‘National Funding Secured’: Ontong Daejeon Temporarily Raises Cashback to 15%

[Financial News, Daejeon=Kim Won-jun] Daejeon City is increasing cashback benefits for Ontong Daejeon, a local gift certificate program, thanks to additional government funding. The move is intended to give local small-business owners and self-employed people struggling with persistently high prices and sluggish consumption some breathing room, while easing the burden on residents’ household budgets.
 Daejeon City announced on the 29th that it would temporarily raise Ontong Daejeon’s cashback rate from the 29th of this month through the 15th of next month, during the 2026 Korea Grand Festival, using 795 million won in government funding allocated by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, along with previously secured budget. During this period, the general public can earn cashback at a sharply increased rate of 15%, while benefits for welfare beneficiaries will rise to as much as 18%.
 A major prize event will also be held to maximize consumer spending in the region. Daejeon City will run the ‘Ontong Daejeon Spend ON! Luck ON!’ event from the 1st to the 25th of next month. Anyone who makes cumulative purchases of at least 300,000 won at five or more Ontong Daejeon merchants during the event, excluding businesses in the private academy sector, will be entered automatically, with no separate application required. Consumer support funds, including Ontong Cash, worth a total of 200 million won are expected to be awarded by lottery to approximately 38,000 winning residents.
 A Daejeon City official said, “The additional government funding has enabled us to expand benefits in coordination with the major discount event period. We will spare no effort in running and promoting the program so it can bring tangible vitality to local neighborhood businesses and traditional markets.”
 The expansion of Ontong Daejeon benefits is intended to generate synergies with nationwide discount events being held ahead of the year-end peak shopping season. Daejeon City expects the increase in the cashback rate to help turn around subdued local consumer sentiment. In particular, it anticipates a clear short-term boost in sales at small public-use facilities and restaurants, where affiliated merchants’ sales had slowed compared with the first half of the year.
[email protected] Kim Won-jun Reporter