Government: "80% of Second Supplementary Budget Executed by End of August... Consumption Coupons to be Distributed Soon"

Fiscal Execution Review Meeting

Consumption Increased in July Due to Distribution of Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupons (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Sung-min = Consumption has increased at the fastest pace in 2 years and 5 months due to the distribution of livelihood recovery consumption coupons since the 21st of last month and a recovery in consumer sentiment. The retail sales index, which signifies merchandise consumption, increased by 2.5% from the previous month, reaching its highest point in 29 months since February 2023 (6.1%).

On the 29th, a notice indicating the usability of livelihood recovery consumption coupons is posted at a store near Gangnam Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. 2025.8.29 ksm7976@yna.co.kr

The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced on the 11th that as of the end of last month, 79.8% (16.5 trillion won) of the second supplementary budget had been executed.

The government reviewed the execution status of the supplementary budget at the 'Fiscal Execution Review Meeting' held at the Government Complex Seoul, chaired by Ahn Sang-yeol, Director-General for Fiscal Management at the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The government has set a goal to rapidly execute over 95% of the second supplementary budget by the end of this month.

Regarding the livelihood recovery consumption coupons, with the second distribution scheduled for the 22nd, 3.5 trillion won out of the 4 trillion won in national funds was disbursed to local governments on the 28th of last month.

The remaining 500 billion won is planned to be disbursed this month once detailed distribution criteria and targets are finalized. The first consumption coupons, distributed from July 21st, were issued to 49.96 million people (approximately 98.7%, 9 trillion won) as of the 8th of last month.

In other initiatives, the program to refund purchase costs for high-efficiency home appliances has refunded 1.9 billion won for 13,000 cases by the end of last month, since its commencement on the 20th of last month.

Unused movie discount coupons, totaling 1.88 million, from the first distribution period for promoting cultural consumption have begun to be redistributed since the 8th of this month.

Performance and exhibition discount vouchers have been distributed at a scale of 2.1 million vouchers since August 8th of last month, and accommodation discount vouchers at a scale of 870,000 vouchers since August 20th of last month.

Sports gift certificates for seniors are planned to be distributed this month, with applications having been accepted since August 4th for a total scale of 700,000 certificates.

The loan program for innovation and startup commercialization funds, supporting venture and startup creation, provided 136.1 billion won (690 cases) by the end of last month.

Ahn Sang-yeol, Director-General for Fiscal Management, stated, "The effectiveness of the supplementary budget can be maximized only when fiscal funds are injected in a timely manner into each project, including the distribution of the second consumption coupons." He urged, "All ministries should make every effort for execution."