Seoul Metropolitan Government reported that the year’s first two Kids Cafe Money voucher rounds, worth KRW 3.5 billion, had sold out, and scheduled a final KRW 1 billion allocation. Its September 16 announcement set sales for September 18 at 10 am through SeoulPay+, completing the timetable for its previously announced KRW 4.5 billion issuance plan for 2026. [S01]

The earlier rounds totalled KRW 3.5 billion and provided discounted purchases to about 24,000 people, according to the city. Those figures describe voucher distribution and purchasing participation; the release does not report the value subsequently redeemed at participating businesses. [S01]

A restricted network for family leisure spending

Kids Cafe Money is a dedicated voucher for private indoor play venues that have passed Seoul’s certification requirements. At the September announcement, 61 private kids cafes accepted it. Buyers receive a 20% discount on voucher value, directing the subsidy toward spending within that defined merchant network. [S01]

The programme uses the SeoulPay+ app, which also handles Seoul Love vouchers. However, the Kids Cafe Money acceptance list is specific to certified private venues. The city’s separate list of 87 public and other cafes opening over the Chuseok holiday does not describe the voucher’s acceptance network. [S01]

The acceptance network is also distinct from the annual issuance budget. The February announcement counted 62 certified private venues, compared with 61 in September. Those dated snapshots describe the available network, not the number of public cafes open over a holiday or a measure of voucher-generated visits. [S01][S02]

The data behind the story

Certified private venues accepting Kids Cafe Money

Two dated official acceptance-network snapshots.

certified private venues
Source
Seoul municipal releases, February 5 and September 16

Same defined private-voucher network; public city and district venues are excluded. Counts do not measure transactions, visits or sales growth. The announcements do not explain individual venue changes.

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Certified private venues accepting Kids Cafe Money (certified private venues)
CategoryPublished values
February 5, 202662 certified private venues
September 16, 202661 certified private venues

The existing individual limits remain KRW 200,000 in monthly purchases and KRW 500,000 held at one time. Purchased vouchers are valid for two years. Participating businesses can be identified through SeoulPay+, Smart Seoul Map and the city’s childcare portal. [S01]

This is the final scheduled allocation of an established programme. A February 5 release had already announced the KRW 4.5 billion annual envelope and a KRW 2 billion opening round. The city then announced a KRW 1.5 billion second round in April. The September release adds the final sales timetable and an updated account of earlier demand. [S02][S03]

For voucher operators, the programme shows municipal funding distributed through an existing payment app while redemption remains restricted to a certified service sector. The announcement does not establish whether the final allocation has since sold out, or quantify additional revenue generated for participating venues.