While living in Korea, did you know about cultural gift certificates? Or maybe some of you have already used a cultural gift certificate in Korea? Do you know about the types of cultural gift certificates? Also, do you know how you can receive a cultural gift certificate?

Cultural gift certificates play a very important role in Korea's economic activities and are thought to be commonly used in everyday life. Through this, you can purchase not only daily necessities but also Korean cultural products. So this time, I would like to introduce you to Korean cultural gift certificates.

Introduction to cultural gift certificates

A cultural gift certificate is a gift certificate that can be used to purchase various products and services related to culture. Cultural gift certificates can be broadly divided into three types.

Source: Culture Gift Certificate (culturegift.co.kr)

Cultural Gift Certificate (18 digits): This is a gift certificate issued by Culture Gift Certificate Co., Ltd. and can be used at over 20,000 offline affiliated stores nationwide, including bookstores, movie theaters, performance halls, and museums, as well as over 1,000 online sites including games, shopping, books, and music. Cultural gift certificates come in denominations of 5,000 won, 10,000 won, and 50,000 won, and can be converted to Kyobo Cash or Culture Cash at Culture Land or Kyobo Bookstore. You can check the use status and balance of the cultural gift certificate on Culture Land or the cultural gift certificate website.

Culture Land Gift Certificate: This is a gift certificate issued by Korea Culture Promotion Co., Ltd. and can be purchased or recharged on the Culture Land website. Culture Land gift certificates are used under the name Culture Cash, and like culture gift certificates, they can be used at various offline and online affiliated stores. Culture Land gift certificates can be freely recharged from 1,000 won to 100,000 won, and usage details and balance can be checked on the Culture Land website.

Book Culture Gift Certificate: A gift certificate issued by Book & Life that allows you to purchase book-related products and services. Book culture gift certificates can be used at bookstores, libraries, book cafes, etc. across the country, and can also be used on the Book & Life website. There are 10,000 won worth of book culture gift certificates, and you can check usage and balance on the Book & Life website.

Cultural gift certificates can be a good gift for people who want to enjoy cultural life. Compare various types of cultural gift certificates and choose the one you want.

How to purchase

Cultural gift certificates can be purchased at bookstores nationwide, such as Kyobo Bookstore, Youngpoong Bookstore, and Bandi & Lunis. Additionally, it can be purchased at stationery stores nationwide such as Office Depot, Morning Glory, and Artbox, and convenience stores nationwide such as CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, and Ministop. In addition, it can be purchased at banks such as SC First Bank, IBK Industrial Bank, Post Office, and BNK Gyeongnam Bank.

Source:At a convenience store near CU where cultural gift certificates are sold: Naver blog (naver.com)

Culture Land gift certificates can be purchased or recharged on the Culture Land website. Culture Land gift certificates are used under the name Culture Cash, and like culture gift certificates, they can be used at various offline and online affiliated stores.

Book culture gift certificates can be purchased on the Book & Life website or at bookstores, libraries, and book cafes nationwide. Book culture gift certificates can be used to purchase book-related products and services.

economic role

A cultural gift certificate is a gift certificate that can be used to purchase various products and services related to culture, and can be a good gift for people who want to enjoy cultural life. Cultural gift certificates can be used at over 20,000 offline merchants nationwide, including bookstores, movie theaters, performance halls, and museums, and at over 1,000 online sites including games, shopping, books, and music.

Source: Where to use cultural gift certificates and what has changed in 2023: Naver blog (naver.com)

Cultural gift certificates have slightly different characteristics from industrial products because the product itself expresses information or meaning. Consumption of cultural products is not simply determined by economic efficiency in the market, but is often determined by the meaning that the cultural product represents. For example, consuming a certain movie or wearing a certain design of clothes means sympathizing with and representing a certain social meaning that the movie or design represents.

Cultural gift certificates contribute to the revitalization and development of Korea's cultural industry. As demand for cultural gift certificates increases, production and supply of the cultural industry also increases, which increases sales and profits of the cultural industry and creates new jobs and growth engines. In addition, cultural gift certificates promote Korea's cultural diversity and creativity, and also serve to increase the level of cultural consumption and quality of life of the people.

Therefore, cultural gift certificates play an important role in realizing economic, social and cultural rights in the Korean economy.