Homemaker Lee, 33, bought 34,000 won worth of fruit on the 12th at Sejong Traditional Market in Jochiwon-eup, Sejong, for the Lunar New Year holiday. The shop owner said, "Take your receipt and join the refund event," and entered the mobile phone number and purchase amount into the terminal.
In fact, a 10,000-won Onnuri Gift Certificate could be received at the refund booth set up at the market entrance. If you present your receipt, they confirm your mobile phone number and provide a partial refund. Refund assistant A said, "It seems about 150 people visit the refund booth a day."
If you have receipts for purchases made at traditional markets and highway rest areas during this Lunar New Year holiday, you can receive refunds or discounts. The event aims to ease grocery price burdens and encourage local tourism. ChosunBiz compiled a "receipt usage guide" for this.
◇ Discount at nearby attractions with a single rest area receipt through the 18th
Through the 18th, if you dine or buy snacks at rest areas in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and Chungcheong and keep your receipt, you can get linked discounts at tourist facilities near Gangwon and Chungcheong. A government official said, "Since you're stopping by a rest area on your way to visit family, the idea is to also visit nearby spots in that region."
In Gangwon, discounts on hot springs, pools, and animal feeding experiences stand out. Forty-six rest areas under the Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) Metropolitan, Seoul–Gyeonggi, and Gangwon regional headquarters—including Yongin (both directions), Seoul Mannam (toward Busan), and Chuncheon (toward Busan)—are included. If you spend less than 10,000 won at these locations, only one person is discounted; if you spend 10,000 won or more, two people per each 10,000 won are discounted.
At Hanwha Hotel & Resort Seorak in Sokcho, Gangwon; The N Resort and Osaek Greenyard Hotel in Yangyang; Elysian Gangchon in Chuncheon; and Skybay Hotel Gyeongpo in Gangneung, as well as Welli Hilli Park in Hoengseong, admission to hot springs and pools is discounted. At Alpensia Resort in Pyeongchang, Gangwon, ski lift fees are discounted, and at Daegwallyeong Sky Ranch in Pyeongchang, Gangwon, and Hongcheon's Hongcheon Donkey Village and Alpaca World, animal feeding fees are discounted.
In North Chungcheong, keep your receipt from 26 rest areas under the corporation's North Chungcheong Regional Headquarters, including Geumwang (both directions), Chungju (both directions), Anseong Matchum (both directions), and Mungyeong (both directions). The discount is one person per each 10,000 won. After adding "Korea Expressway Corporation North Chungcheong Headquarters" as a Kakao friend and verifying your receipt, a discount coupon is sent.
In Danyang, North Chungcheong, paragliding experience prices are discounted at Parae Banada and The SSEN Paragliding. In Jecheon, North Chungcheong, Cheongpung Lakeside Cable Car and Cheongpung Land Zipline are available at lower prices, as are the Mancheonha Monorail and Zipline in Danyang and the Hwalok Cave boat package in Chungju. The Cheongpung Lake cruise in Jecheon, the Tangeum Lake cruise in Chungju, and the Chungju Lake sightseeing cruise and round-trip cruise are also available at reduced fares.
In South Chungcheong, there are many benefits for cafes and experience centers. Use any of the 22 rest areas under the corporation's Daejeon–South Chungcheong Headquarters, excluding Geumgang and Okcheon Mannam rest areas, such as Ipgangeobong Grape (toward Seoul), Manghyang (toward Busan), and Okcheon (both directions). Coffee is discounted at Cafe 858, Fino Cafe, Bay Breeze Cafe in Taean, South Chungcheong, and Laricrake Cafe in Yesan. Admission is also discounted at Finikland in Asan, Taean Light Festival, Baram-ae Down Tourist Farm, IAAN Forest in Gongju, the Boryung Gunheon Fishing Village mudflat experience center, the Baekje Culture Experience Museum in Cheongyang, and the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival.
However, the receipt-linked discount event is not being held in Gyeongsang, Jeolla, or Jeju. A Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) official said, "Please refer to the notices provided at each rest area for detailed discount information."
◇ Collect market receipts for an Onnuri Gift Certificate refund… "Only one day left on the 14th"
The traditional market Onnuri Gift Certificate refund event began on the 10th and runs through the 14th. If you purchase 34,000 won or more at a market, you get 10,000 won back; if you purchase 67,000 won or more, you get 20,000 won back. A person cannot receive multiple refunds.
Agricultural and livestock products and seafood have separate eligible refund amounts. For example, if you bought 12,000 won worth of fish and 22,000 won worth of vegetables and fruit at one market, a refund is not possible. If you bought 67,000 won worth of vegetables, fruit, and meat, and 67,000 won worth of fish, you could receive up to 40,000 won.
Eligible markets differ for agricultural and livestock products and seafood, so you should check participating markets in advance. The list of participating markets can be found on the Agricultural and Livestock Product Discount Support website (sale.foodnuri.go.kr) and the Korea Grand Fishery Sale website (fsale.kr).