Yangcheon District Mayor Kim Su-young Takes Action to Support Local Small Business Owners

Yangcheon-gu, Warm Partnership with Small Business Owners, Promoting 'Valuable Consumption Together'... Launch of 'Our Neighborhood Regulars Good Payment' Challenge

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] “The situation on the ground is really difficult. When I pass by member establishments (restaurants), I even take a detour to avoid making eye contact. Right now, it’s hard even to say words of comfort.”

The voice of Kwon Obok, head of the Yangcheon-gu branch of the Korea Foodservice Industry Association, trembled as he explained how tough the market economy situation has become due to COVID-19.

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Sooyoung) signed an MOU with the Korea Foodservice Industry Association Yangcheon-gu branch to discuss “price discounts for food takeout purchases” for consumers hesitant to visit stores.

The branch stated, “Although these are difficult times for everyone, if residents support us together, small business owners will gain a lot of strength,” and added, “We will actively encourage more establishments to participate.”

The district is promoting the “Valuable Consumption Together” campaign to help small business owners working in the foodservice industry who are struggling due to reduced consumption caused by COVID-19.

The main contents of the campaign are “Making Kind Payments at Our Neighborhood Favorite Restaurants” and “Relieving COVID Stress through Kind Shopping.”

The district decided to use the term “Kind Payment” to mean pre-paying with a promise to visit again later. Kind Shopping means buying one more of the products you usually use and sharing with those around you, representing supportive consumption that shares strength with neighbors in need.

To encourage more participation and provide practical help to small business owners, the district will introduce a challenge method where one nominated person nominates two others, who then upload a certification photo on SNS within 48 hours to keep the campaign going.

Also, starting from the 23rd, a voluntary participation certification event will be held where residents who participate in the “Valuable Consumption” campaign can post certification photos as comments on the Yangcheon-gu blog. Every two weeks, 50 people will be selected by lottery to receive gifticons.

On the 18th, Yangcheon-gu Mayor Kim Sooyoung had lunch with staff from the Mok 2-dong Community Service Center at Sunheunggol Restaurant located in Mok 2-dong and started the “Valuable Consumption Together” challenge.

The mayor placed a takeout order for three servings of galbitang, paid with Yangcheon Love gift certificates, and made a “Kind Payment” of 80,000 won as a promise to visit again.

The restaurant owner, Kim Jaeha (40), said, “We had no customers for the past two months, so we had to let go of employees and have been barely managing with just my wife and me,” adding, “I hope many residents participate like this.”

Mayor Kim Sooyoung said, “I hope this ‘Valuable Consumption’ campaign started in Yangcheon-gu spreads widely so that small business owners not only in Yangcheon-gu but across the country gain strength and overcome these difficult times together.” He then nominated Shin Sanggyun, chairman of the Yangcheon-gu Council, and Nam Giyeol, chairman of the Residents’ Autonomy Operation Council, as the next participants to continue the challenge.

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