"Save Daegu" SNS Campaign to Support Small Business Owners Amid COVID-19

[Source - Daegu Matjip Ilbo Facebook Capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads nationwide, citizens fearing infection are refraining from going out, deepening the worries of self-employed business owners. Amid this, movements to support self-employed workers are actively taking place on various social network services (SNS) such as Twitter and Facebook.

The COVID-19 outbreak has put self-employed business owners on emergency alert. Their situation, already poor due to the economic downturn, has been severely impacted by the addition of COVID-19.

According to the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise Associations, a survey conducted earlier this month targeting about 1,000 small business owners found that 97.9% reported a decrease in sales after the COVID-19 outbreak. Among them, 44% said their sales dropped by more than 50% compared to the same period last year. The situation is especially severe for self-employed business owners in areas where confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported.

In response, a recent SNS campaign on Facebook aims to help self-employed business owners struggling due to the COVID-19 crisis. The account 'Daegu Matjip Ilbo,' which introduces popular restaurants in the Daegu area, posted on the 21st, "Currently, in Dongseong-ro, not only are sales down, but the ingredients they have cannot be used, causing double losses. Business owners or employees who need help, please leave a message," adding, "We will do our best to spread the word and assist."

[Source - Daegu Matjip Ilbo Facebook Capture]

Following this, information about restaurants located in Dongseong-ro was posted one after another on this account. Most restaurants requested help by promoting discounts, delivery, and takeout services, and some businesses announced that if masks were donated, they would distribute food for free, with the donated masks to be further donated to Daegu City.

These posts quickly spread through SNS and led to actual purchases, with follow-up posts stating that all ingredients were sold out.

The operator of the account said, "It is probably similar not only in Dongseong-ro but anywhere in Daegu. During the previous MERS outbreak, self-employed business owners closed their shops and went through difficult times. This COVID-19 situation is also tough for them," adding, "Many citizens are helping small business owners with the same heart, starting from small acts."

He also said, "Some citizens buy discounted food at full price, some businesses donate masks, and there are people who want to donate money. Daegu was the starting point of the National Debt Repayment Movement. If SNS operators from places other than Daegu also join in, it could become a 'Second National Debt Repayment Movement,' a good movement for the country's self-employed business owners."

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