Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Chaehyun Il 'All In' for Livelihood Stability, Attending Emergency Economic Meeting

At 3 PM on the 12th, an emergency meeting with economic organizations was held at the district office annex to communicate with small business owners, listen to industry damages and difficulties... Promise of financial support such as management stabilization funds and special guarantees... District Mayor Chae has been visiting livelihood sites daily since the 8th to revive the economy and listen to public sentiment to alleviate residents' concerns... District office cafeteria closure days expanded significantly from once a month to eight times (every Tuesday and Friday).

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Chae Hyun-il) is intensifying its full-scale response to revive the local economy, which has been weakened due to concerns about infection, alongside measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

At 3 p.m. on the 12th, Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Chae Hyun-il attended the "Yeongdeungpo Economic Organizations Emergency Meeting" hosted by National Assembly member Kim Young-joo at the Social Economy Support Center in the district office annex, where he listened to the difficulties faced by Yeongdeungpo economic organizations struggling due to the novel coronavirus situation and shared government countermeasures.

The meeting was attended by National Assembly member Kim Young-joo, Kim Hak-do, Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, local city and district council members, and representatives from six local economic organizations.

The six economic organization attendees were Lee Yong-hyun, President of the Seoul Small Business Association; Choi Byung-yeol, President of the Small Business Association; Kim Tae-won, President of the Traditional Market Merchants Association; Park Jong-myung, President of the Chamber of Commerce; Choi Yong-woon, President of the Merchants Federation; and Kim Cheol-hwan, Secretary General of the Yeongdeungpo Branch of the Korea Foodservice Industry Association.

The economic organizations mainly voiced difficulties such as "citizens' anxiety caused by fake news," "need for financial support," and "securing supplies of hand sanitizers."

In response, government officials explained that measures have been prepared to support small business owners, including 20 billion KRW in business stabilization funds and 100 billion KRW in special guarantees.

Mayor Chae said, "We are mobilizing all our capabilities and responding swiftly to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus and minimize the impact on the local economy," promising to actively cooperate with government policies and support district-level measures from multiple angles.

Additionally, Mayor Chae Hyun-il has been visiting public sites daily to alleviate residents' anxiety and revitalize the local economy. From the weekend of the 8th to the 12th, he visited the recently weakened local commercial areas including Daerim Central Market, Yeongdeungpo Station and surrounding multi-use facilities, Yeongdeungpo Underground Shopping Center, and Samgakji without missing a single day.

Mayor Chae took the lead in revitalizing the local commercial district by shopping directly at traditional markets with staff and dining on sundae gukbap (Korean blood sausage soup) at nearby restaurants to hear the difficulties of self-employed business owners.

On the 12th, the day of the meeting, Mayor Chae visited the Daerim-dong alleys, where small-scale local commercial districts are formed, from 11 a.m. to conduct a field survey on local commercial trends and explore ways to revitalize the local economy. He toured hair salons and laundries, had kalguksu (hand-cut noodle soup) at a nearby small restaurant, and discussed current issues and economic support measures with staff.

Mayor Chae plans to continue steady field visits, including to small-scale local commercial districts in Yangpyeong-dong, to promptly address difficulties without missing voices from the field, reassure residents anxious about the novel coronavirus, and overcome the crisis.

Meanwhile, the district is implementing various measures to revitalize the local economy. The scale of small business management funds, which provide up to 300 million KRW per company at a low interest rate of 1.8%, has been expanded by 40% from the original plan to 3.5 billion KRW, and the application period has been advanced. Tax support measures such as extension of local tax payment deadlines are also being implemented for taxpayers directly or indirectly affected by the novel coronavirus.

The district is promoting early payment of construction fees and rapid execution of district finances in consumption, investment, and job sectors in the first half of the year to make district finances a catalyst for virtuous circulation in the local economy.

In addition, contracts and review procedures for items related to novel coronavirus prevention such as masks, disinfectants, and thermal cameras are temporarily exempted to ensure timely distribution of preventive supplies for residents' safety.

The district has significantly increased the closure days of the district cafeteria from once a month to eight times a month (every Tuesday and Friday) to encourage use of nearby restaurants, increased the existing "Traditional Market Day" event from once a quarter to once a month, and is making efforts to revitalize the local commercial district by promoting and expanding the use of the local currency "Yeongdeungpo Love Gift Certificates" and encouraging concentrated use of employee welfare points in the first half of the year.

Furthermore, to revitalize the depressed local commercial district, the district plans to resume and operate the Yeongdeungpo Eoullim Market, which had been originally canceled, at the district office plaza.

Mayor Chae Hyun-il stated, "I understand the difficulties of self-employed business owners and small merchants and, together with staff, am participating in revitalizing the local economy by using nearby restaurants, traditional markets, and expanding the use of Yeongdeungpo Love Gift Certificates," adding, "We will make the current crisis a stepping stone for a new leap forward."

Job and Economy Division (☎2670-3422)

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