The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on the 30th that it convened the "interagency task force on high oil price relief funds" and decided to add gas stations with annual sales exceeding 3 billion won as eligible places to use the high oil price relief funds.
The move comes after criticism that the "high oil price relief funds," prepared to support the livelihoods of ordinary people, could not be used at many gas stations nationwide due to usage restrictions. About 58% of gas stations nationwide were found to have annual sales exceeding 3 billion won. With this improvement, gas stations can accept the high oil price relief funds regardless of sales.
If the funds were received on a credit, debit, or prepaid card, they can be used at gas stations in the local government jurisdiction of the cardholder's registered address regardless of annual sales starting May 1.
However, if a gas station and a nearby big-box store share a business registration number and use the same terminal, that gas station may not be included as an eligible place of use.
If the funds were received as a Local Love Gift Certificate, they can be used regardless of annual sales at gas stations that are existing Local Love Gift Certificate merchants and at gas stations temporarily added for the use of the high oil price relief funds. Because merchant registration status may vary by local government, users should check the merchant list in advance through the Local Love Gift Certificate app or local government websites.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) noted, "This measure is intended to ease the burden of fuel costs on the public exacerbated by the Middle East war and to improve the convenience of using the high oil price relief funds."