Daegu City Requests 499.2 Billion KRW for Emergency Living Expenses and 540.4 Billion KRW for Emergency Survival Funds from Government

Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] Kwon Young-jin, Mayor of Daegu, once again appealed to the government on the 13th to provide emergency funds exceeding 1 trillion won to support vulnerable groups and small business owners in Daegu who are struggling due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

At a regular briefing held at Daegu City Hall that day, Mayor Kwon emphasized, "I earnestly request the government and the ruling and opposition parties to make a decisive and considerate decision so that urgent livelihood funds and survival funds, which are urgently needed, can be provided early."

The day before, Mayor Kwon met with Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, as well as the floor leaders of the Democratic Party and the United Future Party, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chief of the Blue House Policy Office, and the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

At the meeting, Mayor Kwon and Governor Lee asked for special attention and support to quickly address the COVID-19 damage in Daegu and Gyeongbuk and to overcome the severe economic difficulties, and requested the declaration of a special disaster area.

Mayor Kwon specifically requested 499.2 billion won in emergency livelihood funds for 320,000 vulnerable households, including daily wage workers, restaurant employees, and taxi drivers.

He also requested 540.4 billion won in emergency survival funds for 180,000 lifestyle-oriented self-employed businesses facing survival crises due to restaurant, tourism, and retail business closures, as well as financial support for the revival of small business owners and 69.6 billion won in interest support.

Mayor Kwon emphasized that although the number of additional confirmed cases in Daegu and Gyeongbuk has recently decreased, it is still not a stage to be complacent.

Mayor Kwon pointed out, "It is true that the trend of confirmed cases is decreasing as the diagnostic testing of Shincheonji church members is being completed, but more than 50 confirmed cases are still occurring daily among ordinary citizens."

He added, "Considering the risk of new group infections such as call centers and nursing homes, and the fact that, as announced yesterday by the World Health Organization (WHO), the trend has entered a global pandemic phase, now is not the time to lower our guard but rather the time to implement even more thorough quarantine measures."

Accordingly, the city requested the religious community to refrain from worship services or gatherings this weekend as well.

Regarding some entrance exam academies scheduled to open from the 16th, Mayor Kwon said, "Academies are places where students attend in close proximity, raising concerns about group infections. I earnestly ask for the postponement of their opening."

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