Starting July 14, 2025, South Koreans can sign up for a new notification service designed to guide them through the upcoming distribution of the government27s 27Livelihood Recovery Consumer Coupon.27 This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, aims to stimulate domestic consumption and support small businesses by providing citizens with direct financial assistance.
The notification service, accessible via the National Secretary platform and 17 popular mobile apps including KakaoTalk, Naver, and Toss, offers tailored information on payment amounts, application procedures, usage periods, and even objection results. However, signing up for this alert service does not automatically enroll citizens in the coupon program; they must apply separately through designated channels such as card company websites, affiliated bank branches, or local administrative offices.
The consumer coupon itself is set to be disbursed in two phases. The first phase begins on July 21, 2025, and runs through September 12, 2025, while the second phase starts on September 22 and continues until October 31, 2025. The coupons range from a minimum of 150,000 won to a maximum of 550,000 won per person, depending on income level, household type, and place of residence. Notably, basic living recipients and lower-income groups receive higher amounts, with some rural and non-metropolitan residents eligible for additional funds.
Importantly, the government has restricted coupon usage to small businesses with annual sales under 3 billion won. This means that large retailers such as big-box stores, corporate supermarkets, department stores, and duty-free shops are excluded from accepting the coupons. Franchise stores can accept the coupons only if they are not directly managed by the parent company. This policy is designed to funnel spending toward traditional markets, neighborhood marts, convenience stores, and other small-scale establishments, which have expressed high hopes for a boost in sales amid challenging economic conditions.
Local governments have been proactive in facilitating this large-scale program. For instance, Gwangmyeong City launched a dedicated call center on July 14 to swiftly handle inquiries and minimize citizen inconvenience. Operating weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the center offers detailed guidance on application methods, eligibility, and schedules. Gwangmyeong City Mayor Park Seung-won emphasized the importance of ensuring no citizen is left behind, stating, 27We are committed to providing rapid support and a systematic response so that the consumer coupon can bring warmth to frozen household budgets and local economies.27
Similarly, Jungnang-gu in Seoul has set up a dedicated task force led by the vice district mayor to oversee the coupon distribution process. The district expects to distribute approximately 113.6 billion won to around 377,000 residents. To streamline applications, Jungnang-gu has implemented a five-day rotation system during the first week of acceptance (July 21-25), based on the last digit of applicants27 birth years. They also offer a 27visiting application service27 starting July 28 for elderly and disabled residents who have difficulty visiting application centers. Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi assured residents that all efforts are being made to provide seamless support and ensure everyone benefits from the program.
On the technology front, KG Mobilians, a comprehensive payment service company, announced that its prepaid card, the 27Mobilians Card,27 will participate in the coupon program. Users can receive and spend their consumer coupons through this card at eligible small business merchants. The application process is user-friendly: applicants simply navigate to the 272025 Livelihood Recovery Consumer Coupon27 banner within the Mobilians Card app, which redirects to the BC Card application page. Real-time tracking of balances, expiration dates, and total disbursed amounts is also available, offering transparency and convenience.
The government has also taken steps to encourage participation in the notification service by launching a sign-up event running through July 31, 2025. Among new subscribers during this period, 500 individuals will be randomly selected to receive beverage coupons as a token of appreciation.
However, officials caution the public to remain vigilant against fraud. Gwangmyeong City officials warned residents not to click on SMS or social media messages containing suspicious URLs claiming to be related to the coupon program, as these could be smishing attempts designed to steal personal information.
Economic analysts are optimistic that this widespread distribution of consumer coupons will invigorate the domestic retail sector. According to a Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry survey, the anticipation of the new government27s policies, a rebounding stock market, summer holiday spending, and the consumer coupon rollout have collectively raised expectations for retail recovery to the highest level in four years.
Yet, the program27s success hinges on efficient administration and public awareness. The coupon usage deadline is November 30, 2025, after which any unused funds will expire without refunds. The government27s targeted approach to restrict usage to small businesses aims to maximize the economic impact on vulnerable sectors, but it also requires clear communication to avoid confusion among consumers.
In sum, the 27Livelihood Recovery Consumer Coupon27 program represents a significant government effort to revive local economies and support households facing financial strain. Through coordinated efforts between central ministries, local governments, payment service providers, and community organizations, the initiative seeks to ensure broad accessibility and effective utilization of the funds.
