Sogongyeon: "We hope quarantine policies stop making small business owners 'one-sided scapegoats'"

Regret Over Operating Hour Restrictions for Restaurants and Cafes in the Seoul Metropolitan Area
"Step-by-Step Daily Life Recovery Must Be Realized in November"
"Cash Support Urgently Needed for Sectors Excluded from Compensation"

As non-face-to-face classes continue due to COVID-19, the worries of merchants in university commercial districts are deepening. On the 8th, a wave of business closures appeared in the commercial area near Ewha Womans University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The small business sector positively evaluated the government's partial easing of COVID-19 quarantine measures on the 15th but expressed regret over the continued restriction of operating hours for restaurants and cafes in the metropolitan area.

The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise Associations issued a statement regarding the government's extension of social distancing measures, saying, "Social distancing measures of level 4 in the metropolitan area and level 3 in non-metropolitan areas have been extended for another two weeks," and added, "We hope this will be the last quarantine policy where small business owners become unilateral scapegoats."

They stated, "We positively evaluate the allowance of gatherings of up to 8 people in the metropolitan area and up to 10 people in non-metropolitan areas, including those fully vaccinated, the extension of operating hours until midnight in non-metropolitan areas, and the lifting of room operation restrictions in accommodation facilities, reflecting the easing of quarantine measures."

They also said, "We positively evaluate Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum's mention of a phased return to normal life starting in November, advancing the transition to With-Corona earlier than the original plan, and we hope this will soon become a reality."

However, they expressed regret that "the operating hours for restaurants and cafes in the metropolitan area remain restricted until 10 p.m.," and reiterated, "We hope this extension of social distancing measures will be the last quarantine policy where small business owners become unilateral scapegoats."

They continued, "Support measures for blind spot industries such as accommodation, travel, exhibitions, and sports facilities excluded from the Loss Compensation Act remain a major challenge for our society," emphasizing, "Cash support equivalent to loss compensation is urgently needed for these blind spot industries through the utilization of funds from various government ministries."

Finally, they said, "The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise Associations plans to convey the opinions of small business owners and self-employed regarding the guarantee of operating hours at the Daily Recovery Committee," and urged, "We call on the government to implement visible and proactive measures that small business owners can feel."