[Focus on Seoul City Administration] 2,700 Traditional Market Quarantine Personnel Selected

15 Projects Including Quarantine, Damage Support, and Consumption Activation
Discussion on Property Tax Collection Deferral and Local Tax Reduction
Seoul Sarang Gift Certificate Discount Purchase Limit Increased from 500,000 to 1,000,000 Won

On the 28th, amid the spreading fear of the novel coronavirus infection known as 'Wuhan pneumonia,' fever screening is being conducted for hospital visitors at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Jinhyung Kang, Seongnam aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] To minimize the regional economic damage caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the Seoul Metropolitan Government is promoting 15 projects in three areas: quarantine, damage support, and consumption revitalization.

On the 18th, the city announced that it will select 2,700 personnel to carry out quarantine tasks at 350 traditional markets through public jobs. After the first round (1,000 people) selection, the second round (1,700 people) will target vulnerable groups such as tourism workers, small business owners, or those unemployed. Traditional markets where internal quarantine disinfection is completed and hand sanitizers and masks are provided will be allowed to use the name "Clean Market."

Support for companies is twofold: financial support such as emergency funding and tax support, and customized support by industry. If COVID-19 prolongs, the city plans to discuss deferral of collection of regular tax items such as property tax and local tax reductions through the city council's resolution. Customized one-stop support will also be provided if corporate damage is confirmed.

To revive neighborhood commercial districts, the mandatory closure of the Seoul City Hall main building, Seosomun annex, and district office cafeterias will be expanded to up to four times a month. In addition, sales of Seoul Love Gift Certificates and traditional market Onnuri Gift Certificates will be promoted. For Seoul Love Gift Certificates, the monthly discount purchase limit per person will be temporarily raised from 500,000 won to 1,000,000 won until the end of April, and the special sale period for Onnuri Gift Certificates will be extended until the end of June. The number of markets participating in the traditional market shopping delivery service will also be expanded to 35 locations.

For economic revitalization, the city plans to expedite the execution of about two-thirds of the first half's budget of 35.0805 trillion won, totaling 21.9043 trillion won. Among this, 2.52 trillion won will be invested focusing on purchasing products from small and medium-sized enterprises.

At 10 a.m. on the same day, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon held a "Small and Medium Enterprises and Small Business Owners Meeting to Overcome the COVID-19 Crisis" at the DDP Fashion Mall in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, to listen to on-site difficulties. Mayor Park said, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government will focus administrative power on taking care of people's livelihoods on the front lines so that our daily lives do not collapse due to the virus."

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