2026 Agricultural Food Voucher Balance Carryover Rules: Can a 4-person household leave up to KRW 9,999 for next month?
The 2026 Agricultural Food Voucher does not carry over all unused funds to the following month. Only balances below 10% of the monthly benefit can be carried over. A 4-person household can leave up to KRW 9,999, based on its KRW 100,000 monthly benefit. In particular, any December balance cannot be used in the following year because the program ends at year-end, so monthly expiration dates need to be distinguished.
How much of the Agricultural Food Voucher balance can be carried over?
The general carryover rule for the 2026 Agricultural Food Voucher is that the remaining balance must be below 10% of the monthly benefit. A balance equal to or greater than 10% will not carry over to the next month and is subject to expiration.
For example, a 4-person household receives KRW 100,000 each month, so only an amount below KRW 10,000 can be carried over.
The important point is that the balance must be below 10%, not equal to or below 10%.
| Household size | Monthly benefit | Maximum balance eligible for carryover |
|---|---|---|
| 1-person | KRW 40,000 | KRW 3,999 |
| 2-person | KRW 65,000 | KRW 6,499 |
| 3-person | KRW 83,000 | KRW 8,299 |
| 4-person | KRW 100,000 | KRW 9,999 |
| 5-person | KRW 116,000 | KRW 11,599 |
| 6-person | KRW 131,000 | KRW 13,099 |
| 7-person | KRW 145,000 | KRW 14,499 |
| 8-person | KRW 159,000 | KRW 15,899 |
| 9-person | KRW 173,000 | KRW 17,299 |
| 10-person or more | KRW 187,000 | KRW 18,699 |
Author's calculation: The maximum carryover amount is calculated as KRW 1 less than 10% of the monthly benefit.
Therefore, if a 4-person household has KRW 9,500 left, it meets the carryover rule. But if it has KRW 10,000 left, it does not meet the requirement that the balance be below 10%.
What happens to the balance after the end of each month?
The Agricultural Food Voucher benefit is automatically credited on the 1 of each month, and generally must be used by the end of that month. Any balance that does not meet the carryover rule cannot be used the following month. Gangnam-gu Public Health Center+1
For example, if a 4-person household receives a KRW 100,000 credit, the balance is handled as follows.
| Month-end balance | Treatment |
|---|---|
| KRW 5,000 | Carried over to the next month |
| KRW 9,000 | Carried over to the next month |
| KRW 9,999 | Carried over to the next month |
| KRW 10,000 | Cannot be carried over |
| KRW 15,000 | Cannot be carried over |
So, do not assume that a balance left at the end of the month can automatically be used the following month.
Does a December balance carry over to the following year?
When the 2026 program year ends, check the year-end usage deadline separately from the general monthly carryover rule.
The Agricultural Food Voucher program's annual benefit period runs through December 2026, and official guidance from some local governments states that unused December amounts expire. Therefore, do not assume that a December balance can be kept until 2027. Portal site+1
In particular, remember that even if a balance remaining on November carries over, its usage period still ends at the end of December.
Do newly issued cardholders have different carryover rules?
Newly issued cards may have different monthly crediting amounts and usage deadlines from the general rules.
According to 2026 local government guidance, newly issued cards may be used through the month after the application month, as an exception to account for card delivery and registration. After that, regular credits and the monthly carryover rules apply. Gangnam-gu Public Health Center+1
So, in the month you first receive your card, check the usage deadline shown for the card instead of relying only on the usual month-end expiration rule.
Where can you check your Agricultural Food Voucher balance?
There are two main ways to check your balance.
First: the official Agricultural Food Voucher website
Visit the Agricultural Food Voucher website and check your balance in the card services section.
Second: call the customer support center
Agricultural Food Voucher Customer Support Center: 1551-0857
What to check: current balance, recent credits, eligible carryover amount, and whether the card can be used
If your balance differs from what you expected, check not only the purchase amount but also recent credits and whether the monthly carryover was processed. Gangnam-gu Public Health Center+1
Three things to check before using the voucher
Check the following based on 2026-11-10 to help prevent your month-end balance from expiring.
1. Check this month's credit: Confirm that the monthly benefit for your household size has been credited.
2. Check the carryover limit: Calculate whether the balance is below 10% of the monthly benefit.
3. Check the year-end usage deadline: Do not assume that a balance can carry into the following year on December; use it by the end of the year.
The Agricultural Food Voucher is not a benefit that can be spent freely like cash; it is a voucher for purchasing designated agricultural and food products. The carryover rule concerns whether the card balance can be used; no amount is paid out as cash.
Ultimately, the key is to check both your household's monthly benefit and the amount left at month-end, rather than focusing only on the figure 10%.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Can a 4-person household use KRW 10,000 left over in the following month?
No. That amount is exactly 10% of the monthly benefit, KRW 100,000, so it does not meet the requirement to be below 10%.
Q. Can I keep accumulating the money left over each month?
No. Only balances that meet the carryover rule roll over to the next month; amounts that do not carry over expire.
Q. Can a balance left on December also be used the following year?
Check the expiration rule that applies when the program ends for the year. It is safest not to expect a December 2026 balance to carry over to the next year.
Q. Where should I ask if my balance does not appear or differs from what I expected?
Contact the Agricultural Food Voucher Customer Support Center at 1551-0857 or the community service center responsible for your registered address.
Official sources
Official Agricultural Food Voucher website
Gangnam-gu Public Health Center: Agricultural Food Voucher information
Republic of Korea Policy Briefing – Agricultural Food Voucher program launched
