Ministry of SMEs and Startups Provides 'Small Business COVID-19 Prevention Supplies Support Fund'... Up to 100,000 KRW per Business

First Payment from the 17th of This Month to the 6th of Next Month
For Small Business Owners in Facilities with Mandatory Quarantine Pass
Initial Registration Implements Business Registration Number Ending in a 10-Day Rotation System

Employee Checking Quarantine Pass
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kang Minji = On the afternoon of the 11th, an employee is checking the quarantine pass of a customer at the entrance of a large supermarket in Seoul. 2022.1.11
mjkang@yna.co.kr
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[Asia Economy Reporter Junhyung Lee] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will provide support funds of up to 100,000 KRW for quarantine supplies to small enterprises and small business owners starting this month.

The Ministry announced on the 12th that it will begin accepting applications for the Small Enterprise and Small Business Owner Quarantine Supplies Support Fund from the 17th of this month. This is a follow-up measure to the fully expanded quarantine pass system implemented on the 6th of last month. According to the Ministry, the support fund was established to alleviate the burden on small enterprises and small business owners who must purchase and install QR code verification terminals. The Ministry will support the purchase costs of quarantine-related items such as QR code verification terminals, hand sanitizers, and masks up to 100,000 KRW per business.

The first payment of the quarantine supplies support fund will be made from the 17th of this month to the 6th of next month. The first payment targets are small enterprises and small business owners confirmed as mandatory quarantine pass facilities in the Ministry’s own database (DB). To facilitate applications, the Ministry has introduced an online application method and simplified the required documents by utilizing its own DB.

Small enterprises and small business owners wishing to receive the support fund can submit receipts related to quarantine supplies purchased after the 3rd of last month through the website of the city, county, or district where their business is located. Once the purchase items and amounts are verified, up to 100,000 KRW will be paid per business. If there are multiple businesses, support can be received for each business separately.

However, for the first payment, a 10-day rotation system based on the last digit of the business registration number will be implemented from the 17th to the 26th of this month. On the 17th, small enterprises and small business owners whose business registration number ends with 7 are eligible. From the 27th of this month, applications can be submitted regardless of the business registration number. The city, county, or district will notify eligible applicants via text message. Recipients should apply on the designated date after receiving the message.

Controversy Over Quarantine Pass and Violation of Basic Rights of Unvaccinated Individuals
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Do-hoon = On the afternoon of the 4th, an unvaccinated person checked in with a QR code at a restaurant in Seoul amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the legal community on the same day, the Administrative Division 4 of the Seoul Administrative Court (Chief Judge Han Won-gyo) will hold a hearing on the 7th regarding the injunction application filed by 1,023 people, including Professor Jo Doo-hyung of Yeungnam University College of Medicine, against the Minister of Health and Welfare and the Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency concerning the enforcement of the quarantine pass. With a vaccination rate exceeding 90%, there has been backlash claiming that the quarantine pass, which lacks effectiveness, infringes on the basic rights of unvaccinated individuals. 2022.1.4
superdoo82@yna.co.kr
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The second payment of the quarantine supplies support fund will be made from the 14th to the 25th of next month. The second payment targets are small enterprises and small business owners who are difficult to confirm as mandatory quarantine pass facilities in the Ministry’s own DB. This includes those operating mandatory quarantine pass facilities but who have not accurately listed their business type on their business registration certificate.

Those eligible for the second payment can apply during the verification payment period starting on the 14th of next month. Applicants must submit their business registration certificate, representative’s ID, bankbook copy, and quarantine supplies purchase receipts through the city, county, or district website. Detailed information on application methods and required documents can be found on the websites of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Small Enterprise and Market Service.

Junhee Lee, Director of Traditional Market Development at the Ministry, said, "Although the quarantine supplies support fund was announced last month, its implementation was somewhat delayed to improve convenience for small business owners and reduce administrative burdens related to document verification." He added, "If you submit only the basic business information and purchase receipts online, you can receive support quickly, so we ask you to put more effort into quarantine with the support funds."