Seoul's public delivery app recorded 819 billion won in sales during the first half of the year [1].
The growth represents a significant shift in the local delivery market, as the municipal government attempts to reduce the financial burden on small-business owners through a subsidized platform.
Sales for the first half of the year were 2.5 times higher than the same period last year [1]. When compared to two years ago, sales increased 4.5 times [1]. This surge coincides with a rapid expansion of the platform's network, which now includes 62,000 partner merchants [1].
The number of merchants grew by 29 percent year-on-year [1]. Similarly, the user base expanded by 57 percent [1], bringing the total number of registered users to 2.91 million [1]. Data indicates that approximately one in three Seoul citizens, excluding children and the elderly, now use the app [1].
Officials said the growth is due to a combination of lower intermediary fees for merchants and discount benefits for consumers through gift cards. The lower cost structure makes the public app a more viable alternative to private delivery services, which often charge higher commissions.
"Seoul's public delivery app's first-half sales, as well as the number of affiliated stores and members, have increased significantly," an anchor for YTN News said [1].
Reporter Yang Il-hyuk said the results are interpreted as a outcome where both small business owners and citizens are satisfied because of gift card discount benefits and brokerage fees that are lower than those of private apps [1].
“Seoul's public delivery app recorded 819 billion won in sales during the first half of the year”
The rapid adoption of the public delivery app suggests a growing appetite for government-led interventions to curb the dominance of private delivery giants. By lowering the entry barrier for merchants and providing direct financial incentives to users, Seoul is creating a sustainable alternative that prioritizes local economic stability over corporate profit margins.
