"Soldiers Enjoy Discounts, Farmers Get a Helping Hand": Hwacheon's Model of Civil-Military-Government Harmony Draws Attention
by Lee jonggu
Published 14 Mar.2026 17:15(KST)
Hwacheon County Implements Incentive Support Program for Military Personnel Preferred Businesses
Partial Reimbursement for Spending at Preferred Businesses... Boosting Sales for Local Shops
Stationed Units Offer Annual Public Assistance to Local Farms During Farming Seasons
The atmosphere of harmony and cooperation between the military, civilians, and local authorities continues in Hwacheon County, a border region.
In March last year, military personnel were providing civilian support to elderly farmers at the seedling bed installation site of the Sangseo-myeon Seedling Bank. Provided by Hwacheon County
원본보기 아이콘Hwacheon County has been running the "Military Personnel Preferred Businesses Development and Incentive Support Program" every year to support local small business owners in the border area and to promote consumption by military personnel.
The main feature of this program is to reimburse military personnel (excluding non-commissioned officers and officers) with approximately 20% of their spending at preferred businesses in the form of Hwacheon Love Gift Certificates.
Starting next month, reimbursements will be processed by military personnel applying to Hwacheon County using QR codes.
Because the reimbursed Hwacheon Love Gift Certificates are reused entirely within the region, they provide a significant boost to the local economy.
Currently, there are more than 270 military personnel preferred businesses in Hwacheon, including restaurants, bakeries, lodging establishments, guesthouses, barbershops, internet cafes, and butcher shops.
These preferred businesses have become well-known among soldiers as places offering discounts, which has also led to a notable increase in sales.
The program has proven to be highly effective in practice.
In Hwacheon County, 403 million won (39,086 cases) were reimbursed to soldiers in 2023, 432.25 million won (47,669 cases) in 2024, and 523.68 million won (58,778 cases) last year. Over the past three years, the cumulative reimbursement amount has exceeded 1.356 billion won.
Last March, military personnel provided civilian assistance for elderly farmers at the nursery bed installation site of the Sangseo-myeon Seedling Bank. Provided by Hwacheon County
원본보기 아이콘Military personnel are also making efforts to foster mutual growth by actively participating in various volunteer activities in the local community.
In particular, during the spring and autumn farming seasons, when a shortage of labor poses challenges for farmers, public assistance from soldiers is considered an invaluable gift.
In fact, units stationed in Hwacheon participated in public assistance activities with 591 personnel (80 cases) in 2022, 920 personnel (118 cases) in 2023, 630 personnel (86 cases) in 2024, and 532 personnel (79 cases) in 2025.
Choi Moonsoon, Governor of Hwacheon County, emphasized, "The volunteer work and support provided by the soldiers stationed in Hwacheon have been a great help to the residents. Hwacheon County will also continue its efforts to promote cooperation between the military, civilians, and local authorities."
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