Nowon-gu Supports Affected Businesses with 2 Million Won to Overcome COVID-19 Together with Residents

19 Businesses Affected by Route Disclosure Receive 2 Million KRW Each... 30 Building Owners Join Kind Landlord Campaign, Rent Reduced for 432 Stores... Donations Exceed 140 Million KRW, Hand Sanitizers and Food Items Also Donated...

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that the district office and residents are overcoming the crisis caused by COVID-19 with one heart and one mind.

The district urgently injected 38 million KRW in disaster funds to businesses that suffered losses such as sharp declines in sales due to the disclosure of COVID-19 confirmed patients' movement paths.

On the 24th, 19 businesses including alleyway shops and small restaurants, selected through screening from 23 companies, were each given 2 million KRW. The district plans to continue supporting affected businesses going forward.

First, landlords of 30 buildings in the area participated in the “Good Landlord” campaign by reducing rents for tenants, providing great support to overcome difficulties. Through the Good Landlord campaign, tenants of 432 stores benefited. The rent reductions ranged from a minimum of 10% to a maximum of full exemption, applied for periods from one to three months, greatly helping tenants in crisis. In particular, Hwarang Building near Nowon Station decided to reduce 20% of rent for all 250 stores for two months.

Landlord Mr. Jo said that District Mayor Oh Seung-rok’s strong will for the Good Landlord campaign was a major reason that moved his heart. He said, “Since these are difficult times, I hope many landlords will participate to ease the pain of store operators,” and added, “I look forward to the local economy regaining vitality as soon as possible.”

The district also announced that since the 22nd of last month, when the spread of COVID-19 was at its peak, help from all walks of life has been continuously coming in to share the pain.

On the 11th, an elderly woman who visited the district office said, “I want to express my gratitude for the district office sending masks to all residents’ homes,” and handed over an envelope containing 1 million KRW in cash, saying, “It’s a small token of my heart, so please use it well.” The elderly woman left without revealing her name, only saying she was a resident of Nowon-gu.

This was an expression of thanks for the district’s delivery of two masks per person to approximately 532,000 residents through community leaders over two days starting from the 12th.

Besides those who anonymously sent funds, a total of about 157.6 million KRW has been raised so far from 87 individuals and organizations, including Eulji Hospital (Chairman Hong Seong-hee) which donated 50 million KRW.

Along with this, protective suits, masks, and hand sanitizers have been steadily donated, greatly aiding quarantine activities.

Also, various goods such as beverages, rice cakes, snacks, pizza, gimbap, and fruit syrup have been sent from all walks of life to be delivered to hospital staff and public health center workers fighting COVID-19, as well as low-income vulnerable groups going through the hardest times. The district posts these generous contributions on the district office website to reflect on the precious hearts.

In addition, the “Nowon-gu Cotton Mask Volunteer Corps,” organized by volunteers to resolve the shortage of disposable masks, has also shone. Within one day of recruitment, over 300 people applied, three times the expected number, leading to an expansion from three to four workshops and an extension of the work period. So far, about 2,500 volunteers including former seamstresses, students, housewives, and academy instructors have participated, producing 30,000 masks in three weeks.

Masks made by the volunteer corps are partially distributed to vulnerable groups, post offices, and hospitals, with the remainder to be used in the “Good Mask Campaign” at community centers, where disposable masks are exchanged. The collected disposable masks will be redistributed to elderly people vulnerable to COVID-19, pregnant women, and neighbors in need.

To support small business owners, the district issued about 3 billion KRW worth of local mobile gift certificates called “Nowon Love Gift Certificates.” The certificates can be used at over 7,000 locations in Nowon-gu, and small business franchisees are exempt from all payment fees. To promote usage, a special discount sale at 10% off is being held from the 24th until 600 million KRW, which is 20% of the issuance amount, is spent.

Along with this, the district is making efforts to revitalize the local economy by doubling small business loans through supplementary budgets.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “There is a saying that what melts the snow on Mount Taesan is not a fierce force but the passionate warmth that shares the pain trapped inside the mountain,” adding, “Because our people have overcome national crises for many years, these warm hearts will greatly help overcome this disaster.”