Starting July 21, 2025, South Korea is set to roll out a nationwide initiative aimed at boosting consumer spending and invigorating local economies through the distribution of the government-backed 'Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupons.' This program is designed to support small businesses and self-employed individuals, while providing financial relief to citizens across various income brackets.
Yangsan City is among the municipalities actively participating in this effort, announcing the launch of its own distribution of these consumption coupons. According to a report by 웅상뉴스 (Ungsang News), the city formed a dedicated task force on July 10 to oversee the smooth issuance of the coupons. This 'Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon TF Team,' led by the vice mayor, has also established field response teams across 13 townships and neighborhoods, supported by additional personnel to assist residents. From July 16, a call center (392-8100) began operations to provide guidance on the application process and payment methods.
The coupons will be issued in two phases, with eligibility extending to all residents registered in Yangsan as of June 18, 2025. The first phase runs from July 21 to September 12, during which each eligible citizen will receive 180,000 KRW. This amount includes an additional 30,000 KRW for residents of non-metropolitan areas. Vulnerable groups, such as lower-income households and single-parent families, will receive 330,000 KRW, while basic livelihood recipients are allocated 430,000 KRW. The second phase, from September 22 to October 31, will provide an additional 100,000 KRW to all citizens except the top 10% income earners nationwide, determined by income screening using health insurance premiums.
Applications for the coupons can be submitted online through the Yangsan Sarang Card app and credit or check card apps and websites. Offline options include visits to local administrative offices for the Yangsan Sarang Card and affiliated banks for credit and check card users. For elderly and disabled residents who face mobility challenges, a 'visiting application reception service' is available. During the first application week (July 21–25), a weekday rotation system based on the applicant’s birth year ending digit will be enforced to streamline processing.
Coupon usage is limited to stores within Yangsan City with annual sales below 3 billion KRW and affiliated with the local love gift certificate program. Large supermarkets, department stores, and entertainment venues are excluded. To further facilitate consumer awareness, Yangsan City plans to distribute stickers marking participating stores. Mayor Na Dong-yeon expressed hopes that these coupons would serve as a catalyst for small business sales recovery and provide practical support to citizens, pledging full administrative support to ensure a smooth experience.
On a broader scale, the South Korean government’s nationwide 'Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupons' program, as detailed by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and reported by 경기도청 (Gyeonggi Provincial Government), is designed to stimulate consumption and support small business owners and self-employed individuals across the country. The program offers tailored payments ranging from 150,000 KRW to 550,000 KRW depending on income and residence, with additional support for vulnerable groups including lower-income families and single-parent households.
Citizens are encouraged to sign up for the 'Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon Notification Service' via platforms such as the National Secretary website (https://ips.go.kr), Naver app, KakaoTalk, and Toss to receive personalized eligibility and payment information. The first phase of payments mirrors Yangsan’s structure: 150,000 KRW for general citizens, 300,000 KRW for lower-income or single-parent families, and 400,000 KRW for basic livelihood recipients. Residents in 84 rural areas facing population decline receive an extra 50,000 KRW. The second phase will distribute an additional 100,000 KRW to 90% of the population, excluding the top 10% earners.
Applications are open from July 21 to September 12 for the first phase and September 22 to October 31 for the second. Payment methods include local love gift certificates (available in card, mobile, or paper formats), credit/check cards, or prepaid cards. Online applications can be made through various apps and websites, while offline applications are accepted at local resident centers or affiliated bank branches. For those with mobility issues, local governments will provide home visit application services.
Coupons must be used within the applicant’s registered residential area by November 30, 2025. Usage is restricted to small businesses with annual sales under 3 billion KRW, including traditional markets, neighborhood marts, restaurants, clothing stores, beauty salons, optical shops, educational institutions, pharmacies, clinics, and franchise outlets like convenience stores and cafes. Notably, large retailers, department stores, online marketplaces, entertainment venues, and certain service sectors like insurance and utilities are excluded from coupon acceptance.
In Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, the government’s consumption coupon program is linked with the local currency 'Tamnaneunjeon,' offering residents additional incentives to use their coupons in this form. As announced on July 16 by 제주도 (Jeju Province), the initiative targets all residents and the 130,000 Tamnaneunjeon app users. From July 21 to November 30, 2025, 1,000 users who spend their consumption coupons as Tamnaneunjeon will be randomly awarded 20,000 KRW worth of Tamnaneunjeon points.
Additional perks include benefits for Jeju Bank Tamnaneunjeon check card users: new Naver Pay registrants receive 7,000 points, and the first 3,000 users paying with Naver Pay get 3,000 points. Spending 5,000 KRW or more at GS25 convenience stores with Tamnaneunjeon yields a 3,000 KRW GS25 coupon. To encourage merchant participation, the approval process for new Tamnaneunjeon affiliated stores has been drastically shortened from seven days to one, with the first 200 new merchants receiving 50,000 KRW worth of Tamnaneunjeon points. Small business owners accepting payments via Tamnaneunjeon QR codes benefit from zero transaction fees.
Residents can easily locate participating stores through the Tamnaneunjeon app and Jeju Province’s website. Application guidance is also available via these channels and KakaoTalk. Kim Mi-young, head of Jeju Province’s Economic Revitalization Bureau, highlighted the dual advantage of this promotion, emphasizing convenience for residents and reduced fee burdens for small businesses, calling on residents to join efforts in revitalizing the local economy.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, represented by Han Soon-gi, Director-General of the Local Finance and Economy Bureau, conducted an on-site inspection in Daegu on July 16 to assess readiness ahead of the coupon rollout. Han met with local small business owners to hear their concerns and hopes. He expressed optimism that the 'Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupons' would breathe new life into struggling local markets and pledged comprehensive preparations to ensure a seamless application and usage experience for citizens.
With these concerted efforts at both local and national levels, South Korea aims to stimulate consumer spending, support vulnerable populations, and empower small businesses, fostering a more resilient and vibrant economy amid ongoing challenges.
