Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Lee Hyung-il [Yonhap]
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Lee Hyung-il [Yonhap]

The Ministry of Economy and Finance said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Lee Hyung-il convened an economic affairs meeting Sunday to discuss improvements to the Onuri gift voucher cashback system for traditional markets and measures to manage living costs.

The meeting was attended by Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Song Mi-ryeong, SMEs and Startups Minister Lee So-young, Planning and Budget Minister Park Hong-keun and Oceans and Fisheries Vice Minister Nam Jae-heon, along with Cheong Wa Dae Policy Chief Ha Jun-kyeong, Senior Economic Growth Secretary Moon Sin-hak and Fiscal Planning Adviser Ryu Deok-hyeon.

The government had discussed an overhaul of the Onuri gift voucher program at a ministerial meeting on economic affairs on Oct. 1. The revamp — the first in 18 years — focused on strengthening consumer benefits at traditional markets and local commercial districts, and on boosting sales at Onuri-affiliated merchants by deepening ties with regional tourism resources and private-sector services.

Under the new framework, consumers who use Onuri gift vouchers at traditional markets will receive a 5 percent discount at the time of purchase plus an additional 5 percent cashback after use, for a total benefit of 10 percent. Those who use the vouchers at local neighborhood commercial districts will receive a 5 percent purchase discount and a 3 percent post-use cashback, for a combined benefit of 8 percent.

The government said it plans to finalize its policy after further inter-agency consultations and gathering opinions from various sectors based on Sunday's discussions.


oskymoon@heraldcorp.com