Starting July 21, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) will launch its nationwide “Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon” program, distributing up to KRW 550,000 per person to Korean nationals to boost domestic consumption and support the local economy in the post-COVID-19 era. The payments will be made in two phases.

The basic eligibility is determined by Korean nationality and residency as of June 18, 2025. As a general rule, foreign nationals are not eligible. However, exceptions are made for certain categories: foreigners listed on the same resident registration document as a Korean national, those enrolled in the National Health Insurance system (as a member or dependent), and specific visa holders such as marriage migrants (F-6), permanent residents (F-5), and recognized refugees (F-2-4) who receive medical aid benefits.

Each eligible person will receive a base amount of KRW 150,000. Additional support includes KRW 400,000 for recipients of basic livelihood benefits, KRW 300,000 for near-poverty households and single-parent families, KRW 30,000 for residents outside the Seoul metropolitan area, and KRW 50,000 for residents of rural areas experiencing population decline. This brings the potential maximum benefit to KRW 550,000 per person.

The first application period runs from July 21 (Monday) at 9 a.m. to September 12 (Friday) at 6 p.m. A second application period will follow from September 23 to October 31. Applications can be made both online and offline. During the first week, a staggered application schedule based on the last digit of birth year will apply: Monday (1,6), Tuesday (2,7), Wednesday (3,8), Thursday (4,9), and Friday (5,0).

Online applications may be submitted via credit card company websites, mobile apps, call centers, or ARS, with rewards issued as credit/debit card points. Local currency-type coupons can be applied for through municipal platforms or mobile apps. Offline applications can be submitted at partner bank branches or local community centers. For paper vouchers and prepaid cards, applicants must visit their local administrative offices. A separate "visiting application service" is also available through local governments for the elderly and individuals with mobility challenges.

Distributed coupons must be used by November 30, after which any unused balance will automatically expire. The coupons are restricted for use at small local businesses (annual sales under KRW 3 billion) within the address registered on the applicant’s resident record. They cannot be used at large retailers, department stores, duty-free shops, adult entertainment venues, franchise headquarters, or online stores.

Eligible individuals can receive personalized updates about their application status, benefit amount, method of payment, and expiration date by signing up for the government’s “People’s Notification Service” via KakaoTalk, Naver, Toss, or the official website (www.ips.go.kr), beginning July 19.

For multicultural families, only members holding Korean nationality are fully eligible. Those with foreign nationality are generally excluded unless they meet the criteria listed in the official guidelines. Foreign nationals are advised to confirm their eligibility via the Notification Service or at the card issuer’s customer center.

Although the program is classified as universal, MOIS has applied a tiered system based on income and place of residence to prioritize socially vulnerable groups and support small businesses. Given the variety of application channels and payment formats, eligible individuals are urged to apply using the method most appropriate for their situation and location before the deadline.