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Onnuri Gift Certificate Refunds at 99 Traditional Markets to Boost Consumer Spending

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Busan Metropolitan City Mayor Chun Jae-soo announced that, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the city will carry out the Traditional Market Consumption Promotion Refund Support Program, organized by the Busan Merchants Association, at 99 traditional markets across Busan for two days from September 11 to 12 to encourage visits to and spending at traditional markets.

The event is designed to revitalize traditional markets struggling with sluggish consumer spending. By refunding part of customers’ purchase amounts in Onnuri Gift Certificates and encouraging them to spend the certificates again at traditional markets, the program aims to increase merchants’ sales and invigorate local commercial districts.

Customers who spend KRW 40,000 or more at participating stores can receive KRW 10,000 in paper Onnuri Gift Certificates, while those who spend KRW 70,000 or more can receive KRW 20,000.

The maximum refund is KRW 20,000 per person during the event period. Receipts from purchases made at the same market during the event period may be combined, but receipts from different markets may not be combined.

To receive a refund, customers must bring a card receipt or cash receipt from a participating store to a designated refund location. Participating stores will display stickers indicating their participation in the refund event.

Refunds are available for purchases made at participating wholesale and retail stores and restaurants within traditional markets and apply broadly without being limited to specific items such as agricultural, livestock and fishery products.

Participating businesses are wholesale and retail stores and restaurants capable of issuing card or cash receipts. Excluded businesses include healthcare providers such as hospitals, clinics and pharmacies; service providers such as singing rooms and real estate businesses; and businesses involving entertainment, gaming, gambling or other activities inconsistent with the purpose of the event.

A total of 85 refund locations will operate at 99 traditional markets across Busan’s 16 districts and counties, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Operating hours may be adjusted at some markets to reflect their business hours and visitor patterns. The event at each market will end early if its allocated supply of Onnuri Gift Certificates is exhausted.

Detailed information, including participating markets and operating hours for each market, is available on the Busan Metropolitan City website at https://www.busan.go.kr/ under Busan News, Latest News and Integrated Notices, and on the Busan Merchants Association website at www.bsma.co.kr.

To reduce crowding at particular times and shorten waiting times, Busan Metropolitan City has moved the event start time earlier than in previous years to 9:30 a.m. and will deploy additional on-site staff.

In addition, to sustain consumer spending momentum at traditional markets, the city plans to hold another Onnuri Gift Certificate refund event on a larger scale in November, timed to coincide with a major consumer spending promotion period.

Kim Gi-hwan, Assistant Mayor of Digital Economy Office, said, “We hope this refund event will provide tangible benefits to residents by easing their household shopping costs while giving traditional market merchants an opportunity to attract more visitors and increase sales. We also hope that the Onnuri Gift Certificates received as refunds will be spent again at traditional markets and local commercial districts rather than resulting in one-time purchases, ultimately leading to higher merchant sales and renewed vitality in commercial districts.”