Many people receive the subsidy, then hesitate at the moment of payment and wonder, “Can I use it here?” Because the 2026 high oil price relief subsidy is intended both as general household support and, more specifically, to ease fuel cost burdens, it is important to understand the exact rules for using it at gas stations and LPG filling stations.
2026 High Oil Price Relief Fund Usage Guide: Gas Stations, LPG Charging Stations, Local Shops, and Payment Rules
The 2026 high oil price relief subsidy is designed to support local consumption while reducing the burden of fuel costs. In principle, it can be used at small-business stores with annual sales of KRW 3 billion or less within the eligible usage area tied to your registered address. Gas stations and LPG filling stations are treated as exceptions and may accept the subsidy regardless of their annual sales.
The high oil price relief subsidy can be received as a local love gift certificate, through a credit or debit card, or as a prepaid card. If you receive it through a card, you generally do not receive a separate dedicated card. Instead, when you pay with a card in your own name from the card company you selected, the subsidy balance is deducted first.
However, it is not accepted at every store without exception. Approval can vary depending on the usage area, business category, sales amount, payment method, and how the card company classifies the merchant. Before paying, the safest approach is to check the card company app’s merchant search, the local gift certificate app, or the usage sticker posted at the store entrance.
Basic Information on the High Oil Price Relief Subsidy
How Payment Works for the High Oil Price Subsidy
Credit and Debit Cards
If you receive the subsidy through a credit or debit card, you pay as usual with a card in your own name from the card company you applied through, and the high oil price relief subsidy is deducted first. You can check application results and usage details through the card company app or text notifications.
Prepaid Cards
A prepaid card received through a community service center, bank branch, or similar channel can be presented and used like a regular card at eligible merchants. The same usage area and restricted-industry rules may apply.
Mobile Local Love Gift Certificates
These are paid through the barcode or QR payment function in the local love gift certificate app. Eligible merchants should be checked according to the merchant list for that local certificate program.
Paper Local Love Gift Certificates
If you receive paper gift certificates, you use them by presenting them on site at affiliated merchants. Rules for remaining balances and change may vary depending on the local gift certificate regulations.
The Most Important Rule: Usage Area
In principle, you must use the subsidy within the usage area based on your registered address.
According to guidance from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the usage area is determined by the applicant’s registered address at the level of a special/metropolitan city or a city/county. In simple terms, residents of Seoul or a metropolitan city use it within that special/metropolitan city, while residents of a province use it within their registered city or county.
If you leave the designated area, payment may fail even for the same type of business.
A neighborhood market within your registered usage area may accept the subsidy, but payment can be restricted if you move to another city/county or another metropolitan area. For gas stations as well, the “within the usage area” rule should be checked first.
Summary of Eligible Merchants
| Category | Eligibility standard | Check point |
|---|---|---|
| Gas stations | Gas stations within the usage area tied to your address can accept the subsidy regardless of annual sales | Exception applied to help ease high fuel cost burdens |
| LPG filling stations | Sales-volume restriction exception applies together with gas stations | Check card company and gift certificate merchant classification |
| Traditional markets | Eligible local affiliated merchants or small-business stores | Check each store for a usage sticker |
| Neighborhood marts and convenience stores | Mainly small-business stores with annual sales of KRW 3 billion or less | Check whether the store is directly operated or part of a large retail chain |
| Restaurants and cafes | Accepted if they are local small-business affiliated merchants | For franchises, check whether the location is a franchisee rather than a directly operated branch |
| Hospitals and pharmacies | Accepted if they are eligible affiliated merchants in the local area | Some differences may occur depending on card company industry classification |
| Private academies | Accepted if they are eligible affiliated merchants in the local area | Check the card company app for any industry restrictions |
How to Use It at Gas Stations and LPG Filling Stations
The high oil price relief subsidy is subject to usage area restrictions. Gas stations and LPG filling stations are eligible regardless of sales volume, but you should first confirm that the station is located within the usage area tied to your registered address.
If you received the subsidy through a credit or debit card, payment at either a self-service pump or through an attendant proceeds like an ordinary card payment. You can confirm whether the subsidy was deducted through a card company text message or app.
Some card companies may restrict certain card types. For example, KB Kookmin Card states that the high oil price relief subsidy will not be used when paying with a freight fuel subsidy card, even at gas stations or filling stations within the eligible usage area.
The clearly confirmed exceptions in official guidance are gas stations and LPG filling stations. Electric vehicle charging stations may vary depending on the payment terminal, operator, and merchant classification, so it is safest to check the card company’s merchant search before paying.
Ineligible Merchants and Restricted Payments
Large marts, department stores, nightlife businesses, and gambling-related industries are restricted.
The high oil price relief subsidy is also intended to increase sales for local small businesses and revitalize neighborhood commercial districts, so use is restricted in some industries, including large discount marts, entertainment/nightlife businesses, and gambling-related businesses.
In-app payments on delivery apps are difficult to use.
Delivery apps generally use PG payment structures that make regional restrictions hard to distinguish, so they are generally described as difficult to use with the subsidy. However, if you place an order and choose in-person card payment, then pay through the actual merchant’s terminal, the subsidy may be accepted in some cases.
Kiosk payments may also be restricted.
