The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said on the 9th that a revision to the Enforcement Decree of the Special Act on the Promotion of Traditional Markets and Shopping Districts, aimed at strengthening criteria for managing Onnuri Gift Certificate merchants and blocking illegal distribution, passed the Cabinet meeting.
The revision, which takes effect on the 17th, includes a provision that stores with annual sales exceeding 3 billion won and certain specialized service sectors are restricted from new Onnuri Gift Certificate merchant registration.
Specifically, if a merchant in a market or alley-type shopping district exceeds 3 billion won in sales in the previous business year or in Onnuri Gift Certificate redemptions, it is excluded from eligibility for merchant registration. Registration is also restricted for health care such as hospitals and clinics including Korean medicine clinics, veterinary services, accounting and tax services, legal services, and gambling facility operations.
Even if a business met the requirements at the time of merchant registration, the registration will be canceled if subsequent sales exceed the threshold or if the business falls under a restricted sector. However, merchants registered before the effective date will not be subject to the revised criteria until their first renewal.
Penalties for illegal distribution are also strengthened. If Onnuri Gift Certificates are accepted or redeemed without a goods or services transaction, a penalty surcharge of up to three times the unjust gains may be imposed.
In addition, a legal basis was established to impose fines for certain violations that had previously resulted only in warnings. The scope includes accepting Onnuri Gift Certificate payments at locations other than the registered merchant site or through non-face-to-face methods, reusing certificates received from consumers at another merchant, and non-merchants accepting the certificates.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) also urged Onnuri Gift Certificate merchants whose validity periods are nearing expiration to apply for renewal within the deadline. The validity period for an Onnuri Gift Certificate merchant is three years. More than half of currently registered merchants will expire in Oct. this year.
Merchant renewal applications can be filed from three months to 10 days before the expiration date. Applications can be submitted via the Onnuri Gift Certificate merchant platform or through the competent Regional Office of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups by visiting in person, mail, or fax.