Sejong's reusable-cup program is expanding around government offices. A Korean Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announcement dated October 19, 2026 mentions two separate amounts: a ₩1,000 cup deposit, returned when the cup is brought back, and ₩300 in carbon-neutrality points per cup, which has additional membership and return-record conditions. The press-release PDF, pp. 1–2 distinguishes them; it does not promise both as one automatic cash refund.

Which cafés and return locations are involved?

At the time of the announcement, 20 cafés inside the Sejong Government Complex already applied the reusable-cup deposit system. The new agreement adds nine cafés near the complex, one inside Sejong City Hall and ten near City Hall, for 20 additional participating locations according to the ministry. Actual start dates may vary by store as existing disposable-cup stock runs out. This is not a claim that every café in the city participates immediately. Verify the particular business and its current return arrangements before setting out.

For a takeaway drink, the café sells the drink in a reusable cup including a ₩1,000 deposit. The ministry says a customer can return a used deposit cup at a participating café or an unmanned return machine. Its specific description of a mobile-phone deposit refund applies to a return at an unmanned machine. Ask the participating café how its in-store deposit return is handled. The announcement also describes plans to add machines around public institutions, parking areas, bus stops and nearby shops. A planned machine location is not evidence that a machine is operating there today.

A conceptual reusable cup resting on a generic café counter, not a photograph of an operating Sejong return machine.

Why the ₩300 benefit requires another check

The ministry describes ₩300 in carbon-neutrality points for each cup returned by a customer. Its footnote says the customer must be signed up to both the carbon-neutrality points website and the reusable-cup operator's website or app so the return record can be verified. Returning a cup and receiving the deposit does not, by itself, establish that both point-program memberships and tracking are in place. Official PDF, p. 2.

The same announcement separately mentions a ₩30-per-cup benefit for participating cafés. That is for the store, not the customer. In short, ₩1,000 is the return of money previously paid as a deposit; ₩300 is the consumer's conditional points benefit; ₩30 concerns the participating store. Treating these figures as a single payout would obscure who receives what.

Conceptual reusable cups standing separately on a drying rack in a generic café; not stock at any named Sejong store.

Before visiting: check whether the café is part of the program; find a participating return point that is actually operating; and, if you want the points, confirm the two membership and return-record requirements. The press release is a program announcement, not a real-time directory of every shop and machine.

The Korean Naver edition also explains the difference between the deposit refund and the points benefit.

About the Author

Life Mokcha compared the climate ministry's October 19 release and its agreement and deposit-system attachments. We have not inspected the operating status of a particular café or return machine in person.

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