Haenam County is launching a series of initiatives to boost local consumption ahead of the Chuseok holiday, including gift certificate discounts, cashbacks, and refund events for traditional markets and local businesses. In response to the exclusion of Mokpo National University from the list of candidates for a new national medical school, the county is also preparing measures to address concerns about medical service gaps in the southwest region.
On September 7, Haenam County Mayor Myung Hyun-kwan presided over a communication meeting with department heads and town officials, urging them to actively promote and participate in various consumer incentive policies aimed at increasing local business revenues during the Chuseok period.
Throughout September, Haenam County will offer a record-high discount of 18% on purchases of Haenam Love Gift Certificates, along with cashback options.
From September 16 to 20, a 10% discount will be available on Onnuri Gift Certificates. Customers who shop at designated low-price stores will also receive an additional 7% cashback until the budget is exhausted.
Refund events targeting traditional markets and local businesses will be concentrated ahead of Chuseok. The Haenam traditional market will hold a refund event for Onnuri Gift Certificates, offering up to 20,000 won from September 16 to 20. Additionally, from September 15 to 18, customers at Haenam town shops will be eligible for refunds of up to 20,000 won on Haenam Love Gift Certificates and Onnuri Gift Certificates.
The county aims to enhance consumer benefits by linking gift certificate discounts, cashbacks, and refund events, ensuring that holiday spending supports traditional markets and local businesses.
Mayor Myung emphasized, “With the significant benefits provided by Haenam Love Gift Certificates and the expanding network of Onnuri Gift Certificates, as well as discounts for local businesses, it is crucial to promote these opportunities effectively so that residents can take full advantage.”
He added, “As the methods of using digital gift certificates are becoming more diverse, we must ensure that seniors can use them without difficulty, translating these benefits into tangible advantages for our residents.”
During the meeting, the county also discussed strategies in response to the recent selection results for the national medical school candidates.
Mayor Myung expressed disappointment over Mokpo National University’s exclusion from the list of candidates for the new national medical school and instructed the deputy mayor to develop a follow-up response plan.
He highlighted the high aging rate and emergency medical access issues in the southwest region, arguing that the national medical school issue should be approached not merely as a competition for university placement but as a matter of regional healthcare systems.
“The aging rate in Haenam and the southwest region is as high as 40%, and it takes over two hours to reach a university hospital from Songji in Haenam, making rapid response to severe and emergency patients critically urgent in this medically vulnerable area,” he pointed out.
He continued, “The failure to secure a national medical school, a long-held aspiration of the southwest residents for the past 36 years, has led to a sense of loss among the community and heightened concerns about the persistent medical gaps in the region.”
Haenam County believes that a localized healthcare system is necessary to ensure that residents can access required medical services promptly, regardless of where they live within the integrated special city. The county also urged for expedited development of regional transportation networks, such as the Gwangju-Yeongam-Haenam expressway, to improve access for emergency patients.
Additionally, the meeting addressed hygiene management for food stalls during the Myeongnyang Battle Festival, strategies for preventing traffic accidents, and pest control measures for the harvest season. Mayor Myung ordered enhanced safety management at the festival site and proactive measures for managing crops and preventing accidents involving agricultural machinery and traffic.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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