[Seoul District News] Yeongdeungpo-gu Fully Commits to Detailed Projects Based on Vision of ‘Happy Child, Parent, and Teacher Care District Yeongdeungpo’ Including Yeongdeungpo-style Safe Kids Cafe Creation, Yeongdeungpo-style Model Daycare Certification, New Holiday Leave Pay for Private and Home Childcare Staff, Expanded R&D Funding... Gwangjin-gu Accepts Applications for Tenant Small Business Protection Fund... Dongdaemun-gu Supports Startup of Cleaning Social Enterprise ‘White Clean’... Gangbuk-gu Bans Single-use Cups in Cafes from April... Yangcheon-gu Provides Loans from SME Development Fund in First Half
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Chae Hyun-il) is promoting a comprehensive public childcare plan tailored to Yeongdeungpo to create a "childcare special zone where children, parents, and teachers are happy," covering everything from expanding the public childcare foundation to improving the treatment of childcare teachers in preparation for the upcoming 8th term of local government.
To this end, the district has set the core goal of realizing "universal school-type childcare accessible to everyone" and has selected four major promotion tasks, concretizing detailed implementation plans.
First, the district will build a dense public childcare infrastructure for infants and young children, who will lead Yeongdeungpo's future for the next 100 years. By 2026, the number of national and public daycare centers will be increased to 100 to meet childcare demand and raise utilization rates.
Along with this, Yeongdeungpo plans to create Yeongdeungpo-style Safe Kids Cafes that improve the fragmented environments of existing infant facilities, providing safe play spaces for healthy growth and development of infants and young children amid increasing external environmental changes.
Efforts will also be made to create a pleasant and safe childcare environment. In addition to reinforcing aging daycare center facilities, a green remodeling project to enhance eco-friendly energy performance will be carried out simultaneously to create the best childcare environment where children can freely run and play.
Moreover, the district will introduce a new Yeongdeungpo-style model daycare center certification system to improve the quality of childcare services. For the first time this year, the Yeongdeungpo-style model daycare center certification will select private and home daycare centers, install model daycare center plaques, reflect extra points when selecting various support projects, and prepare special activity expense support plans.
Careful attention will also be paid to improving the treatment of childcare staff who directly care for infants and young children on the front lines. This reflects the review of childcare staff treatment improvement measures discussed as a request from the district mayor at the residents' communication meeting held in September last year.
According to the annual promotion plan, this year, a holiday leave allowance of 50,000 KRW has been newly established for private and home childcare staff, the number of research and development support recipients has increased to 600, and the director's treatment improvement allowance has been raised to 50,000 KRW.
Additionally, the district is considering gradually introducing overtime pay expansion, special allowances for teachers in charge of disabled children, and plans to incrementally increase childcare staff treatment improvement funds.
Furthermore, to boost morale and professionalism among childcare staff, the district plans to institutionalize support for extended childcare teachers, assistant teachers, substitute teachers, and others, strengthening the foundation for high-quality care services.
In addition, recognizing that daycare center operations are expected to remain difficult this year due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, declining birth rates leading to fewer children, and rising daycare center rental fees, the district stated it will actively reflect field voices in childcare support projects.
Yeongdeungpo District Mayor Chae Hyun-il said, "Children are our future. We are preparing various support policies to create a happy daycare environment for children," adding, "We will devote all efforts to making Yeongdeungpo a childcare special zone where children, parents, and teachers are all happy through the realization of universal school-type childcare accessible to everyone."
Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kim Seon-gap) will begin accepting applications from the 7th for the "Tenant Small Business Owner Support Fund" totaling 16.55 billion KRW to assist local small business owners who suffered business damage due to COVID-19.
The Tenant Small Business Owner Support Fund aims to alleviate the economic burden of small business owners who rent business premises and operate their businesses.
With this cash payment, approximately 16,550 small business owners in Gwangjin-gu are expected to receive 1 million KRW each, totaling 16.55 billion KRW in rental support.
Eligibility requirements are: ▲ Small business owners with annual sales under 200 million KRW in 2020 or 2021 and currently operating as of the 2022 announcement date ▲ The main business location on the business registration certificate is in Gwangjin-gu ▲ The business opened before December 31, 2021, and is currently renting or occupying the premises. All three conditions must be met. However, ▲ Businesses that are effectively closed or suspended ▲ Entertainment facilities ▲ Industries restricted from loan support ▲ Professional occupations ▲ Public facilities ▲ Those who received 2022 special employment type/freelancer support ▲ Those who received 2022 public property rent reduction ▲ Those who received 2022 tourism industry crisis recovery funds are excluded from support.