Some kiosks use payment structures that make regional classification difficult, so payment may be restricted. Even at the same store, payment through a regular card terminal may be possible, so it is a good idea to ask staff before paying.
Payment Cases That Are Easy to Misunderstand
| Situation | Likelihood of use | Reason and alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Large gas station within your registered city/county | Accepted | Gas stations and LPG filling stations are exceptions regardless of sales volume |
| Gas station outside your registered usage area | May be restricted | Usage area restrictions apply first, so area confirmation is needed |
| Card terminal payment at a neighborhood restaurant | Likely accepted | Eligible if it is a local small-business store |
| Instant in-app payment through a delivery app | May be restricted | Regional classification is difficult under the PG payment structure |
| Delivery app order followed by in-person card payment | May be accepted | Payment may work if processed through the merchant’s own terminal |
| Kiosk payment | May be restricted | Can be restricted if the system cannot identify the region |
| Card terminal payment handled by staff | May be accepted | The merchant can be classified based on the store’s terminal |
Checking Your Balance and Usage History
Card Company App
If you received the subsidy through a credit or debit card, you can check your application details, usage history, and balance in the high oil price relief subsidy menu of the card company app.
Text Messages and KakaoTalk Notifications
Depending on the card company, subsidy deduction details or the remaining balance may be sent by text message or KakaoTalk notification after payment. Check your notification settings as well.
Card Company Customer Center or ARS
If using an app is difficult, some card companies allow you to check application status and balance through customer service or ARS. Check the service hours for each card company.
Local Love Gift Certificate App
If you received the subsidy as a mobile local love gift certificate, check your balance and usage history in the relevant local currency app.
Why You Must Use It by August 31
The usage deadline is 24:00 on August 31, 2026.
According to card company guidance, any high oil price relief subsidy not used by the deadline will expire. Rather than expecting a cash refund, it is better to plan your spending during the summer period.
Allocating it to fuel costs first makes it easier to use up the balance.
For households that frequently use a personal vehicle, it is efficient to allocate the subsidy first according to a monthly refueling plan. Any remaining amount after fuel spending can be used at neighborhood marts, traditional markets, hospitals, pharmacies, restaurants, and similar merchants.
A Smart Order for Using the Subsidy
- Check your eligibility and payment method through the card company app or the National Secretary notification service.
- First confirm the exact boundaries of your usage area.
- Prioritize gas stations and LPG filling stations within the usage area tied to your registered address.
- Before refueling, check the card company app’s merchant search or the store’s usage sticker.
- For delivery apps, check whether in-person card payment is available instead of in-app payment.
- If payment does not work at a kiosk, ask staff whether payment through a card terminal is possible.
- After payment, check text messages or the card company app to confirm the deduction and remaining balance.
- Make a plan to use the full remaining balance before August 31.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I use the high oil price relief subsidy anywhere in Korea?
A. No. In principle, it must be used within the usage area tied to the applicant’s registered address. Under Ministry of the Interior and Safety guidance, the usage area is applied at the special/metropolitan city or city/county level.
Q. Can it be used at large gas stations?
A. Gas stations and LPG filling stations are exceptions and may accept the subsidy regardless of annual sales. However, you should still check whether the merchant is within your usage area and how the card company classifies it.
Q. Can I use it at electric vehicle charging stations?
A. The clearly confirmed exceptions in official card company guidance are gas stations and LPG filling stations. Electric vehicle charging stations may vary depending on the operator, payment terminal, and card company industry classification, so it is safest to check through the card company’s merchant search before paying.
Q. Can I use it on delivery apps?
A. Direct in-app payment is generally described as difficult because of the PG payment structure. However, if you order through a delivery app, choose in-person card payment, and pay through the merchant’s terminal, the subsidy may be accepted in some cases.
Q. If a kiosk payment fails, does that mean the same store cannot accept it at all?
A. Not necessarily. Kiosks may be restricted because of regional classification issues, but payment through the store’s card terminal may still be possible. Ask staff whether terminal payment is available.
Q. Will the balance be refunded after the usage deadline?
A. Any unused balance remaining after the deadline of 24:00 on August 31, 2026 will expire. It is important to use it within the allowed period rather than expecting a cash refund.
Q. Where can I find eligible merchants?
A. You can check through the high oil price relief subsidy merchant search in your card company app, the local love gift certificate app, community service centers, local government notices, and usage stickers posted at store entrances.
Conclusion
As its name suggests, the 2026 high oil price relief subsidy is especially useful for reducing the burden of fuel costs. For ordinary merchants, the basic standard is small-business stores with annual sales of KRW 3 billion or less, but the most important point is that gas stations and LPG filling stations are exceptions and may accept the subsidy regardless of sales volume.
Still, approval can vary depending on usage area restrictions, payment method, and card company industry classification. Before refueling, check whether the station is within the usage area tied to your registered address. For payment structures that can be more complex, such as delivery apps or kiosks, confirm whether in-person card terminal payment is available. Use the subsidy in a planned way across fuel costs and everyday expenses so that no balance expires before August 31.
Verification Notice
This article summarizes eligible merchants and payment methods based on public guidance from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and card companies, as well as media interview content. Actual approval results may vary depending on each card company’s merchant industry classification and whether a merchant is affiliated with the local love gift certificate program, so check eligible merchants in your card company app or local currency app before paying.
