Emergency Disaster Relief Fund Usable at Pharmacies, Beauty Salons, and Dental Clinics in Large Marts

A notice about the 'Emergency Disaster Relief Fund' is posted at the pharmacy located inside Emart. (Photo by Emart)

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] The emergency disaster relief fund provided to all citizens by the government can now be used at large discount stores. However, usage is limited to rental stores operated by small business owners within these large discount stores.

On the 12th, the three major discount stores?Lotte Mart, E-Mart, and Homeplus?announced that starting from the 13th, the government’s emergency disaster relief fund can be used at about 2,700 small business rental stores within their outlets.

E-Mart allows the use of the emergency disaster relief fund at approximately 800 rental stores, which is about 30% of the 2,400 rental stores located in 158 E-Mart and E-Mart Traders outlets nationwide. Key places where the fund can be used include rental stores operated by small business owners such as hair salons, optical shops, pharmacies, car washes, kids cafes, and photo studios within E-Mart.

For example, at E-Mart Seongsu, the fund can be used at 11 out of 26 rental stores, including hair salons, optical shops, pharmacies, kids cafes, shoe and key shops, car washes, dental clinics, and pediatric clinics. At E-Mart Wolbae, it is available at 10 out of 25 rental stores, and at Traders Guseong, payment using the emergency disaster relief fund is possible at 6 out of 17 rental stores, including vehicle repair shops and animal hospitals.

An eyewear store located inside Lotte Mart Jamsil branch. (Photo by Lotte Mart)

At Lotte Mart, the emergency disaster relief fund can be used at about 795 rental stores, which is approximately 55.1% of the 1,444 rental stores located in 124 stores nationwide. The rental stores where the fund can be used include small business-operated optical shops, cafes, and restaurants. Homeplus also allows the use of the government-issued emergency disaster relief fund at about 1,100 out of over 6,000 rental stores located in 140 stores nationwide.

The three major discount stores plan to place notices indicating rental stores where the emergency disaster relief fund can be used throughout their stores, such as on moving walkways and elevators, to help customers easily find these stores.

An E-Mart official stated, “Small business owners operating rental stores within E-Mart are also facing difficulties due to the impact of COVID-19, so we judged that revitalizing rental stores is necessary and have announced that the emergency disaster relief fund can be used at rental stores.”

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