As year-end tax settlement season arrives, the hometown love donation program is drawing attention among office workers as a tax credit "pro tip." You can receive a tax credit on the full amount of your donation and even receive a return gift such as local specialties.
The hometown love donation program is a system that gives a tax credit benefit when you donate to a local government other than your current residence. Although the word "hometown" is in the name, you do not have to donate to your birthplace. You can choose a region you personally want to support or a local government you are interested in.
The tax credit structure is simple. Donations up to 100,000 won are fully credited. From 100,000 won to 20,000,000 won, 16.5% of the donation is credited. If the donation area is a special disaster zone, you can receive a 33% tax credit.
For example, if you donate 100,000 won, you get the same 100,000 won back as a tax credit. A 200,000 won donation yields a 116,500 won credit, and a 300,000 won donation yields a 133,000 won tax credit benefit.
On top of that, return gifts are provided. The return gift is equivalent to 30% of the donation. If you donate 100,000 won, you receive a 100,000 won tax credit along with a return gift worth 30,000 won.
Return gifts vary by local government. When the program was first implemented in 2023, there were only about 2,000 types of return gifts, but as of 2025 there are roughly 13,000. You can choose from local specialty agricultural, livestock, and marine products, as well as tourism vouchers and manufactured goods such as cosmetics and toilet paper. You can also select products from bakeries and restaurants where people line up by region, such as Sungsimdang (Daejeon).
Donations can be made through the government-run "Hometown Love e-eum" portal (epeople.go.kr). Check return gifts by local government on the site and donate right away.
Donations are also possible through major bank apps such as IBK Industrial Bank, KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, and Hana Bank, and on private platforms such as WeGive, Wello, and Nolgofarm. Private platforms additionally provide vouchers equivalent to 10% of the donation.
There are some caveats. You cannot donate to the metropolitan or basic local governments where you currently reside. Also, if you have no income or your final tax due is 0 won, you cannot receive a tax credit refund. Business income earners must separately submit a donation receipt when filing comprehensive income tax in May.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), as of the 14th of this month, cumulative donations to the hometown love program stood at 98.1 billion won, up 172% from the same period a year earlier. This year is also likely to surpass 100 billion won. Minister Yoon Ho-jung of the MOIS said, "We will actively push institutional improvements such as expanding tax credits and introducing corporate donations," adding, "We will ensure the hometown love donation program takes root in people's daily lives and contributes to balanced regional development."