Ministry of the Interior and Safety: "13.5 Trillion Won in Consumer Coupons, 6 Trillion Won in High Oil Price Relief... Boosting Local Economies"

First Anniversary of Government Inauguration: Key Policy Achievements Announced
Mandatory National Funding for Local Love Gift Certificates This Year
72,658 Illegal Facilities in Rivers and Valleys Detected

Last year, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety supported the recovery of local economies by providing livelihood recovery consumer coupons worth 13.5 trillion won. The ministry also broke the tradition of “senior officials appreciation day” and introduced a new special performance bonus system, with rewards of up to 30 million won.

On June 5, marking the first anniversary of the government’s inauguration, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced its key policy achievements over the past year.

Yoon Hojung, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, is speaking at the plenary session of the '2026 Central-Local Policy Council' held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd. 2026.3.23 Photo by Jo Yongjun

First, last year, the ministry distributed livelihood recovery consumer coupons totaling 13.5 trillion won to help revitalize the local economy. This year, it is responding to the economic downturn caused by the Middle East conflict by providing high oil price relief payments amounting to 6.1 trillion won.

From this year, the local government-issued Local Love Gift Certificates are now mandatorily supported by national funds. The amount expanded from 1 trillion won last year to 1.15 trillion won this year, helping to stabilize regional economies.

Next month, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City, the nation’s first-ever unified metropolitan local government, will be established. The ministry has prepared a “regional preference index,” a standard that provides greater support to more remote areas from Seoul, and plans to apply this to its policies and projects.

The “Framework Act on Social Solidarity Economy,” which aims to institutionalize social solidarity systems, is pending approval at the National Assembly plenary session. Once the amended Local Autonomy Act, which provides for the establishment, operation, and support of residents’ councils, takes effect in October, residents’ councils will be formally introduced at the township, town, and neighborhood levels nationwide.

Additionally, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety abolished the National Police Agency’s Police Bureau in August last year and separated investigative and prosecutorial functions for the first time in 78 years by revising laws to abolish the Prosecutors’ Office and establish the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the Public Prosecution Agency. The ministry stated, “Over the past year, we have normalized unchecked powers, eradicated illegal and irrational practices from daily life, and worked to establish a fair social order.”

As of April, a total of 72,658 cases of illegal facilities in rivers and valleys were detected and are being rectified, while efforts were also made to remove hate speech banners to protect public spaces. The ministry is also reforming public service culture by eliminating the “senior officials appreciation day” tradition and introducing a special performance bonus system worth up to 30 million won, building a results-oriented framework within the civil service.

In March, the “AI National Secretary” was launched, accelerating the ministry’s transition to AI by enabling people to easily and quickly access administrative services through mobile and conversational interfaces.

During this year’s spring wildfire prevention period, a pan-government wildfire response management system was maintained, resulting in zero casualties.

Yoon Hojung, Minister of the Interior and Safety, remarked, “The past year has been a period of tireless effort to restore livelihoods, reinvigorate local communities, and protect the lives and safety of our people. As we enter the second year of this administration, we will drive even greater and more rapid changes that make a positive difference in people’s lives.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.