Yeongju expands perks for hometown love fund donors

Yeongju in North Gyeongsang Province announced Tuesday that it has revised its municipal ordinance governing the collection and management of hometown love fund donations, introducing fee waivers at public facilities to encourage continued giving.

Under the revised ordinance, anyone who has donated to Yeongju's hometown love fund — regardless of the amount — will receive the same facility fee discounts as Yeongju residents for one year from their most recent donation date.

Eligible facilities include Sosu Seowon, Seonbi Sesang and the Bean World Science Museum. Donors visiting Seonbi Sesang will be charged group admission rates, while entry fees at the other facilities will be reduced by 50 percent.

To foster a culture of long-term giving, the city has also introduced additional benefits for consecutive donors: those who donate for two consecutive years may bring one guest at the discounted rate, while those who donate for three or more consecutive years may bring up to two guests.

Donors can access their benefits by presenting a mobile donation benefit card or by having their donation history verified on site.

Jo Jong-geun, head of Yeongju's tax affairs division, said the ordinance revision was a way to express gratitude to those who have shown their support for the city. "We will continue to develop a range of recognition measures so that donors feel proud and keep supporting Yeongju," Jo said.