The Ministry of Science and ICT's Postal Service said on Monday it will launch the "Post Office Pyeongchang Love Card," allowing Pyeongchang County's local gift certificates in Gangwon Province to be used through a post office debit card.

The Pyeongchang Love gift certificates can be loaded at local post office counters, the post office savings website, the Post Office Smart Banking app and the integrated local gift certificate platform Chak app. Loaded certificates can be used like cash at affiliated stores in Pyeongchang County.

Users who are not comfortable with mobile services can also load the certificates at post office counters. If the loaded amount is insufficient, regular debit card payments are also possible within the balance of the linked account.

With the launch of the Pyeongchang Love Card, the total number of local governments offering local gift certificate services using post office debit cards increased to 44.

The Postal Service plans to use the nationwide post office financial network to expand areas where local gift certificates can be used and to support local consumption and higher sales for small businesses.

Park In-hwan (박인환), head of the Postal Service, said, "Local gift certificates on post office debit cards are a financial service that supports the recovery of local commercial districts based on the nationwide post office network." He added, "I hope more local governments will participate, starting with the launch in Pyeongchang County."