The application period is from February 7 to March 6, lasting one month. Online application via the website is the principle, and from February 28 to March 4, a four-day on-site application center will operate at the Gwangjin Family Shelter in the Safety Management Building of the district office for those who find online application inconvenient.
Especially, from February 7 to 11, a five-day rotation system will be operated for quick and smooth applications. For example, on February 7, businesses with registration numbers ending in 1 or 6 can apply; on February 8, those ending in 2 or 7 can apply. From February 12 to March 6, applications can be submitted regardless of the number.
Applicants must apply in person; in the case of joint representatives, one person applies as the representative, and for joint representatives or proxy applications, submission of a power of attorney and other documents is required.
Required documents for application include the business registration certificate and proof of rented business premises. For detailed information, contact the district office's Regional Economy Division or the on-site application center.
Gwangjin District Mayor Kim Seon-gap said, "We hope this small business owner support fund will ease the rental burden of small business owners struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and help them get back on their feet," adding, "We will continue to focus our capabilities on revitalizing the local economy."
Dongdaemun-gu (District Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) has launched support for the startup of the cleaning-specialized self-sufficiency enterprise "White Clean" to help low-income residents become self-reliant.
"White Clean" is the 13th self-sufficiency enterprise to receive startup support from Dongdaemun-gu Office and the Seoul Dongdaemun Regional Self-Sufficiency Center (Center Director Byun Mi-sook), and received its self-sufficiency enterprise certification on the 1st, preparing for full operation.
A self-sufficiency enterprise is a business started and operated in the form of a joint business by two or more recipients or low-income participants engaged in self-sufficiency labor projects, providing jobs to participants with work ability to help them become self-reliant.
Two professionals who acquired cleaning skills through the Smile Cleaning Team, a self-sufficiency labor project operated by the Seoul Dongdaemun Regional Self-Sufficiency Center, registered as joint business owners of "White Clean" and, after completing preparations, will be responsible for cleaning and daily management at schools and public institutions, building move-in cleaning, floor waxing, disinfection and pest control, and cleaning services.
Since its opening in 2001, the Seoul Dongdaemun Regional Self-Sufficiency Center has provided systematic and intensive self-sufficiency support services for low-income residents with work ability in Dongdaemun-gu. To ensure stable operation of "White Clean," the center plans to develop various business items, conduct market research, collect and share necessary information, and provide elements needed for sales and marketing to support smooth business operations.
Dongdaemun District Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol stated, "We will do our best to help vulnerable and low-income groups who have lost hope due to ongoing poverty despite their willingness and ability to work regain hope through self-sufficiency enterprises and establish themselves as members of society."
Gangbuk-gu (District Mayor Park Gyeom-su) announced that from April 1, the use of plastic cups inside cafes and restaurants will be prohibited.
Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the temporary allowance of disposable items in food service establishments such as cafes will be prohibited again from April 1 following the Ministry of Environment's amendment to the "Disposable Items Use Regulation (Prohibition of Free Provision and Use Suppression) Exclusion List" notice.
This amendment removed food service businesses from the exclusion list of disposable item use regulations that had been allowed during infectious disease or disaster situations.
Additionally, with the revision of the "Enforcement Rules of the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources," from November 24, the scope of disposable item regulation industries and items will expand. Paper cups, plastic straws, and stirring sticks will be newly added to regulated items, prohibiting their use in food service businesses and collective catering facilities.
Currently, disposable plastic bags are banned in large stores (3,000㎡) and supermarkets (165㎡), and this ban will extend to general retail businesses such as bakeries and convenience stores.
Furthermore, plastic umbrella covers in large stores and plastic cheering items in sports facilities will also be included in the prohibited items.
Gangbuk-gu has proactively promoted various projects to reduce indiscriminate disposable item use and participate in environmental protection, such as installing and operating reusable cup collection bins in the district office, exchanging ice packs and transparent PET bottles, and producing recycled shopping bags using discarded banners.
Gangbuk District Mayor Park Gyeom-su said, "Due to COVID-19 and changes in consumer culture, disposable item usage has surged, and we can no longer stand by," adding, "We hope residents will join forces so that reducing disposable items becomes a lifestyle habit."
