Digital Onnuri Gift Certificate: A Comprehensive Guide to Supporting Local Businesses
The Digital Onnuri Gift Certificate is a government-operated payment service designed to support traditional markets and small businesses across Korea. In 2025, it was upgraded into a single integrated app that supports both card payments and QR code payments.
Users can enjoy instant discounts when charging, additional refund events, and income tax deductions, all while using the service just like a regular payment method in daily life.
This guide explains how the Digital Onnuri Gift Certificate works, how to install and use the app, and what benefits and precautions users should be aware of.
What Is the Digital Onnuri Gift Certificate
The Digital Onnuri Gift Certificate is a mobile-only electronic gift certificate issued by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. Since March 2025, the previous card-based and mobile versions have been fully integrated into one official app.
The service provides an instant 10 percent discount when charging, additional refund events based on usage, and income tax deductions of up to 40 percent annually. Because of these benefits, it has become a popular and practical everyday payment option.
It can be used at more than 350,000 affiliated stores nationwide, including traditional markets, small shops, restaurants, hospitals, academies, and pharmacies.
App Installation and Basic Setup
To get started, search for the Digital Onnuri Gift Certificate app in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and install it on your smartphone. Registration is simple and completed through mobile phone identity verification.
After signing up, users need to link a bank account under their own name through the account registration menu in the app. Frequently used debit or credit cards can also be registered to enable seamless offline payments.
Charging is available in units of 10,000 won, and a 10 percent discount is applied immediately. For example, charging 100,000 won requires an actual payment of only 90,000 won. The auto-charge feature can be activated to recharge automatically when the balance runs low.
Payment Methods Supported
The Digital Onnuri Gift Certificate supports both card payments and QR code payments, allowing users to choose the most familiar method.
With card payments, users simply pay as they normally would using a registered card. The gift certificate balance is deducted automatically without needing to open the app.
For QR code payments, users open the app, select the pay function, and scan the QR code or barcode displayed. This method allows easy payment using only a mobile phone without a physical card.
If the gift certificate balance is insufficient, the remaining amount is automatically charged to the linked card or bank account. The service can also be connected to Samsung Pay or Apple Pay for even more convenience.
Available Merchants Nationwide
The Digital Onnuri Gift Certificate can be used at approximately 350,000 merchants across Korea. These include traditional markets, local shopping streets, and various small businesses.
Common offline locations include restaurants, beauty salons, hospitals, academies, pharmacies, and auto repair shops. Online usage is also possible through platforms such as Onnuri Public Mall, Post Office Shopping, and online traditional market sections like Meokkeobi.
However, the service cannot be used at large supermarkets, department stores, or gambling-related businesses.
Users can check participating merchants directly in the app using the find-a-merchant feature or search by region through the Traditional Market Tongtong website.
Additional Benefits and Important Precautions
Payments made at traditional markets are eligible for an automatic 40 percent income tax deduction. In addition, a refund event offers a 10 percent refund on spending until September 2025, with a weekly cap of 20,000 won.
Unused balances can be refunded directly within the app, and the gift certificate has a validity period of five years from the date of issuance. Any remaining balance expires automatically after this period.
The 2025 upgrade transformed the Digital Onnuri Gift Certificate into an all-in-one platform where charging, payment, and balance management can be handled in one place.
By supporting both QR code and card payments, the service is easy to adopt for users of all ages, making it a practical tool for saving money while supporting local businesses.
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