Dobong-gu Supports Survival Funds for Self-Employed... Applications Open from the 25th

Small Business Owners to Receive 700,000 KRW Monthly for 2 Months, Totaling 1,400,000 KRW in Cash... Offline Applications Start June 15

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dobong-gu (Mayor Lee Dong-jin) will begin online applications for the 'Dobong-gu Self-Employed Survival Fund' starting on the 25th to support small business owners and self-employed individuals struggling due to the spread of COVID-19.

The Self-Employed Survival Fund provides cash payments totaling 1.4 million KRW, paid as 700,000 KRW per month for two months, to self-employed individuals facing difficulties due to COVID-19.

The eligibility criteria include businesses with annual sales under 200 million KRW last year (for businesses operating less than six months in 2019, annual sales under 100 million KRW), and those that have been in operation for at least six months as of the end of February (established before September 1, 2019).

The primary business location on the business registration certificate must be in Dobong-gu, and the applicant must be an actively operating small business owner as of the application date. For transportation business operators, the base of operations on the passenger car transport business license or freight car transport business permit must be in Dobong-gu. However, businesses involved in gambling, entertainment, speculation, and other inappropriate industries are excluded. Recipients of the COVID-19 Special Support Project for Special Types of Employment and Freelancers (Ministry of Employment and Labor, Seoul City) and manufacturing business expense support are not eligible for duplicate benefits.

This project supports 9,845 businesses, accounting for 64% of all small businesses in the district. This means 6 out of 10 business owners will receive support.

Applications must be submitted by the business owner. If there are multiple representatives, only one may apply as the representative. Proxy applications are allowed with a power of attorney attached.

To facilitate convenience for self-employed individuals, the application process has been simplified. Online applications require only simple identity verification and the business registration number, with no submission of documents. For offline applications, minimal documents such as ▲application form and consent for personal information processing (available at the reception), ▲ID card, ▲copy of business registration certificate, ▲copy of bankbook, ▲power of attorney (for proxy applications), and ▲passenger car transport business license or freight car transport business permit (for transportation business operators) are required.

Online applications can be submitted from May 25 to June 30 on the Seoul City Self-Employed Survival Fund website. To manage the influx of applicants, a five-day rotation system based on the last digit of the birth year will be implemented. Applications are accepted regardless of birth year on weekends.

In-person applications will be accepted from June 15 to 30 at the dedicated reception desk in Dobong-gu Office (basement level 1 indoor gymnasium) or at the local Woori Bank branch within the district.

The dedicated reception desk at Dobong-gu Office (basement level 1 indoor gymnasium) allows anyone to apply on weekdays regardless of the last digit of their birth year for the convenience of residents.

Applications at Woori Bank branches (excluding sub-branches) will follow a ten-day rotation system. Starting on the 15th, self-employed individuals whose birth year ends in ‘0’ may apply, followed by those ending in ‘1’ on the 16th, ‘2’ on the 17th, and so on. However, anyone may apply during the last two days before the deadline (June 29?30).

The support fund will be provided in cash within two weeks after application. There are no restrictions on how the funds may be used.

For more details, please refer to the announcements on the Dobong-gu Office website or contact the Dobong-gu Self-Employed Survival Fund call center or the Seoul City Dasan Call Center, both operating from the 25th of this month.

Mayor Lee Dong-jin of Dobong-gu stated, “We hope that the Dobong-gu Self-Employed Survival Fund will serve as a turning point for small business owners struggling due to COVID-19 to overcome this crisis,” and added, “We will strive to minimize inconvenience to residents by establishing dedicated consultation and application desks within the district office.”