Save on Living Costs with Local Currency (Local Love Gift Certificates)

The diagram below is a self-made illustration, not a real screen.

If you spend money at neighborhood shops anyway, you can buy local gift certificates at a discount. Based on Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) and local government pages.

Who this is for

• People who often pay at local marts, restaurants, academies, etc.
• People curious about their area’s discount rate

1. Basic rules (MOIS)

• Issued by local governments; used at registered merchants in that area.
• Not usable at: large marts, department stores, etc. Businesses with over 3 billion won in annual sales generally can’t register (some exceptions, e.g., Hanaro Marts in some rural townships).
• Benefit: purchase discount or point rewards, set by each local government
• Types: paper, mobile, card
• Purchase limit: set by each local government within 2,000,000 won per person per month; paper is capped at 700,000 won per month.

2. Current discount (national policy)

• MOIS: in population-decline areas, extra national funding means certificates have been issued at at least 15% discount since September 1, 2025 (previously 10%).
• Actual rates depend on local ordinances and budgets. Check your local government’s site or app.

3. Getting back leftover balance

• By law, after using at least the ordinance-set share (between 60% and 80%) of the face value, you can get the remaining balance back.
• You must not resell certificates or ask merchants to exchange them for cash.

Local examples (official local government pages)

• Wonju: after using 60% (80% for certificates of 10,000 won or less), merchants must pay the remaining balance in cash right away.
• Gimhae (mobile): unused certificates can be fully refunded within 7 days of purchase; after that, the balance is refundable once 70% is used. Refunds are requested in the official app and paid within 2–3 days (per Gimhae’s public guide).

Common mistakes

• Buying up to the limit and not using it all
• Trying to pay at a large mart
• Reselling discounted certificates (prohibited)
• Not checking your area’s refund threshold

Checklist

• ☐ Checked my area’s certificate name and discount
• ☐ Bought only what I’ll actually spend this month
• ☐ Confirmed my usual shops are merchants
• ☐ Checked the balance refund threshold

For more money you may be missing, see our guide to finding hidden money.

We also have a $4.99 PDF guide that collects more everyday money-saving tips. Take a look if it’s useful →