Joeunhee "Pledge to Support Self-Employed with 1 Million Won Quarterly for 2 Years"

Raised 4 Trillion Won Through Local Bonds to Support for 2 Years
Support for Self-Employed, Cultural Artists, Youth, Freelancers, and More

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Cho Eun-hee, head of Seocho District Office who challenged the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral by-election candidate primary, proposed a policy plan to issue local bonds worth 4 trillion won to provide 1 million won quarterly support to self-employed individuals, cultural artists, youth, and freelancers affected by COVID-19. Considering the prolonged COVID-19 disaster situation and the time required for damage recovery, the payment period is expected to be about two years.

On the 14th, Cho announced through social networking services (SNS) that if she becomes the mayor of Seoul, she will support not only self-employed individuals but also cultural artists, youth, special employment workers, and freelancers through the issuance of local bonds. She stated, "We need to provide 1 million won quarterly support to self-employed individuals, and about 2 trillion won is required for that funding."

The support period is expected to be two years. She said, "Currently, the government's vaccine supply is facing setbacks, and it is difficult to predict when the disaster situation will end. Even if the COVID-19 disaster ends this year, more support is needed for self-employed individuals to recover to normal conditions," adding, "I believe support for self-employed individuals should continue not only this year but also next year."

Cho also presented a plan to raise the necessary funds through local bonds. She explained, "Last December, Seoul City issued local bonds worth 300 billion won to establish a disaster management fund necessary for emergency support for small business owners and vulnerable groups, and the Seoul City Council readily agreed," adding, "I believe the Seoul City Council will willingly agree so that financial support for citizens currently suffering can be effective." Although the Seoul City Council currently has a structure where the opposition holds the majority, she expects ruling party Seoul city council members to cooperate willingly.

She emphasized the need for support, saying, "Especially over the past year, self-employed individuals have devoted themselves on the front lines of quarantine," and "Thanks to the self-sacrificing community spirit and active quarantine cooperation of self-employed individuals, we were able to curb the spread of COVID-19 during the third pandemic wave."