Mayor Kim Kyung-hee Hosts Countermeasure Meeting
Snowstorm Damage Recovery, Support for Small Businesses and Vulnerable Groups
Gyeonggi-do Icheon City has announced emergency measures to restore public livelihood amid the economic downturn and heavy snow damage. The main focus is on rapid support for farms affected by the heavy snow and measures to stimulate consumption.
On the 23rd, Icheon City held an 'Emergency Public Livelihood Stabilization Meeting' chaired by Mayor Kim Kyung-hee and announced on the 24th that it would implement these measures.
At the Icheon City "Emergency Livelihood Stabilization Measures Meeting" chaired by Mayor Kim Kyung-hee, participants are discussing measures for snow damage recovery and support for small business owners. Provided by Icheon City
The city will first promptly allocate 7 billion KRW in national and provincial funds secured through the designation of a special disaster area related to the heavy snow damage at the end of last month for the restoration of public and private facilities. Considering the extent of the damage, disaster relief funds will be quickly provided by early next year, and reductions in national health insurance premiums and electricity bills will be applied. The city will also independently reduce water and sewage fees and agricultural machinery rental fees for affected residents.
For farms damaged by facilities such as pumpkin cultivation, which are excluded from government disaster relief, the city plans to request demolition cost support from the government but will first provide disaster relief funds from its own budget.
A total of 2.9 billion KRW in disaster relief funds has been allocated for livestock farms, providing up to 50 million KRW per farm, with separate support for collapsed barn demolition costs and disposal of deceased livestock.
To support small business owners struggling due to weakened consumer sentiment, Icheon Love Local Currency will be issued in excess of 110 billion KRW. Incentives of 7%, up to 700,000 KRW, will be provided, and during January and October, which include holidays, the incentive rate will be expanded to 10%, up to 1 million KRW. The city has also allocated 2 billion KRW in consumption support funds to offer special incentives four times next year in February, May, August, and November, and will issue consumption support coupons worth 130 million KRW. For 'Baedal Teukgeup,' Gyeonggi-do’s delivery app franchise stores, an 80 million KRW budget will be invested to support delivery fees.
About 90 small business establishments will receive support through the 'Management Environment Improvement Project,' and a budget of 1.43 billion KRW has been allocated for special guarantee interest difference compensation and fee support. The current 23 'Good Price Businesses' will increase to 39 next year, and customized startup education and on-site support teams for alley restaurants will be operated.
Support for vulnerable groups will also be expanded. A task force (TF) dedicated to intensive discovery of welfare blind spots during winter will be operated, actively linking public support and private resources using the Welfare Crisis Alert App and Emergency Welfare Call Center. Heating costs will be supported for low-income elderly, disabled households, and senior centers, and health management visits for vulnerable groups and safety inspections of social welfare facilities will be promoted to prepare for cold waves and heavy snow.
Mayor Kim said at the meeting, "Please ensure the swift implementation of support for vulnerable groups and households affected by heavy snow to stabilize public livelihood, and make every effort to promptly execute next year’s consumption investment budget to revitalize the local economy."
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