Yangcheon-gu (District Mayor Kim Soo-young) is accepting applications until February 18 for the "2022 First Half Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund Loan Support" to encourage the recovery of small business owners facing management difficulties.
Eligible applicants include ▲ Small and medium enterprise owners registered with a factory in Yangcheon-gu ▲ SME owners with headquarters in Yangcheon-gu and factories registered within Seoul jurisdiction ▲ Operators of manufacturing-related knowledge service industries ▲ Small enterprises under the Special Measures Act for Small Enterprises and Small Business Owners ▲ Wholesale and retail businesses ▲ Other service industries. However, tobacco and liquor wholesale, restaurants, real estate, and finance are excluded from loan eligibility.
The loan support scale for the first half of this year is 2.5 billion KRW, with up to 300 million KRW per manufacturing company and up to 80 million KRW for other wholesale and retail businesses. The interest rate has been temporarily reduced from 1.5% to 0.8% until the end of this year, benefiting both new and existing borrowers.
Repayment terms are a 2-year grace period followed by 3 years of equal installments. Loan funds must be used for facility funds, operating funds, technology development funds, etc.
Applicants should download the relevant forms from the district office website's public notice board, complete them, and submit them with supporting documents (business registration certificate, income certificate, etc.) to the district office's Job and Economy Division by February 18.
Loan recipients will be finalized after review by the Fund Operation Committee and can receive loans through Woori Bank Yangcheon Branch starting in March.
Additionally, the district provides special credit guarantees for local small business owners who need emergency loans but face difficulties applying due to lack of collateral. When the district recommends SMEs and small business owners needing guarantees to the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation, the foundation guarantees to help them receive low-interest financial support.
For detailed information about the first half SME Development Fund loan application, contact the Job and Economy Division.
Yangcheon District Mayor Kim Soo-young said, "We are supporting a 2.5 billion KRW SME development fund loan to revitalize SMEs and small business owners struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19," adding, "Applications are open until February 18 at the Job and Economy Division, so eligible companies should not miss this opportunity."
Dongjak-gu (District Mayor Lee Chang-woo) will provide 1 million KRW rental support to micro small business owners whose sales have decreased due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic to alleviate fixed cost burdens such as rent.
This is part of Seoul City's comprehensive livelihood protection measures to support the business stability of small business owners severely affected by prolonged damage.
The support amount is 1 million KRW per business, and approximately 13,650 businesses in the district are expected to benefit.
Eligible recipients are small business owners with annual sales under 200 million KRW in 2020 or 2021, currently operating in rented business premises located in Dongjak-gu, and who opened before December 31, 2021. However, ▲ Closed or suspended businesses ▲ Entertainment facilities ▲ Industries restricted from loan support ▲ Professional occupations such as lawyers, accountants, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies ▲ Nonprofit corporations, schools, religious organizations, and other public facilities ▲ Those who received 2022 public property rent reduction for small business owners ▲ 2022 special employment type/freelancer support recipients ▲ 2022 tourism industry crisis recovery fund recipients are excluded.
Applications are accepted from February 7 to March 6, with a five-day rotation system based on the last digit of the business registration number from February 7 to 11.
Applications can be conveniently submitted online via the Seoul Support Fund website by attaching the application form, lease contract, and other documents. For those unable to apply online, on-site applications are available.
On-site applications can be made from February 28 to March 4 at the Dongjak-gu Office Economic Promotion Division Civil Service Office (74 Noryangjin-ro, 9th floor, Yuhan Yanghaeng Building).
After verifying eligibility, sales, and lease contracts, support funds will be paid within 10 days. For details, contact the Dasan Call Center or Dongjak-gu Office Economic Promotion Division.
Yang Hye-young, head of the Economic Promotion Division, said, "We hope this helps small business owners urgently needing support due to the prolonged COVID-19," adding, "We will do our best to help small business owners recover through various support projects."
Meanwhile, starting in February, the district will sequentially provide the "Dongjak-gu-type self disaster support fund" to carefully support even closed small business owners severely affected by COVID-19. For small business owners who registered closure with the National Tax Service after March 22, 2020, a 500,000 KRW damage support fund per business will be provided. Detailed application requirements and other information will be announced on the Dongjak-gu website.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
