Minister Park Young-sun Conducts On-site Inspection of Novel Coronavirus... Visits Onyang Oncheon Market and Others

Park Young-sun, Minister of SMEs and Startups (center), visited Onyang Oncheon Market in Asan, Chungnam on the 11th and handed masks to the merchant association officials to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia).

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daeseop] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 11th that Minister Park Young-sun visited Onyang Oncheon Market in Asan, Chungnam, and held a meeting with small business owners who are struggling due to the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia).

The meeting was arranged to hear firsthand accounts from small business owners in the Asan area who are facing difficulties due to the impact of the novel coronavirus and to discuss support measures.

Minister Park Young-sun stated, "We will take measures such as financial loans and special guarantees to minimize the damage to small business owners engaged in food and lodging, daily life retail, tourism, and other sectors expected to be immediately affected," adding, "We are reviewing additional support measures including financial, marketing, and hygiene product assistance for affected small business owners."

After the meeting, Minister Park delivered 5,000 masks and 200 hand sanitizers to the Onyang Oncheon Market Merchants Association. She then visited the Chungnam Credit Guarantee Foundation, which is providing emergency guarantees to small business owners affected by the novel coronavirus.

Minister Park encouraged the foundation staff, saying, "You have been working hard under heavy workloads every day to provide financial support to small business owners affected by the novel coronavirus," and added, "The Ministry of SMEs and Startups is striving to expand the workforce of regional credit guarantee foundations and will actively work to reduce workload through system improvements such as omitting on-site inspections, ensuring rapid guarantee supply."