Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is speaking at the Daegu Business Leaders Meeting to Overcome the Novel Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) held on the 9th in the main conference room of the Daegu City Hall annex.
[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on the 9th, "This is a situation equivalent to wartime, and recognizing that the problems of Daegu and Gyeongbuk are the problems of our country, we will ensure that there are definite results in revitalizing the regional economy by supporting separate supplementary budgets for Daegu and Gyeongbuk."
On the same day, Prime Minister Chung held a meeting with businesspeople from the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions at the annex of Daegu Metropolitan City Hall and stated, "On the 5th, we submitted the supplementary budget bill to the National Assembly, and through this, we plan to provide additional support to minimize the economic damage."
This meeting was held to discuss measures to alleviate the economic difficulties in the Daegu area caused by COVID-19 and to stabilize people's livelihoods. Various representatives from small and medium-sized enterprises, small business owners, and self-employed individuals in Daegu, as well as vice ministers from related government departments, participated.
Prime Minister Chung expressed, "I deeply sympathize with the fact that you, the businesspeople, are going through a lot due to the unexpected spread of COVID-19," and emphasized, "While the government is putting all its efforts into quarantine, it is also judging the current situation as an economic emergency and is doing its best according to the circumstances."
He continued, "On the 29th of last month, the number of confirmed cases expanded to about 800, but this morning it was 248, and while hoping for stabilization as soon as possible, we will continue to do our best to support quarantine efforts."
The Daegu businesspeople attending the meeting requested support such as extension of maturity and additional loans for small business support funds and management stabilization funds, tax and utility fee reductions, simplification of employment retention support procedures, support for procurement of raw materials from China, and revitalization of alleyway commercial districts through marketing and consumption activation of traditional markets.
In response, Prime Minister Chung said, "This is an unprecedented crisis situation, and the government will share the pain and do its best to help the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regional economies recover as soon as possible," and urged, "Local governments and communities should also unite with one heart and mind to gather strength and wisdom."
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