Applications for the "Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon," which will be distributed to all citizens to boost the economy, begin on July 21. Households with lower income levels will receive greater support, and additional funds will be provided to non-metropolitan regions to promote balanced regional development.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on July 21, the first round of applications for the Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon will be accepted from 9:00 a.m. on this day until 6:00 p.m. on September 12. Applicants can choose between credit/debit cards, local gift certificates, or prepaid cards as the issuance method.

To prevent congestion and system overload, a five-day rotation system based on the last digit of the birth year will be implemented for the first five days. On the 21st, only those whose birth year ends in 1 or 6 can apply; on the 22nd, those ending in 2 or 7; on the 23rd, 3 or 8; on the 24th, 4 or 9; and on the 25th, 5 or 0. Starting from the weekend of that week, applications will be open to everyone regardless of birth year.

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The consumption coupon provides a basic amount of 150,000 won per person to all citizens. For the next-lowest income group and single-parent families, the amount is increased to 300,000 won per person, and for basic livelihood security recipients, it is 400,000 won per person. To promote balanced regional development, residents of non-metropolitan areas (excluding Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon) will receive an extra 30,000 won, and residents of 84 rural and fishing areas experiencing population decline will receive an additional 50,000 won. The coupons must be used by November 30; any unused balance after this date will be reclaimed by the central or local government.

To support small business owners, the use of consumption coupons is restricted to the address listed on the applicant's resident registration. Those who receive the coupon as a local gift certificate can use it only at affiliated stores within the jurisdiction of their registered address. In particular, for areas without marts, supermarkets, or convenience stores, Hanaro Mart has been included as an eligible place to use the coupons. If the coupon is issued as a credit/debit card or prepaid card, it can only be used at businesses with annual sales of 3 billion won or less. The coupons cannot be used at large marts, department stores, duty-free shops, online shopping malls, or directly operated convenience stores. For delivery applications (apps), the coupon can be used if payment is made in person using the merchant’s own terminal.

The government has also prepared special application and usage procedures for unique situations. For military personnel, considering their restricted mobility, applications by mail are allowed, and a photo of the power of attorney can be submitted instead of the original document for proxy applications. If military personnel receive the coupon on their Nara Sarang Card, it can be used at military stores (PX).

For residents of nursing facilities or hospitals, the scope of proxy applications has been expanded to include siblings, and the required documents for proxy applications have been simplified. Applicants need to provide: ▲the proxy’s ID ▲documents proving the relationship between the recipient and the proxy ▲proof of admission to the nursing hospital or facility. Applications can be submitted at the community center in the jurisdiction of the facility or hospital where the resident is registered. For elderly or disabled residents who find it difficult to apply directly, local governments will operate a "visiting application" service, where staff will visit the applicant’s home to receive the application.

The second round of Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon distribution will be provided to 90% of the population, excluding the top 10% by income, after an income screening process. The amount will be 100,000 won, and applications are scheduled to begin on September 22. Prior to the first round, the government had already distributed 8.1 trillion won out of the total 12.2 trillion won in national funds to local governments on July 15.

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If there has been a change in your address or other circumstances?such as moving, birth, or death?after the reference date of June 18, you can file an objection to receive the consumption coupon according to your situation. The objection period runs from July 21 to September 12.

Newborns born after the reference date can also receive the coupon by completing birth registration and filing an objection. Those who died after the reference date are not eligible. If a recipient dies after receiving the coupon, the remaining balance will be reclaimed. However, if the head of household dies and there are minors in the household, the remaining balance on the coupon received as a credit/debit card can be converted to a local gift certificate or prepaid card.

If you moved from a metropolitan area to a non-metropolitan or population decline area after the reference date and completed your move-in registration, you can file an objection to receive the additional amount as a local gift certificate or prepaid card. If you completed your move-in registration before receiving the coupon, you can change the usage area when applying for a credit/debit card online or offline, and you can also apply for a local gift certificate or prepaid card at the community center in your new area. If you have already received the coupon, you can freely change the region for credit/debit cards online or offline. However, if you received the coupon as a local gift certificate or prepaid card in your previous region, the usage area cannot be changed.

In addition, if you newly qualify as a member of a vulnerable group, such as the next-lowest income group or basic livelihood security recipients, during the objection period after the reference date, you can receive the coupon amount corresponding to your new eligibility by filing an objection.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yoonchul visited a fish shop at Sanseong Market in Gongju, Chungnam on the 21st to inspect the implementation of consumer coupons. Photo by Yonhap News

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