Seoul Jung-gu Takes Steps to Support Alley Businesses Hurt by COVID-19

Expansion of Cafeteria Closure Days, Seoul Jung-gu Sarang and Traditional Market Voucher Purchases Encourage Staff Participation...Promoting 'Neighborhood Market Day' for Shopping and Buying Goods at Traditional Markets

Seoyangho, Mayor of Jung-gu, announced on the 11th that he will promote the revitalization of the alleyway commercial district while guiding preventive measures around the Myeongdong restaurant area.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Due to concerns over 'COVID-19' infection, consumer sentiment has weakened, causing difficulties for local businesses such as food service, tourism, lodging, and traditional markets.

In response, Jung-gu District Office in Seoul (District Mayor Seo Yang-ho) has united all employees to revive the alleyway commercial districts, which have seen a decline in foot traffic.

First, the district office decided to temporarily increase the closure days of the in-house cafeteria from once a month to once a week starting next week. Therefore, except for the first week of March, the cafeteria, which was previously closed on the last Friday of every month, will no longer operate every Friday for the time being.

The in-house cafeteria, located on the basement level 1 of the Jung-gu District Office, serves about 950 people daily, including district office employees. The aim is to encourage these users to visit nearby restaurants, thereby helping to revitalize the depressed local commercial districts.

District employees have also committed to purchasing a certain amount of Seoul Jung-gu Love Gift Certificates and traditional market gift certificates to support local merchants. If all employees participate, it is expected that 285.7 million KRW worth of benefits will be provided to the local commercial districts.

Additionally, the district plans to promote 'Neighborhood Market Day' to revitalize traditional markets. Departments will purchase necessary items from local traditional markets, and employees are encouraged to shop at traditional markets whenever possible to support market merchants. Employees also visit nearby traditional markets during lunch hours to have meals and lead efforts to encourage traditional market use.

From the 17th to the 28th, the district will accept special loan applications for small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners facing financial difficulties due to COVID-19. As small-scale merchants targeting Chinese customers in areas like Myeongdong and Dongdaemun have suffered business setbacks, the district has urgently allocated 4 billion KRW from the SME Development Fund for this special loan program.

Since the 5th, a night-time on-site consultation center operating from 9 PM to 4 AM the next day has been set up in front of the DDP Fashion Mall for merchants active at night. Consultations on the urgently allocated special loans are being conducted alongside COVID-related counseling.

Seo Yang-ho, Mayor of Jung-gu, said, "While we will revive the alleyway commercial districts and calm excessive anxiety that depresses the local economy, we will not let our guard down in responding to COVID-19 until the very end by maintaining disinfection, communication systems, monitoring, and practicing preventive measures."