"Only Debt Remains"... Cafe and Restaurant Owners File 1.2 Billion Won Compensation Lawsuit Against Government

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Business owners of cafes and restaurants, whose operations were restricted due to social distancing measures, have filed a lawsuit against the government seeking damages.

The National Cafe Owners Association and the Emergency Response Committee for Restaurants and Hops held a press conference in front of the Seoul Central District Court on the 19th, announcing, "We are filing a lawsuit claiming a total of 1.2 billion KRW from the government of the Republic of Korea."

A total of 240 people participated in this lawsuit, including 170 cafe owners and 70 restaurant owners. Last month on the 14th, 358 cafe owners affiliated with the association also filed a lawsuit against the government, claiming 5 million KRW per person, totaling 1.8 billion KRW.

The association stated, "We cooperated with quarantine policies starting from November 23 of last year, when restrictions such as in-store dining limits began, but all that remains is an unbearable mountain of debt," adding, "At first, we struggled with policies that lacked fairness compared to other industries, but now the cafe industry is being divided between the metropolitan area and non-metropolitan areas."

They continued, "The disaster relief funds given as if to soothe a crying child were not hope but despair and anger," and "The cafe industry is facing a crisis, having to sell fixtures at low prices and lay off employees and part-time workers."

The Emergency Response Committee for Restaurants and Hops also emphasized, "Even as the gathering restrictions approach three months, the government continues to demand sacrifices from self-employed workers without conducting on-site surveys," and "Since even minimal compensation for losses has not been legislated, sufficient compensation cannot be expected."