Over 4.15 million apply for relief coupons on first day

Jul 22, 2025, 09:59 am

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A notice about the “Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon” program is displayed at Gwanghwamun Post Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on July 21, the first day of applications. / Source: Yonhap News

The South Korean government’s "Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon" program received an overwhelming response on its launch day, with more than 4.15 million people applying and over 750 billion won disbursed within the first 12 hours.

 

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as of noon on July 21, a total of 4,154,846 people had applied for the relief coupons—accounting for 8.2% of the total 50.6 million eligible recipients. The figure nearly matches the first-day applicant count of the past nationwide emergency relief fund, which saw around 5 million applications.

 

Online applications dominated with over 3.79 million submissions, compared to 330,000 through offline channels such as post offices and community centers. The amount paid out reached 754.5 billion won, equivalent to 9.3% of the program’s total budget.

 

By region, Gyeonggi Province led with more than 1.11 million applicants, followed by Seoul (739,747), South Gyeongsang Province (268,645), and Busan (268,119). In terms of application rate, Sejong City topped the list at 9.13%, while South Jeolla Province recorded the lowest at 7.17%.

 

An official from the Ministry said, “Thanks to active promotion and strong public interest, the application and disbursement processes are proceeding smoothly. We’ll ensure the system continues to run without inconvenience to the public.”

 

The coupons provide up to 450,000 won per person and can be used at local small businesses. Applications will be accepted until September 12 via online platforms or local administrative offices.

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