Many people purchase Seoul Love Gift Certificates but stop right before payment because they don't know where to use them. Since these certificates cannot be used at every store in Seoul, it is important to first learn how to check participating merchants and identify restricted business categories.
As sales of Metropolitan Seoul Love Gift Certificates and district gift certificates continued into September 2026, the demand for places to use them has also increased. In this article, we will summarize everything at once, from the steps to search for merchants on the Seoul Pay+ app, to offline and online payment methods, usage areas for each gift certificate type, and major restrictions.
Where can I use Seoul Love Gift Certificates?
Metropolitan Seoul Love Gift Certificates can be used at Seoul Love Gift Certificate affiliated stores in the 25 autonomous districts of Seoul. Typical places of use are small businesses located close to daily life, such as traditional markets, neighborhood restaurants, cafes, opticians, and academies.
However, not all stores in Seoul are franchises. Large supermarkets, department stores, corporate-style supermarkets, directly managed franchise stores of large corporations, and businesses in the entertainment or gambling sectors are restricted from use, and cram schools with annual sales exceeding 3 billion won and some high-revenue jewelry stores are also excluded.
Even within the same brand, payment availability may vary depending on whether it is an affiliated store or a directly managed store. Even if there is a Seoul Pay or gift certificate sticker at the store entrance, the most accurate method is to check both the merchant information and the type of gift certificate in the Seoul Pay+ app immediately before making a payment.
The Seoul Love Gift Certificate is a gift certificate used at 'merchants registered with Seoul Pay,' not 'all stores in Seoul.'.
Metropolitan gift certificates and autonomous district gift certificates have different scopes of use.
You can reduce confusion by first distinguishing whether the gift certificate name includes "Metropolitan" or the name of a specific district. While Metropolitan Seoul Love Gift Certificates can be used throughout Seoul, gift certificates named after a district, such as Mapo Love Gift Certificates or Gangnam Love Gift Certificates, can only be used at affiliated merchants within that district.
If your daily life is concentrated within a single district, district gift certificates are convenient, whereas if your workplace and home are in different districts or you spend money across various areas of Seoul, metropolitan gift certificates are better to use. District gift certificates were issued sequentially from September 15 to 18, 2026, and general sales of metropolitan gift certificates took place on September 18.
The Metropolitan Seoul Love Gift Certificate was announced with a monthly purchase limit of 500,000 won per person and a maximum holding limit of 1.5 million won per account. The September 2026 sales were sold at a discount of 51 TP3T from the face value, and a 21 TP3T cashback promotion on the payment amount was also held.
Order of searching for merchants in the SeoulPay+ app
Searching for Seoul Love Gift Certificate purchases and usage locations is better on the PC website than on the PC website SeoulPay+ AppThe main method is to proceed through [the app]. After launching the app, go to the "Find Merchants" menu to search for stores near your current location or registered merchants in a specific area.
On the search screen, you can find nearby stores based on your current location or specify a district. Location-based search is useful for browsing stores within a range of 500m to 1km, and using the industry or business name search allows you to narrow down desired conditions, such as 'cafe', 'laundry', or specific store names.
Don't just look at the store name and address in the franchise list Types of usable gift certificatesPlease also check this. Since there may be stores that accept metropolitan gift certificates but not specific district gift certificates, it is safer to search with the gift certificate selected.
On the day of a large-scale gift certificate issuance, the merchant search function may be temporarily suspended from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM due to a surge in users. If you have a specific store in mind to visit, it is practical to check the address and merchant status in the app ahead of the sales or payment date.
Which payment method do you use at the store, QR or barcode?
Offline payment methods are broadly divided into two categories: consumers scanning the store's QR code, and store clerks scanning the consumer's QR or barcode. In traditional markets or small restaurants, the method of directly scanning a QR code displayed in the store is frequently used, while in POS stores equipped with scanners, the method where the consumer displays the payment screen is utilized.
When using the store QR code, in the SeoulPay+ app Payment or Scan MenuSelect it and scan the store's QR code. Then, manually enter the payment amount and your password to complete the payment.
Conversely, if the clerk requests a payment barcode or QR code, simply display the payment screen from the app. You can reduce errors by verifying that the amount and store name match the information displayed on the screen before payment, and checking the balance after the payment completion screen appears.
Even if a store is displayed as a Seoul Pay or Zero Pay location on Naver Maps or Kakao Maps, the merchant status may differ at the time of actual payment. The habit of searching for the store name again on the SeoulPay+ app right before visitingThis is the simplest way to avoid payment rejection.
Can I use it online as well?
The scope of use for general offline Seoul Love Gift Certificates and online Metropolitan Seoul Love Gift Certificates is different. Online payments are available at designated services such as Seoul Delivery+, Ttaenggyeoyo, and the e-Seoul Love Shop on Post Office Shopping, but they are not applicable to all online shopping malls or all products.
At the e-Seoul Sarang Shop, after selecting a product, you must check if it is marked as an 'Eligible Product for Seoul Sarang Gift Certificates.' During the payment stage, select Seoul Pay as the payment method, verify the amount, and then enter your Seoul Pay payment password.
You must distinguish between stores and products that support Seoul Love Gift Certificate payments on delivery apps as well. If the Seoul Pay payment menu is not visible in the app or if eligible products are not indicated, the gift certificate cannot be used for that order.
| division | Usage area | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Seoul Love Gift Certificate | 25 autonomous districts of Seoul | Suitable for a lifestyle that involves moving between various districts |
| Autonomous District Seoul Love Gift Certificate | Autonomous districts corresponding to the name of the gift certificate | Intensive use in specific regions |
| Online Metropolitan Seoul Love Gift Certificate | Designated online service | Used at Seoul Delivery+, Ttaenggyeoyo, e-Seoul Sarang Shop, etc. |
| Digital Onnuri Gift Certificate | Nationwide Onnuri Gift Certificate Merchants | Used mainly in traditional markets and shopping districts |
September 2026 Benefits and Things to Know Before Using
In September 2026, the Metropolitan Seoul Love Gift Certificate was sold for 72 billion won, with a purchase limit of 500,000 won per person. Separate sales for those aged 65 or older—that is, those born in 1961 or earlier—were also conducted from September 14 to 17, while general sales took place on September 18, divided into time slots based on birth year.
It has been announced that the validity period for metropolitan gift certificates is 5 years from the date of purchase. For gift certificates purchased via bank transfer, the remaining balance can be refunded if 601 TP3T or more is used. Unused gift certificates can be cancelled, but the method of application varies depending on the purchase method and the amount spent.
For this sale, a 5% discount and a 2% cashback on the payment amount are scheduled, and the cashback payment date is announced as October 20. However, since the cashback is a promotion offered until the budget is exhausted, it is not structured so that it is automatically paid on all payment amounts simply because a gift certificate has been purchased.
Digital Onnuri Gift Certificates are on sale at a discount until 11:59 PM on September 20, and you can purchase up to 200,000 won per person. They can be used at Onnuri Gift Certificate affiliated stores nationwide, but since some stores only accept paper certificates, you should not consider Seoul Sarang Gift Certificates and Onnuri Gift Certificates as the same payment method.
Ultimately, the most important step is not after arriving at the store. Checking the merchant and gift certificate type together in the SeoulPay+ app right before making a paymentYou should not make a payment based solely on whether a store is a participating merchant; you must also check the usage area, industry restrictions, and online/offline distinction to use the Seoul Love Gift Certificate as planned.