affiliated merchants has grown by 26% to 2,406.

To boost the local economy and increase sales for small business owners, the city launched the Bucheon Love Gift Certificate. The certificates are used for partial reimbursement of admission fees or participation fees to visitors at major tourist attractions such as the nighttime media park "Bucheon Luminarae," the Bucheon Ice World "Bingpania," as well as at sports events like the Bucheon International 10km Road Race.

A citizen is purchasing a beverage with a Bucheon Love Gift Certificate. Provided by Bucheon City.

The city is also considering expanding the use of the certificate to cover admission fees for Bucheon FC 1995 and aims to issue KRW 820 million—more than double the initial amount—by the end of the year.

There are also plans to expand affiliated merchants to cover all aspects of daily life, including restaurants, cafes, retail shops, and experience facilities. The city has improved user convenience and accessibility so that information about affiliated merchants can be easily checked via portal site searches or by scanning the QR code on the back of the certificate.

Merchants can exchange the certificates at 30 financial institutions in the area, including NH Nonghyup Bank and local agricultural cooperatives. This structure helps prevent local funds from flowing out of the area and is seen as reducing the financial burden for small business owners.

An official from Bucheon City said, "The Bucheon Love Gift Certificate is focused on creating a structure where local spending cycles back into the local economy," adding, "We will continue to improve the system so that tourism and everyday consumption are naturally connected, providing practical benefits to the local economy."

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