The government will implement a 'cooperation payback' program that refunds part of the increased card spending as digital Onnuri gift certificates. As card usage increases, individuals can receive up to 100,000 won per month, with a maximum total of 300,000 won. This plan aims to boost consumption in traditional markets and support small businesses in vulnerable commercial areas.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 20th a plan containing the application, payment, and usage details for the 'cooperation payback'. The cooperation payback is a program that refunds 20% of the increase in card consumption between September and November this year compared to the average monthly spending of last year.
If the average monthly card spending last year was 1 million won and this year 1.3 million won was used in September, a refund of 60,000 won, which is 20% of the increased 300,000 won, will be given as a digital Onnuri gift certificate. A maximum refund of 300,000 won can be received over three months.
The cooperation payback will first be paid on October 15, after the increase in card spending for September has been calculated. To receive the gift certificates, it is necessary to register as a member of the digital Onnuri application (app) during the application process.
The applicants must be Korean citizens and foreigners aged 19 or over who have used domestic credit or debit cards as of last year. Applications can be submitted from the 15th of next month until November 30 through the cooperation payback website.
Once applied, the increase in card spending from September to November will be automatically calculated without the need to submit separate consumption records.
In the first week of applications, a 5-day system will be applied based on the last digit of the birth year. From September 20 onward, applications can be made anytime without any day restriction.
The increase in spending that serves as the basis for the cooperation payback is calculated by comparing it to the average monthly card spending of last year. This includes spending made with credit and debit cards used domestically. Last year's performance can be checked on the cooperation payback website two days after the application date, and spending records from September to November can be checked from September 17.
However, amounts spent at e-commerce platforms, including shopping malls and delivery apps where card companies cannot verify the seller's information due to the payment structure, are excluded from the calculation.
Payments made through bank transfers, cash payments, other convenient payment methods excluding Samsung and Apple Pay, as well as at large corporation-affiliated offline stores such as department stores, outlets, hypermarkets, and franchise-owned stores, and large electronics stores are also excluded from the spending calculations.
The digital Onnuri gift certificates received can be used for five years from the date received at approximately 130,000 participating stores, including traditional markets and shopping districts.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will also conduct a 'cooperation consumption lottery' event. The lottery will automatically enter those who apply for the cooperation payback on the website by October 12. The winnings will be paid in digital Onnuri gift certificates in November, benefiting a total of 2,025 people with a total prize pool of 1 billion won for 10 first-place winners, each receiving 20 million won.
Lee Dae-geon, the director of small business policies at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, noted, "The cooperation payback will support consumer activation following the people's livelihood recovery consumption coupons."