Seoul Jung-gu Provides Emergency Living Expenses to Unregistered Small Business Owners

Unregistered Small Business Owners Receive Emergency Living Expenses of 350,000 Won Without Sales Proof; Jung-gu Residents Get 700,000 Won

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jung-gu, Seoul (Mayor Seoyangho) is expanding emergency livelihood support for small business owners to include simplified taxpayers and unregistered small business owners.

This is welcome news for small business owners who had been excluded from various supports due to being in financial blind spots.

In April, the district accepted applications to provide 500,000 KRW each to small business owners in the area whose sales sharply declined due to COVID-19 to help maintain their livelihood stability.

However, simplified taxpayers and unregistered small business owners, who were in more difficult circumstances, could not prove their sales decline with documents and thus were unable to receive benefits and had to turn away.

Accordingly, the district decided to expand emergency livelihood support to include small unregistered business owners located in residential alleys and neighborhood stores (markets) as well as poor unregistered small business owners operating year-round. They will receive 350,000 KRW each, and Jung-gu residents will receive 700,000 KRW. However, since they are unregistered, only small business owners recognized by the merchant (prosperity) association president or the local community leader after confirmation by the relevant tongjang (neighborhood head) are eligible. Applications can be submitted in person at the respective local community centers by the 29th.

Simplified taxpayers whose sales in the previous year were less than 48 million KRW can receive 500,000 KRW support without needing to prove sales damage, just like general small business owners.

Applications are accepted until the 27th, and inquiries can be made at the Jung-gu Office Small Business Hope Reception Center.

In addition, the district completed applications last week for real-name street vendors who suffered severe damage after tourists from Japan, China, and others disappeared due to COVID-19, providing emergency livelihood support of 350,000 KRW each, and 700,000 KRW for Jung-gu residents, to help stabilize their livelihoods.

Seoyangho, Mayor of Jung-gu, said, "Reviving the economy is not only a problem for our district but a national issue. If small business owners start to collapse, the local economy will fall like dominoes. We will pay close attention to ensure no small business owner in blind spots is left unsupported and seek ways to revive the local economy."