Jungnang-gu Holds Meeting with Small Business Owners Including General Restaurants and Traditional Markets

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jungnang-gu held a meeting with small business owners on the 31st to revive the local economy, which has been stagnated due to COVID-19.

At the meeting, seven representatives from various sectors including general restaurants, singing practice rooms, sports facilities, travel agencies, taxi services, fashion sewing, and traditional markets, along with the deputy mayor and seven heads of related departments, attended to discuss difficulties and suggestions related to COVID-19.

The main opinions included promoting landlords' participation in rent reduction, using restaurants in alleyway commercial districts, easing loan support criteria, extending loan maturities and deferring interest payments, and providing regular disinfection support.

Accordingly, official letters will be sent to landlords requesting participation in rent reduction, and the district office will take the lead in expanding the operation of ‘Local Coexistence Day,’ which encourages the use of restaurants in alleyway commercial districts.

Additionally, plans are underway to negotiate improvements with the government, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and credit guarantee foundations to ease loan regulations and support stabilization funds for small business owners.

Projects involving budgets such as rent support and business suspension subsidies will be reflected as much as possible in the supplementary budget for April to minimize the COVID-19 damage to small business owners.

Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, stated, “We will spare no support to resolve the difficulties faced by small business owners due to the COVID-19 crisis,” and added, “We will strive to reflect the opinions gathered through this meeting.”