[Return to Daily Life] Hiring Staff and Remodeling the Store... Self-Employed Business Owners Welcoming Customers After a Long Time

[Return to Daily Life - Part 2]

Self-Employed Anticipate Eased Social Distancing
Recent Increase in Customers Visible

More Office Workers Commuting Means More Gatherings
Restaurants and Fitness Centers Bustling

Nightlife Venues Recovering from Deposit Losses
Compensation Procedures Must Proceed Smoothly

The view of Hongdae Club Street in Mapo-gu, Seoul [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jung] "We completed remodeling work this spring to accommodate group customers. We hope the tables will be fully occupied starting this summer."

The voice of Seo Jaeseong (61), the owner of a gopchang (grilled intestines) specialty restaurant located in Mapo-gu, Seoul, was filled with determination. After a year and a half since the spread of COVID-19, gopchang restaurants, known as popular venues for company dinners and gatherings, were left with empty tables. However, hope has emerged. The domestic vaccination rate has surpassed 30%, and social distancing restrictions will be eased starting next month. Seo plans to double the preparation of gopchang ingredients and hire 1 to 2 more employees from next month. He said, "I can visibly see the number of customers increasing recently," and added, "I want to make up for the difficult times caused by COVID-19 in the second half of the year."

From the 1st of next month, private gatherings in the metropolitan area will be allowed up to 6 people, and from the 15th of the same month, up to 8 people. In non-metropolitan areas, the limit on the number of people will be completely lifted. This is a change that can relieve the breath of self-employed people enduring the 'COVID-19 hardship period.' As more office workers return to their workplaces from remote work, there is also a forecast that the number of company dinners will increase, leading to more customers. Lee Donggwan (44), who runs a pub in Jongno-gu, Seoul, said, "If this situation continues, COVID-19 will end soon," and added, "I am enduring the hardship with the mindset of waiting just a little longer." Kim Sojin (42), the owner of a fried chicken business in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, said, "Customers disappeared when elementary students' in-person classes were blocked, but we are regaining vitality."

Gyms, fitness centers, billiard halls, and golf practice ranges also have high expectations. Jeon Jaehee (39, pseudonym), who operates a fitness center near Gongdeok Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul, said, "As vaccination speeds up, the number of office worker members in their 30s and older is increasing," and added, "With the increase in personal training (PT) members, we are conducting interviews tomorrow to hire trainers."

Due to the revision of social distancing measures in response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), from the second semester, students at all levels of schools will attend school every day under social distancing level 2 nationwide, where the average daily number of confirmed cases per week is below 1,000.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The breath of nightlife industry workers, whose livelihoods had been cut off, can also be relieved. The nightlife industry suffered the greatest damage among self-employed businesses due to over a year of gathering bans and other restrictions. Nightlife facilities in the metropolitan area will be allowed to operate until midnight starting next month, and restrictions will be completely lifted in non-metropolitan areas. Lee Yunhwan (38, pseudonym), who runs a nightlife bar in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, said, "I couldn't operate and was only paying rent, so I almost lost all my deposit," and added, "I barely made a living through part-time jobs, but now I have a little hope." Shin Yura (52, pseudonym), a nightlife bar owner in Incheon, said, "The prolonged gathering ban forced me to close one of my stores, but I am relieved to be able to operate until midnight," and expressed hope, "I hope the restrictions will be completely lifted step by step so that I can feel more secure."

Choi Wonbong, Secretary General of the Korea Nightlife Food Service Association, said, "We welcome the decision to resume operations," but added, "However, compensation procedures for self-employed people, such as retroactive application of loss compensation, must be carried out without any setbacks." Other small business organizations also welcomed this decision but emphasized the need to promptly implement support measures for self-employed people, such as expanding loans for small and medium merchants and providing quarantine support measures.