1. Introduction to the text
This reading lesson discusses the spending patterns of different age groups in South Korea when using government-issued consumer stimulus coupons. The article highlights how younger generations (20s and 30s) tend to use the coupons more for dining out, while older generations (40s to 60s) distribute their spending more evenly between food and other necessities.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning | Contextual Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 소비 | sobi | consumption, spending | The government issued consumer stimulus coupons to boost spending. |
| 2030 | isipsa | people in their 20s and 30s | 20s and 30s used the coupons more for dining out than other age groups. |
| 가장 | gajang | the most, the highest | The proportion of dining out was the highest for the 20s and 30s. |
| 소비가 | sobiga | consumption, spending | 43.3% of respondents said their spending increased. |
| 소비쿠폰 | sobikupon | consumer stimulus coupon | The government distributed consumer stimulus coupons to boost the economy. |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
정부는 경제 회복을 위해 소비 쿠폰을 발행했다. 이번 조사에 따르면 소비 쿠폰을 신청한 응답자의 81.1%가 실제로 사용했다. 소비 쿠폰의 주요 사용처는 외식 업종이 가장 많았다.
The government issued consumer stimulus coupons to boost the economy. According to the survey, 81.1% of respondents who applied for the coupons actually used them. The most common use of the coupons was for dining out.
연령대별로 살펴보면, 40~60대는 생필품 구매와 외식에 고루 사용했지만, 2030세대는 외식 비중이 가장 높았다. 이는 2030세대의 소비 성향이 다른 연령대와 다르다는 것을 보여준다.
Looking at the age groups, 40s to 60s used the coupons evenly for both necessities and dining out, but the 20s and 30s used them primarily for dining out. This shows that the spending patterns of the 20s and 30s are different from other age groups.
소비 쿠폰 사용자의 43.3%는 소비가 늘었다고 응답했다. 이는 소비 쿠폰이 경제 회복에 기여했다는 것을 보여준다. 하지만 4.8%는 오히려 소비가 줄었다고 답했다. 이는 소비 쿠폰 정책이 모든 연령층에게 동일한 효과를 내지 못했음을 시사한다.
43.3% of coupon users said their spending increased, indicating that the coupons contributed to economic recovery. However, 4.8% said their spending decreased, suggesting that the coupon policy did not have the same effect across all age groups.
정부는 이번 조사 결과를 바탕으로 소비 쿠폰 정책을 개선할 필요가 있다. 특히 2030세대의 소비 성향을 고려하여 이들의 니즈에 맞는 정책을 수립해야 할 것이다.
The government needs to improve the consumer coupon policy based on the survey results. Especially, they should consider the spending patterns of the 20s and 30s and establish policies that cater to their needs.
소비 쿠폰은 경제 회복을 위한 정부의 노력이지만, 모든 연령층의 소비 성향을 고려하지 않으면 정책의 효과가 제한적일 수 있다. 정부는 이번 조사 결과를 토대로 보다 효과적인 소비 진작 정책을 마련해야 할 것이다.
Consumer coupons are the government’s efforts to boost the economy, but the policy’s effectiveness may be limited if it does not consider the spending patterns of all age groups. The government should use the survey results to develop more effective policies to stimulate consumption.
정부는 이번 조사 결과를 바탕으로 소비 쿠폰 정책을 개선할 필요가 있다. 특히 2030세대의 소비 성향을 고려하여 이들의 니즈에 맞는 정책을 수립해야 할 것이다.
The government needs to improve the consumer coupon policy based on the survey results. Especially, they should consider the spending patterns of the 20s and 30s and establish policies that cater to their needs.
4. Reading comprehension questions
- What was the main purpose of the government issuing consumer stimulus coupons?
- What was the most common use of the consumer coupons among all respondents?
- How did the spending patterns of the 20s and 30s differ from other age groups when using the coupons?
- What percentage of coupon users said their spending increased, and what percentage said it decreased?
- What does the survey suggest the government should do to improve the consumer coupon policy?
5. Cultural and historical notes
The use of consumer stimulus coupons is a common policy tool employed by the South Korean government to boost domestic consumption and aid economic recovery, especially during times of economic downturn. The survey results highlight the differences in spending patterns across age groups, which is an important consideration for policymakers to tailor their programs to the needs of specific demographics.