[2022 National Audit] 3 Trillion KRW Support for Small Business Owners at Railroad, Airport, and Highway Rest Areas... Government Compensation 0 KRW

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] Although approximately 3 trillion won has been supported over the past three years through rent reductions for tenants at highway rest areas, railroads, and airports to overcome the COVID-19 crisis, it has been revealed that the government provided not a single penny in compensation.

According to data submitted by Min Hong-chul, a member of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, from Korea Expressway Corporation, Incheon International Airport Corporation, Korea Airports Corporation, Korea Railroad Corporation, and SR, the support amount for tenants due to COVID-19 from 2020 to August 2022 amounted to 2.851 trillion won.

Korea Expressway Corporation directly and indirectly supported highway rest area tenants facing difficulties due to COVID-19 with 418.8 billion won over the past three years, including 295 billion won in 2020 and 118.8 billion won in 2021, through rent exemptions and other measures, but there was no government compensation at all.

Incheon International Airport Corporation (2.016 trillion won), Korea Airports Corporation (216.5 billion won), Korea Railroad Corporation (12.6 billion won), and SR (1.5 billion won) also supported tenants within their facilities through rent reductions and other means, but likewise, there was no government compensation.

Assemblyman Min Hong-chul said, "Land Ministry-affiliated institutions such as Korea Expressway Corporation, Incheon International Airport Corporation, and Korea Airports Corporation have made their best efforts for small business owners who are suffering greatly due to COVID-19," adding, "It is absurd for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to resist reforms without compensating nearly 3 trillion won in COVID-19 rent reductions and to target these institutions."

Meanwhile, in September, when Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong ordered an inspection of Korea Expressway Corporation executives who strongly opposed the government's recent 'rest area food price reduction,' Kim Jin-sook, president of Korea Expressway Corporation, tendered his resignation.