Disaster Relief Fund Usage Locations: Gangnam Twice as Many as Jongno... Concentrated in Hospitals and Academies

A Total of 46,686 Usable Franchise Stores in Gangnam, 21,106 in Jongno
Hospitals and Academies Dominate in Gangnam, Clothing Businesses Predominate in Jongno

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] It has been reported that Gangnam has nearly twice as many places where government emergency disaster relief funds can be used compared to Jongno. This is analyzed to be because Gangnam has a large floating population and is concentrated with hospitals and academies.

According to the disaster relief fund usage merchant map by KB Kookmin Card on the 14th, there are a total of 46,686 merchants in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where emergency disaster relief funds can be used. Among them, restaurants and other retail stores accounted for the largest proportions of 9,702 and 11,449 places respectively in the disaster relief fund usage locations.

Restaurants accounted for 20.8% of the total. Emergency disaster relief funds can be used not only at famous companies such as Saint Augustin and Bondo Lunchbox but also at small-scale restaurants that are not franchises.

The proportions of beauty & lifestyle businesses, clothing & miscellaneous goods stores, and academies & educational stores also approached 10% each. Among the stores in the beauty & lifestyle sector, 4,687 places accepted disaster relief funds, accounting for 10%. Clothing & miscellaneous goods stores, such as clothing shops in the Gangnam Station underground shopping mall, recorded 4,606 places, or 9.9%. There were also as many as 3,918 academies where disaster relief funds could be used.

Due to the characteristics of the Gangnam commercial district, which is densely populated with hospitals such as plastic surgery and dermatology clinics, 3,319 hospitals and pharmacies were found where disaster relief funds could be used. Although government emergency disaster relief funds cannot be used at department stores, large marts, or entertainment bars, there are no special restrictions for hospitals, so the funds can be used to pay for plastic surgery procedures. There were 3,564 merchants in the leisure, culture, and hobby sector, including CGV cinemas and bookstores, and 2,596 in the bakery and coffee business. Supermarkets and convenience stores accounted for 1,798 places, or 3.85% of the total.

In Jongno-gu, Seoul, where large offices such as Gwanghwamun are concentrated, disaster relief funds can be used at a total of 21,106 places. Similar to Gangnam-gu, restaurants and other retail stores accounted for the largest proportions of disaster relief fund usage locations.

The government's emergency disaster relief fund credit and debit card recharge application began at 7 a.m. on the 11th through the websites of nine card companies. Similar to the public mask 5-day rotation system, the application follows a day-of-the-week system, and from the 16th, applications can be made at any time. The support fund amounts are 400,000 KRW for single-person households, 600,000 KRW for two-person households, 800,000 KRW for three-person households, and 1,000,000 KRW for households of four or more. The photo shows a citizen in Jongno-gu, Seoul, applying for the support fund that day. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The total number of restaurants where disaster relief funds can be used was 5,326, accounting for 25.2% of the total. Other small-scale retail stores and small to medium-sized businesses numbered 6,448, making up the highest proportion of 30.55% among all disaster relief fund usage locations.

In the case of Jongno, there were many clothing and miscellaneous goods stores where disaster relief funds could be used due to the concentration of small clothing businesses such as Dongdaemun Shopping Center. The total was 3,008 places, accounting for 14.3% of the total. Leisure, culture, and hobby sector merchants followed with a total of 1,604 places (7.6%). Additionally, in Jongno-gu, disaster relief funds could be used at 1,174 bakery and coffee shops such as cafes, 912 beauty & lifestyle stores such as cosmetics shops, 937 academies & educational stores, 717 supermarkets & convenience stores, and 716 hospitals & pharmacies.

Meanwhile, the government’s emergency disaster relief funds have been available for use since the 13th of this month. After applying for the disaster relief funds, a text message confirming that the funds can be used is sent within 48 hours of the funds being credited. Card companies send usage details via text message when disaster relief funds are used. For example, messages like 'Government emergency disaster relief fund usage amount 10,000 won, remaining balance 390,000 won' are sent.

In addition, merchant guidance services have also been introduced. KB Kookmin Card provides a 'disaster relief fund usage merchant map' service based on customer location through its application (app) and mobile homepage. Samsung Card also allows users to search for available merchants by region on its homepage. Shinhan Card plans to offer a disaster relief fund map inquiry service as well.

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