I will focus my efforts on promoting the use of digital gift certificates.
Vice Minister Kim Seong-seop of the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups noted on the 13th during the '2025 Gift Certificate Policy Direction Briefing' that more than 1 trillion won worth of digital gift certificates were sold in the month, which included the recent Lunar New Year holiday, emphasizing the digitalization of gift certificates.
The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups is issuing gift certificates in collaboration with the Small Enterprise and Market Service to stimulate consumption in traditional markets and shopping streets.
On that day, the Ministry ran a promotional event for digital gift certificate consumption from January 10 to February 10, coinciding with the Lunar New Year holiday, and explained the effects on sales and actual use of the gift certificates.
The Ministry stated that a total of 1.0267 trillion won in gift certificates were sold from January 10 to February 10. This represents an increase of 579.4 billion won (129.6%) compared to the same month last year, which included the Lunar New Year holiday. In particular, sales of digital gift certificates surged. Sales of digital gift certificates reached 839.3 billion won, an increase of 737.7 billion won (726.2%) from the same period last year. The 839.3 billion won accounts for 82% of the total gift certificate sales (1.0267 trillion won).
Vice Minister Kim explained that the increase in the discount rate for digital gift certificates from the previous 10% to 15% and the refund of 15% of the gift certificate payment amount were special events that impacted consumption.
The Ministry also reported an increase in the actual use of gift certificates for purchases. From January 10 to February 10, the total amount used for gift certificates was 528.6 billion won, which is an increase of 181.5 billion won (52.3%) compared to the same period last year, with the amount spent using digital gift certificates reaching 373.3 billion won, an increase of 277 billion won (287.7%).
Based on the achievements seen in gift certificate sales and usage during this Lunar New Year period, the Ministry plans to focus its policy capacity to promote the use of digital gift certificates.
First, a unified app for digital gift certificates will be launched on March 1 to enhance user convenience. Payments can be made by selecting between card-type and mobile gift certificates within a single app. A navigation guide function for searching stores will be added, along with a large text mode for seniors. The integrated app will also introduce an automatic recharge function for gift certificate amounts.
To expand the places of use, the designation of alley shopping streets will be increased, and the number of registered merchants for digital gift certificates will be expanded. To enable convenient use of gift certificates in small commercial areas near residences or workplaces, the plan is to increase the number of alley shopping streets cumulatively to 600.
Vice Minister Kim Seong-seop said, "Efforts will be made to improve usability and expand places of use so that digital gift certificates can be used more conveniently and widely," adding that "a refund event for digital gift certificates will be additionally held for about two weeks during the March festival to stimulate consumption." Vice Minister Kim also stated, "Active support will be provided so that elderly merchants do not feel uncomfortable using digital gift certificates."