Assemblyman Yoon So-ha Holds 'Livelihood Crisis Countermeasures Meeting'

"Coronavirus Crisis Increasing Difficulties for Small and Medium-Sized Merchants"

Justice Party Floor Leader Yoon So-ha (Photo by Yoon So-ha)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Justice Party floor leader Rep. Yoon So-ha announced on the 11th that a countermeasure meeting on the livelihood crisis of small merchants and self-employed workers due to the novel coronavirus infection situation will be held at 1 p.m. on the 12th in Room 223 of the National Assembly Main Building.

As the spread of the novel coronavirus infection continues, various events and group dinners are being canceled one after another, and people are even reluctant to go out, causing small merchants and self-employed workers to be directly hit.

Accordingly, the government has announced additional policy financing worth about 2 trillion won and extensions of existing loan and guarantee maturities.

Local governments are also competing to introduce policies such as expanding the discount rate of local love gift certificates and emergency loans for victims, but the merchants' sense of these measures is very low.

Therefore, the Justice Party will hold a countermeasure meeting to listen to the actual difficulties faced by merchants on the ground and to prepare measures to minimize the damage to small merchants and self-employed workers.

Rep. Yoon So-ha said, "With forecasts that the novel coronavirus situation will continue at least until March, the difficulties of merchants are increasing," adding, "This economic downturn could lead to layoffs of workers who work together at small merchant businesses."

Therefore, he said, "The government should prioritize setting up a dialogue table with small merchants to prepare support measures that they can actually feel," and urged, "The political circle should also promptly complete the formation of a special committee on the novel coronavirus and closely examine the lives of citizens suffering economic damage."

Rep. Chu Hye-sun, head of the Justice Party Livelihood Headquarters, emphasized, "Small business owners and self-employed workers are the most economically vulnerable who suffer the first blow whenever economic and social difficulties occur," and added, "It is urgent for the government and local governments to swiftly implement support measures that can be felt on the ground and to establish a safety net for them."

The countermeasure meeting is expected to be attended by Justice Party floor leader Yoon So-ha, Justice Party Livelihood Headquarters head Chu Hye-sun, Bang Ki-hong, president of the Korea Federation of Small Merchants and Self-Employed, and about 10 small merchants and self-employed workers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.