Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon visited a grilled fish restaurant in Paldal-gu, Suwon City on the 4th along with key officials from the provincial government.
This place gained widespread sympathy after a post was shared on social media by A, the child of the restaurant owner, starting with "This is my mother’s restaurant...".
On March 23rd, A posted, "This is my mother’s restaurant. Please help us ㅠㅠ Fish prices are rising, customers are decreasing, and we are not even making a day’s wage... We are considering closing down."
The post received numerous comments such as "I will definitely visit when I come to Suwon."
Following this, children of owners of old toast shops, tteokbokki and sundae shops, and samgyeopsal restaurants posted similar stories starting with "This is my mother’s restaurant too...", which sparked a wider response. Eventually, a ‘Self-Employed Business Structure Map’ was created to organize and share information on about 1,000 stores that posted similar stories.
On that day, Governor Kim visited the grilled fish restaurant that triggered the ‘This is my mother’s restaurant’ movement with the Director of Planning and Coordination, Director of Economic Affairs, Director of Autonomous Administration, Director of Gyeonggi Market and Commercial Promotion Agency, and the spokesperson, and had lunch featuring the signature dishes of assorted grilled fish (grilled mackerel pike, grilled saury, grilled mackerel) and braised cutlassfish.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is seen talking with key officials from the provincial office at a grilled fish restaurant located in Suwon on the 4th. Photo by Gyeonggi Province
The restaurant owner said about Governor Kim’s visit, "After suddenly gaining attention due to my daughter’s SNS post, there were some malicious comments, but thanks to those who understood our sincerity, we are having a grateful time."
After finishing a bowl of rice, Governor Kim quietly left after taking a commemorative photo. This was his fifth public on-site visit for self-employed business owners this year, following ▲New Year press conference at a Seolleongtang restaurant in Suwon (January 13) ▲grilled fish restaurant in Siheung City (January 14) ▲bibim noodles restaurant in Suwon (January 20) ▲Anyang Agricultural and Marine Products Wholesale Market visit (March 21).
Governor Kim also presented policy measures for self-employed business owners.
He announced the ‘Three Major Emergency Management Measures for Korea,’ including support plans for small business owners, self-employed, and SMEs within the ‘super supplementary budget of 50 trillion won.’ Of the 50 trillion won supplementary budget, more than 15 trillion won is allocated for support of small business owners, self-employed, and SMEs, urging the political sphere to take action.
He also expressed the position that the ‘Livelihood Recovery Support Fund’ should be provided more thoroughly and intensively to those struggling, such as self-employed business owners, rather than uniformly to all citizens.
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