Operation of Gwangjin-gu Office and Dong Community Center Restaurants Suspended for One Month

Complete Suspension of All District and Neighborhood Restaurants from March 19 to April 17 for One Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kim Seon-gap) will completely suspend the operation of district cafeterias for one month from March 19 to April 17 to support the local economy weakened by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

The district had been closing the cafeterias twice a week since February 17, but after hearing about the economic difficulties of merchants during an on-site inspection on March 12, it decided to temporarily suspend the operation of all district and neighborhood cafeterias.

District Mayor Kim Seon-gap stated, “After listening to the complaints of local merchants who are in serious difficulty, we held an emergency meeting with the Gwangjin-gu Public Officials Union and appealed to all employees through a live broadcast to understand and participate in suspending the operation of all district and neighborhood cafeterias.”

A merchant operating a restaurant in Gwangjin-gu said, “We are grateful for the district office’s decisive action, which has actually been very helpful,” and added, “The merchants’ association will thoroughly prepare to prevent infections through strict quarantine and meticulous hygiene management, and will actively participate in the basic prevention rules as well as the ‘Social Distancing Campaign.’”

To revitalize the local economy depressed by COVID-19, Gwangjin-gu is promoting measures such as ▲supporting 35.6 billion KRW in operating funds for small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners ▲early execution of 147.1 billion KRW in local finances in the first half of the year ▲prioritizing local companies in negotiated contracts ▲tax audits and collection deferrals for local taxes ▲deferral of up to one year for non-tax revenue delinquency measures and postponement or installment payments.

Gwangjin-gu Mayor Kim Seon-gap said, “To help ease the painful hearts of self-employed residents who are in difficult situations, all district and neighborhood employees have decided to suspend cafeteria operations for one month,” and added, “We will implement all possible measures that the autonomous district can take to revitalize the local economy, so I hope we do not lose hope and courage during these difficult times and overcome them together.”