Dongjak-gu Supports Small Business Facility Improvements to Overcome COVID-19 Crisis

Support for Small-Scale Facility Improvements Tailored to 18 Affordable Businesses by Next Month... Summer Air Conditioner Fire Prevention Project for 105 Traditional Market Stores, Expanded Operation of Traditional Market Visiting Days

Lee Chang-woo, mayor of Dongjak District, visited Sangdo Traditional Market with district office employees to participate in the Good Consumption Movement.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Changwoo Lee) is expanding economic support for affordable price businesses and small merchants in traditional markets to revive the local economy, which has been stagnant due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

First, small-scale facility improvement support for affordable price businesses will be promoted until next month. Last year, the district enacted the Ordinance on Support and Management of Affordable Price Businesses in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, helping local small merchants operate stably and contributing to revitalizing the local economy.

Affordable price businesses are establishments designated by the district after meeting certain standards such as excellent service, hygiene, and pricing, and undergoing on-site inspections and evaluations. This year, the number has been expanded to 72 locations to overcome the COVID-19 crisis.

The district provides various incentives to affordable price businesses, including ▲support for social insurance premiums ▲regular disinfection and cleaning ▲provision of industry-specific equipment and volume-based waste bags.

In particular, since last month, 18 personal service businesses such as dining, beauty salons, and laundries that require environmental improvements have been selected to receive subsidies of up to 2 million KRW for facility improvements.

Specific support includes facility improvements tailored to each business’s characteristics, from interior work such as wallpaper and flooring to repairs of kitchens and restrooms.

Additionally, the district is implementing the ‘Summer Air Conditioner Fire Prevention Support Project’ for 105 traditional market stores in the area until the 20th. This involves disassembling air conditioners, including outdoor units, to conduct ▲inspection and repair of refrigerant leaks and aging ▲replacement of fire-causing parts ▲other safety inspections to prevent air conditioner fires.

Furthermore, to revive the depressed local economy, the district is expanding the operation of ‘Traditional Market Visiting Days,’ involving all district office employees and related organizations.

Since March, on the first and third Wednesdays of every month, employees have been visiting five locations?Namseong Sagye Market, Sangdo Traditional Market, Namseong Station Alley Market, Seongdae Traditional Market, and Sadang 1-dong Food Alley Shopping District?as well as unregistered markets, conducting shopping twice a month. As of the end of last month, over 16,000 employees have participated.

Kim Jungwon, Director of the Economic Promotion Division, stated, “We will do our best to promote consumption among all citizens and continuously provide economic support to revitalize the local economy, which has been stagnant due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.”