Incheon Metropolitan City approves budget to resume e-Eum cashback

Incheon Metropolitan City has finalized a second supplementary budget to bolster local livelihoods while addressing chronic fiscal deficits. A key component of this budget is the resumption of cashback benefits for the Incheon e-Eum local currency platform. Following a temporary suspension due to budget depletion, the city has allocated 77.9 billion won to restart cashback services.

To stimulate consumption ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the city increased the cashback rate to 10% and raised the monthly spending limit to 1 million won through late September. From October to December, the monthly limit will return to 500,000 won. The budget also includes funding for childbirth support, youth rent assistance, and public transportation subsidies.

City officials emphasized the need for a sustainable operational model for Incheon e-Eum to prevent future service interruptions. Discussions include exploring new revenue streams, such as advertising on the platform, and re-evaluating cashback rates and spending limits to ensure long-term fiscal stability without relying solely on government subsidies.