Gwangju City "Apply for Small Business Support for Closed Facilities by the 25th"

Gwangju City Hall

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City has urged small business owners of facilities under gathering bans, who are facing great difficulties due to COVID-19, to submit their applications by the 25th for support payments to be made before Chuseok.

Since last month on the 27th, under the social distancing level 3 measures, Gwangju has been unable to operate six types of gathering ban facilities, including game rooms and arcades. The city plans to make payments before Chuseok after verifying documents through visits or email submissions in cooperation with autonomous districts.

Initially, the city planned to provide 1 million KRW in support to about 700 entertainment bars and colatecs excluded from the government support measures announced on the 10th, but these sectors have now been included in the government’s 4th supplementary budget, so support for them has been shifted to government assistance.

Small business owners wishing to receive support must submit the application form along with required documents such as the business registration certificate. Those having difficulty preparing documents can use the ‘Small Business Guardian’ service of the Gwangju Economic Employment Promotion Agency for guidance on document issuance and application submission assistance.

Meanwhile, middle school students and out-of-school youth aged 13 to 15, who were initially planned to be supported by the city, are excluded from city support as they are now included in the government support target. High school students, out-of-school youth aged 16 to 24, and university students will receive the originally planned education disaster relief fund of 100,000 KRW each.

High school students will receive payments collectively to their own or their parents’ accounts without a separate application process, based on lists submitted by the education office. Out-of-school youth aged 16 to 24 can apply in person or by fax at the out-of-school support centers located in the five districts starting from the 21st.

University students enrolled in universities located in Gwangju can apply online through the city’s website starting from the 22nd. After eligibility verification, 100,000 KRW per person will be paid to their own or their parents’ accounts before Chuseok.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop said, “We will do our best to find a balance between quarantine and the economy to protect citizens’ safety while alleviating the hardships of ordinary people,” adding, “We will continue to closely monitor the field of people’s livelihoods to ensure no blind spots in support and devise various support measures that help citizens.”