The maximum 10% benefit for using Onnuri Gift Certificates at traditional markets is **not yet in effectIt is part of a reform scheduled for implementation in 2027. Currently, digital Onnuri Gift Certificates offer a standard 7% discount at purchase. Under the proposed reform, this would change to a 5% purchase discount plus an additional spending-based rebate of 0–5%, depending on where the certificates are used.
The important distinction is that the discount received when purchasing a gift certificate and the rebate received after spending it are two separate benefits.the new 10% benefit cannot be applied to every purchase. The government's announced 10% benefit concerns spending at traditional markets under the reform scheduled for 2027. It must be distinguished from the current standard purchase discount of 7%.
Current Onnuri Gift Certificate Discount: 7%, Not 10%
Under the existing digital Onnuri Gift Certificate system, consumers receive a discount when purchasing the certificates.
For example, applying the current standard discount of 7% means that a gift certificate with a face value of KRW 100,000 can be purchased for KRW 93,000.
By contrast, the 2027 reform would reduce the standard purchase discount to 5% and introduce additional rebates based on where the certificates are actually spent.
October 1, 2026 was the date the reform was announced, not the date the new discount and rebate system took effect. Any separate limited-time promotions or additional benefits must be checked against their own terms and conditions.
How the 2027 Reform Would Change Discounts and Rebates
| Where the certificates are used | Current standard discount | 2027 purchase discount | Rebate after spending | Total benefit under the reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional markets | 7% | 5% | 5% | Up to 10% |
At traditional markets, the combined purchase discount and spending rebate would be 3 percentage points higher than the current benefit.
The 10% and 8% figures in the table represent the combined rates of the two benefits announced by the government. They do not mean that every consumer will receive the entire amount as an immediate discount at the time of purchase.
How Much Would a KRW 100,000 Onnuri Gift Certificate Cost in 2027?
With the proposed 2027 purchase discount of 5%, a digital Onnuri Gift Certificate with a face value of KRW 100,000 would cost KRW 95,000.
Compared with the current standard discount of 7%, purchasing a certificate with the same face value would require an additional KRW 2,000 upfront.
Author's calculations based on a face value of KRW 100,000:
| Category | Amount paid at purchase | Rebate rate after spending |
|---|---|---|
| Current standard discount | KRW 93,000 | Separate from the standard purchase discount |
| 2027: Traditional markets | KRW 95,000 | 5% |
The calculations are straightforward:
Current purchase price: KRW 100,000 × 93% = KRW 93,000
Purchase price after the reform: KRW 100,000 × 95% = KRW 95,000
Additional upfront cost at purchase: KRW 2,000
When the certificates are used at traditional markets, a separate 5% spending-based rebate would apply under the proposed system.
However, because detailed operating conditions—including the exact basis for calculating rebates, payment schedules, and limits—have not yet been confirmed, it cannot be stated definitively that spending KRW 100,000 would result in a rebate of exactly KRW 5,000.
The benefit structure announced by the government must be distinguished from the actual rebate amount an individual consumer ultimately receives.
When Would the Additional 5% Traditional-Market Rebate Apply?
The proposed 5% spending rebate for 2027 is linked to using Onnuri Gift Certificates at traditional markets, not simply purchasing them. It applies at a different stage from the 5% purchase discount.
For example, a consumer who has only loaded funds onto a digital Onnuri Gift Certificate account but has not spent them cannot be considered to have received the traditional-market spending rebate.
As a result, actual payment locations and transaction records would become important, in addition to gift certificate purchase records.
The government's published reform plan confirms the proposed rebate rates by spending location. Specific rebate application procedures and payment schedules must be checked in separate implementation guidance.
Why Do Neighborhood Shopping Districts Have Different Rebate Rates?
However, being located in a neighborhood shopping district does not automatically make every ordinary store eligible to accept Onnuri Gift Certificates.
Onnuri Gift Certificates are South Korean government-supported vouchers intended for use at participating merchants in designated traditional markets and officially recognized neighborhood shopping districts, including areas designated as *golmokhyeong sangjeomga* (골목형상점가). Consumers must confirm that the store they intend to visit is an authorized participating merchant.
Alongside the reform, the government also plans to adjust the designation criteria for these officially recognized neighborhood shopping districts according to the financial circumstances of local governments in South Korea.
Will Gift Certificates Purchased in 2026 Qualify for 2027 Rebates?
Consumers who purchase digital Onnuri Gift Certificates in 2026 and use them in 2027 will need to check the separate implementation rules to determine whether the new rebate rates apply.
The reform announced on October 1, 2026, outlined the purchase discounts and spending rebates by location, but it did not definitively specify how the new rules would apply to previously purchased gift certificates.
In particular, the following matters require confirmation through official implementation guidance:
Whether balances purchased before the reform will qualify for rebates
Monthly or per-person limits on spending rebates
The basis for calculating rebate amounts and the timing of payments
Eligible participating merchants and accepted payment methods
Consumers should therefore not assume that purchasing gift certificates in advance will guarantee an additional rebate simply because they intend to spend them at traditional markets in 2027.
Other Changes: Merchant Eligibility, Store Searches, and Regional Benefits
Alongside the Onnuri Gift Certificate reform, South Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups also announced measures to improve merchant management and convenience for consumers.
Since June 2026, the program has been operated primarily around participating merchants with annual sales of KRW 3 billion or less, while restricting participation by hospitals, clinics, and professional service businesses such as legal, accounting, and tax services. Pharmacies are permitted to participate, taking into account their potential to attract visitors to traditional markets and commercial districts.
The government is also pursuing cooperation with private platforms such as Naver and Kakao to make it easier for consumers to find participating Onnuri Gift Certificate merchants on digital maps.
However, these additional benefits will not necessarily be offered uniformly across all regions. Consumers must consult the relevant local government's program announcements to confirm availability and eligibility conditions.
What Should Consumers Check Before Buying Onnuri Gift Certificates?
Consumers planning to use Onnuri Gift Certificates now should first verify the purchase discount actually available at the time of payment and whether the intended merchant accepts the certificates, rather than relying on the maximum benefit announced for 2027.the standard purchase discount is 7%. The announced reform would introduce a combination of a 5% purchase discount and location-based spending rebates beginning in 2027.
The current 7% purchase discount and the future maximum 10% combined spending benefit differ both in when they apply and how consumers receive them. Understanding this distinction before purchasing gift certificates is the most important consideration.