😊Don’t Miss Out! Tips for Applying & Using the 2nd Consumption Coupon

The 2nd Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon begins applications from September 22, 2025.

This guide covers eligibility, how to apply, how to use it, and whether foreigners can receive it.

Don’t miss your benefit!

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🏷️ What’s the 2nd Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon?

The “Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon” is a government stimulus policy meant

to revive domestic consumption and support people’s living standards.
In its second round, the program gives ₩100,000 per person to individuals in the bottom 90% by income.

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📅 Timeline & Deadlines

The application period runs from September 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM until October 31, 2025 at 6:00 PM.
The coupon can be used until November 30, 2025 at midnight, and any unused balance will automatically expire after that date.
During the first week only (September 22 to 26), applications were limited by the last digit of the applicant’s birth year (a weekday-based system). After that, anyone eligible could apply freely without restrictions.

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🎯 Eligibility & Qualification Criteria

Eligible People

• Korean citizens whose income falls within the bottom 90% threshold
• Excluded if property tax base > ₩1.2 billion (for 2024)
• Excluded if total financial income in 2024 > ₩20 million

Eligibility is judged based on the household’s combined National Health Insurance (NHI) monthly contribution (excluding long-term care) in June 2025.
The threshold changes depending on household size and whether it’s a dual-income household.

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📝 How to Apply & Delivery Methods

Application Channels

• Online: via card company app or website, ARS, regional gift certificate app, participating financial institution apps
• Offline: Welfare/Resident centers (eup/myeon/dong), affiliated bank branches

Payment/Delivery Options (you pick one)

• Credit or debit card
• Regional gift certificates (mobile/card/physical)
• Prepaid card

Notes & Cautions

• Once an application is submitted, it cannot be canceled
• You must apply within the application period
• The weekday rule applies only during the first week
• For elderly or mobility-impaired people, there is a “visiting application” option via local governments

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💳 Where You Can Use It & Restrictions

• Valid at small businesses with annual sales ≤ ₩3 billion
• Some sectors are excluded: large marts, department stores, online shopping malls, direct-operated franchises, electronics stores
• Usage is limited geographically: tied to your registered address area
• If you choose a card type, region change may be allowed starting the next day

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🛂 Can Foreigners Receive the Coupon?

Here’s what I found about eligibility for foreigners and foreign-national Koreans (overseas Koreans, foreign-national compatriots):

• In principle, foreigners are excluded from receiving the consumption coupon, as the program is aimed at supporting nationals. 
• Exceptions exist, especially for foreign national Koreans or foreign residents under certain conditions:
  1. Foreign nationals who are listed on a resident registration record that includes at least one Korean national, and who have the same National Health Insurance status (insured, dependent, or medical benefit recipient). 
  2. Foreigners in a household alone but holding permanent residency (F-5), spousal immigrant visa (F-6), or recognized refugee (F-2-4), who are insured under NHI (or dependents or medical benefit recipients). 
• Also, for overseas Koreans or foreign-national compatriots, those registered in Korea’s systems (resident registration) and meeting health insurance criteria may be eligible.
• But ordinary foreign residents without those statuses or not meeting insurance criteria are generally not eligible. 

So if you are a foreigner and want to find out whether you can apply, check:

• Do you have resident registration with a Korean national in your registered household?
• Do you hold F-5, F-6, or F-2-4 visa status?
• Are you covered by National Health Insurance as insured, dependent, or medical benefit recipient?

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📊 Application Status & Expected Impact

• Within two days of opening applications, 12.59 million people had already received their coupons,
  totaling about ₩1.259 trillion in disbursements
• As of September 25, about 54.1% of eligible people had applied
• Many small merchants have reported increased customer traffic due to the coupon program

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⚠️ Things to Watch Out For / Tips

• Unused funds expire after November 30—make sure to use all of it
• Before applying, verify your health insurance status, property status, and financial income
• Apply early to avoid system congestion
• Stay alert for any notifications from local government or card issuers
• Always ask a store if they accept the coupon before paying

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✅ Final Summary & Advice

The 2nd Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon gives ₩100,000 per person to people in the bottom 90% by income. The application window is September 22 to October 31, 2025, and usage ends on November 30, 2025. It’s intended to be used at small local businesses (under ₩3 billion in annual sales).

For foreigners, eligibility is generally excluded, but some exceptions apply: those with certain visas (F-5, F-6, F-2-4), or those registered with Korean nationals in the same resident record and under National Health Insurance may qualify.