25.07.05.Today News : Korean Government to Provide Up to ₩550,000 per Person in Recovery Vouchers from July 21

Korean Government to Provide Up to ₩550,000 per Person in Recovery Vouchers from July 21

• Tiered payments by income and region, with restrictions on usage at large retailers

Starting July 21, the Korean government will distribute consumer vouchers worth up to ₩550,000 per person as part of its economic recovery plan. The program, funded through a supplementary budget, targets income-based and regional disparities and aims to stimulate local consumption.

The government will start distributing the “Civil Recovery Consumption Coupon” to all citizens on July 21 to revitalize domestic demand and stabilize people's livelihoods.

At a joint briefing on July 5, Acting Minister of the Interior and Safety Kim Min-jae announced that the first phase of payments will begin on July 21. “We aim to restore domestic demand and support low-income households as quickly as possible,” he said.

Under the Phase 1 plan, all Korean citizens will receive a base amount of ₩150,000, with additional support as follows:

- Basic Livelihood recipients: ₩400,000 total

- Low-income households and single-parent families: ₩300,000

- General public: ₩150,000

In addition, residents living outside the Seoul metropolitan area will receive an extra ₩30,000, and those in 84 designated rural population-decline regions will receive ₩50,000 more. As a result, maximum Phase 1 support could reach ₩450,000 per person.

Applications will be accepted online and offline from July 21 at 9:00 a.m. to September 12 at 6:00 p.m. Vouchers can be issued as credit/debit card balances, prepaid cards, or local gift certificates. Benefits are applied the day after application and are automatically used before standard card balances during purchases.

To prevent system overload, a weekday-based application schedule by birth year will be enforced in the first week. For example, those born in years ending in 1 or 6 can apply on Monday, and so on. Weekends are open to all.

Vouchers can only be used at small local businesses with annual sales under ₩3 billion, such as traditional markets, local grocers, restaurants, beauty salons, and private academies. Usage at large supermarkets, department stores, online malls, delivery apps, and entertainment venues is prohibited. The vouchers are valid until November 30 and must be used within the applicant's registered municipality.

Phase 2 of the program will begin on September 22, granting an additional ₩100,000 to 90% of citizens, excluding the top 10% income bracket. Selection will be based on national health insurance data, with additional wealth-based exclusion criteria to be announced in September.

Unlike previous COVID-era programs, this initiative is income-adjusted and includes restrictions on luxury retail usage. Notably, refugees recognized by the Korean government will also be eligible, marking a first in voucher policy.

The government will enhance monitoring to prevent fraudulent voucher use, particularly with local currency certificates. Officials pledged to ensure efficient execution, stating that the program aims to revitalize consumption and provide tangible support to vulnerable citizens.

One-line summary : Starting July 21, the Korean government will distribute recovery vouchers of up to ₩550,000 per person, tiered by income and region, usable only at small local businesses.