"Subsidy Support for Equipment Investment
Even for SMEs with Factories Completely Destroyed"
National Assembly Special Committee on Wildfire Damage Support Holds Government Inquiry
Ando Geol, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking during the government inquiry at the National Assembly's Special Committee on Wildfire Damage Support Measures on the 10th. Photo by Ando Geol's office
Ando Geol, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Gwangju Dongnam-eul) and a member of both the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee and the Special Committee on Wildfire Damage Support Measures (hereinafter referred to as the "Special Committee"), focused his questioning on the government's implementation of wildfire damage recovery plans during the Special Committee meeting held on the 10th. He secured a commitment for the formation of an "Execution Task Force" to ensure effective recovery implementation and for a review of subsidy support.
The government announced the "Yeongnam Wildfire Recovery Plan" worth 1.9 trillion won on May 2, but there have been ongoing concerns that on-site execution has been delayed and that the real-time monitoring system remains inadequate, even a month after the announcement.
In this regard, Ando Geol pointed out, "The establishment of a recovery plan is not the end; it is urgent to form an 'Execution Task Force' to monitor and supplement the plan so that it is promptly implemented on the ground." He elicited a response from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, which agreed to form the task force and establish a regular reporting system.
In particular, when Ando Geol questioned support measures for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that suffered severe damage, such as factories that were completely destroyed, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety responded that "a research study is currently underway" and showed a passive stance on providing subsidies beyond financial support.
In response, Ando Geol proposed utilizing the current Local Investment Promotion Subsidy System as a support measure, arguing, "Rebuilding a factory due to wildfire damage is effectively equivalent to a new investment, so the existing criteria for location and facility subsidies can be applied." The government replied that it would "positively consider" this proposal.
Ando Geol stated, "I will do my best to establish practical financial support measures for regional economic recovery, so that SMEs affected by wildfires can rebuild their factories and resume production and sales activities as soon as possible."
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