Yeongcheon Market Store Owner Kim Un-seon: "No Rent for the Entire Month of March"

'Good Landlord Movement' for Small Business Owners Spreads in Seodaemun-gu

Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu (center), is raising a cheer after holding a meeting with Kim Un-seon (second from the right), who is participating in the 'Good Landlord Movement,' and others at Yeongcheon City Hall.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Mr. A, who runs a store at Yeongcheon Market in Cheonyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, received an unexpected phone call last week from the store owner Kim Un-seon.

The message was, "I will not charge rent for March, so please endure and overcome even if it is difficult."

Mr. A said, "The entire economy is struggling due to COVID-19, and especially the market has very few customers, so it is very difficult, but I sincerely thank the landlord for this good news," adding, "This kind consideration will be a great strength to endure and overcome the current difficulties."

Landlord Kim Un-seon said, "Yeongcheon Market used to be packed with customers in the evening, but now there are almost no people, and small business owners are having a hard time," and added, "I wanted to ease the burden of the tenants even a little."

Mr. Kim decided not to charge rent for the entire month of March for seven of his stores in Yeongcheon Market, including Mr. A's store.

Also, the corporate landlord of Inwang Market in Hongje 3-dong decided to reduce rent by about 10% for about 100 stores from March to May.

In this way, the "Good Landlord Movement" to alleviate the difficulties of self-employed people in crisis is gaining momentum in Seodaemun-gu.

On the 4th, Moon Seok-jin, the mayor of Seodaemun-gu, visited Yeongcheon Market and held a meeting with the "Good Landlords," expressing gratitude by saying, "At a time when traditional markets and alleyway commercial districts are facing great difficulties due to weakened consumer sentiment, such a virtue of coexistence will be a great strength for the community to overcome difficulties together."

He also stated, "Recently, the government announced that if rent is reduced, half of the reduced amount will be exempted from income tax and corporate tax, so I hope the 'Good Landlord Movement' will spread more widely."

The district office plans to collect cases and conduct promotional campaigns so that this movement can spread to traditional markets and alleyway commercial districts in the region.

On the 4th, Seodaemun-gu delivered 5,000 masks and quarantine supplies such as compressed sprayers and disinfectants that the merchants' association can use to all six traditional markets in the area, stating that they will do their best to ensure safe use of traditional markets and alleyway stores until COVID-19 is eradicated.

Seodaemun-gu Office Job and Economy Division (330-8185)

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