Starting July 14, 2025, South Korea's Ministry of Interior and Safety launched a new advance notification service to help citizens prepare for the upcoming Livelihood Recovery Consumer Coupon program. This initiative, accessible through the government’s Citizen's Secretary platform, aims to provide individuals with personalized information about their coupon payment amounts, application procedures, and usage periods well ahead of the actual coupon distribution starting July 21.
The Livelihood Recovery Consumer Coupon is a government effort to stimulate economic activity and support citizens as part of ongoing recovery measures. To receive advance notifications, users must subscribe to the Citizen's Secretary service via any of 17 mobile applications, including popular platforms like KakaoTalk, Naver App, Toss, and various banking apps, or directly through the Citizen's Secretary website (www.ips.go.kr).
Once subscribed, users need to log in to their chosen app and select the 'Livelihood Recovery Consumer Coupon Guidance' service. From July 19, the Citizen's Secretary will begin delivering tailored notifications to subscribers, providing detailed information about the amount they are eligible to receive, how and when to apply, the coupon’s validity period, and any updates resulting from objection applications. This personalized approach ensures that citizens are well-informed and can plan accordingly.
However, it is crucial to understand that receiving these notifications does not automatically enroll individuals in the coupon program. Separate application is required, which can be done through the websites or apps of affiliated card companies, linked bank branches, or local resident centers. The government has emphasized this point repeatedly to prevent confusion and ensure proper application procedures are followed.
The first round of consumer coupon applications opens on July 21 and runs through September 12, 2025. During this period, every citizen nationwide is entitled to a basic amount of 150,000 won. The amount varies depending on income and residency, with higher payments for certain groups. For example, low-income households and single-parent families can receive up to 300,000 won, while recipients of the basic living allowance are eligible for 400,000 won. Additionally, residents outside the Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon metropolitan areas receive an extra 30,000 won, and those living in 84 designated agricultural and fishing village areas undergoing population decline receive a further 50,000 won.
The second round of applications will run from September 22 to October 31, 2025. This phase offers an additional 100,000 won to 90% of the population, excluding the top 10% income bracket, effectively expanding support to a broad swath of citizens.
To encourage more people to use the Citizen's Secretary platform and take advantage of this notification service, the Ministry of Interior and Safety is running a promotional event from July 14 to July 31, 2025. During this period, 500 new subscribers will be randomly selected to receive drink coupons as a small token of appreciation.
The Ministry has also issued important warnings about potential scams. Notifications from the Citizen's Secretary will never include direct website links or QR codes. Any messages or alerts prompting users to click on links or scan codes claiming to be from the Citizen's Secretary should be treated with suspicion, as these are likely 'smishing' attempts—fraudulent messages designed to steal personal information or install malicious software. Users are advised to access the Citizen's Secretary service only through official apps or websites and to be vigilant about their notification settings, as disabling alerts on smartphones or within apps like Naver may cause users to miss important updates.
Kim Min-jae, Acting Minister of Interior and Safety, highlighted the significance of the new notification service, stating, "We prepared this notification service so that all citizens can receive information about the Livelihood Recovery Consumer Coupon without missing out. We will continue to make it easy for everyone to receive tailored administrative information through Citizen's Secretary, ensuring that it is genuinely useful in daily life." This statement underscores the government's commitment to transparency and accessibility in delivering social support.
The Livelihood Recovery Consumer Coupon program represents a crucial part of South Korea's strategy to bolster domestic consumption amid ongoing economic challenges. By offering an advance notification system, the government hopes to streamline the application process, reduce confusion, and ensure that benefits reach eligible citizens efficiently.
With the first coupon distribution set to begin on July 21, citizens are encouraged to subscribe promptly to the Citizen's Secretary notification service, review their personalized information starting July 19, and prepare to apply through the designated channels. The phased application windows and income-based payment structure aim to provide equitable support while stimulating economic activity across various regions and demographics.
As the government rolls out these measures, the public's cooperation in following official procedures and remaining alert to potential scams will be key to the program's success. The Livelihood Recovery Consumer Coupon advance notification service marks a notable step in leveraging digital platforms to enhance citizen engagement and administrative efficiency in South Korea’s social welfare landscape.
