Gov't raises Chuseok gift voucher limit, offers 10% discount; highways free for four days

The government plans to expand gift voucher discounts and domestic travel and transportation support to spread the economic recovery to regional areas ahead of the Chuseok holiday.

The purchase limit for digital Onuri gift vouchers will be raised by 200,000 won ($146) just before Chuseok, with a 10 percent discount applied to the additional amount. Highway tolls will be waived for four days during the holiday, and 80,000 accommodation discount coupons for non-metropolitan areas will be released to channel homecoming and travel demand into regional spending.

The government announced the "Chuseok Livelihood Stabilization Measures" at a Cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday.

To boost spending at traditional markets and neighborhood commercial districts, the government will expand benefits for digital Onuri gift vouchers. The vouchers, normally sold at a 7 percent discount up to a monthly limit of 1 million won, will see their purchase cap raised by 200,000 won during Sept. 16-20. The existing 1 million won will carry a 7 percent discount, while the additional 200,000 won will be discounted at 10 percent, allowing buyers to purchase up to 1.2 million won worth during that period. Local love gift vouchers will also see higher discount rates and expanded purchase limits during the Chuseok period, in cooperation with local governments.

Benefits for travel to non-metropolitan areas will also increase. Starting Sept. 22 through Nov. 8, 80,000 accommodation discount coupons will be made available. Lodging products priced at 70,000 won or more will receive a 30,000 won discount, while those under 70,000 won will receive 20,000 won off. For island destinations, the discounts will be larger — 50,000 won and 30,000 won, respectively.

Visitors to rural depopulation zones will be able to recoup part of their travel expenses in the form of local love gift vouchers. The rebate rate is set at 50 percent of spending, up to a maximum of 100,000 won per person. For young people aged 19 to 34, the rate rises to 70 percent, with a maximum rebate of 140,000 won.

Workers at small and medium-sized enterprises and small businesses participating in the government's vacation support project will receive a "half-price" benefit. Participants can get up to 50 percent off — capped at 30,000 won — on accommodation, travel packages, admission tickets, KTX tickets and car rentals. An additional 10,000 workers based in regional areas will be recruited during the Chuseok period.

Transportation costs for those traveling home or on holiday will also be reduced. KTX fares will drop 10 percent following the merger of Korea Railroad Corporation and SR. From Sept. 23 to 27, select KTX and SRT trains will be discounted 30 to 50 percent for reverse homecoming trips and similar journeys, and a flat-rate group ticket will be sold allowing four passengers to ride any KTX route for 99,000 won, or any KTX-Eum route for 49,000 won. Highway tolls nationwide will be waived from Sept. 24 to 27.

Major cultural and recreational facilities will also be free during the holiday. The four grand palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, Joseon royal tombs and other national heritage sites, as well as the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, will open free of charge from Sept. 24 to 27. National natural recreation forests will waive admission fees from Sept. 24 to 26. Some 220,000 discount vouchers for performing arts events will be distributed from Tuesday through Nov. 30.

After Chuseok, a cross-ministry integrated consumer festival — the Korea Grand Festival — will run from Oct. 29 to Nov. 15, featuring large-scale discounts on automobiles, home appliances, clothing and daily necessities.

The government will also tighten sanctions against price gouging during peak tourist periods. Accommodation and restaurant operators who violate requirements to post and adhere to price lists, and taxi drivers who charge illegal fares, will face immediate penalties from the first offense — skipping the warning and corrective order stages and going straight to business suspension or license revocation. Regulations covering accommodation businesses have already been revised, and rules for restaurants and taxis will be updated this month. The government is also pushing to introduce a "price gouging prevention system" under which accommodation operators would pre-register seasonal price caps with local governments.

Safety management systems will be placed on emergency footing to handle the increased movement and crowds during the holiday. The Central Disaster and Safety Situation Room will coordinate with related ministries and local governments to maintain a 24-hour situation management system, and safety inspections will be conducted across roads, railways, aviation and maritime transport. Fire departments nationwide will be placed on special alert duty from Sept. 23 to 28 to prepare for fires and other emergencies.

Alongside this, workplaces vulnerable to industrial accidents from heat and suffocation will be subject to intensive inspections, and measures to prevent overwork among delivery workers around the Chuseok period will also be pursued.

Emergency medical services will remain fully operational throughout the holiday. Regional emergency medical situation rooms will run around the clock, and information on open hospitals, clinics and pharmacies will be available through the emergency medical portal, related apps and the Health and Welfare Counseling Center at 129. A pilot program to reform the emergency patient transport system will be expanded nationwide, and transport guidelines for each province and city will be updated before Chuseok.

Support for victims of heavy rain and high sea-water temperatures will be provided before the holiday. Residents whose homes, agricultural and livestock products, or small-business facilities were damaged in heavy rains from July 8 to 24 will receive 3.2 billion won in disaster relief funds. Fishermen affected by high water temperatures will have their initial losses confirmed and paid out as a priority, even if damage is ongoing. Recovery plans for areas hit by August flooding will be drawn up this month.

Care and protection services for vulnerable groups — including elderly people living alone, children at risk of going hungry, people with disabilities and the homeless — will continue uninterrupted throughout the holiday.