"Register Now for Retroactive Support"… Assistance for Unregistered Stores Affected by Floods

Minister of SMEs Visits Gurye 5-Day Market Restoration Site
Policy to Support Unregistered Shops Discussed at Meeting

Park Young-sun, Minister of SMEs and Startups (right), is talking with merchants during a visit to the flood recovery site at Gurye 5-Day Market in Jeollanam-do on the 18th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daeseop] "There is no way for the government to support unregistered stores. If they register now, we plan to apply support retroactively."

On the 18th, Park Young-sun, Minister of SMEs and Startups, visited the flood recovery site at Gurye 5-Day Market in Jeonnam and told merchants, "For unregistered store owners, if they register as small business owners now and submit receipts showing they previously sold chili peppers or rice, we have decided to recognize and support them retroactively."

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to assist unregistered stores with the registration process through a one-on-one customized problem-solving system. Minister Park emphasized, "Store owners must repair their shops themselves. What the government can do is provide emergency management stabilization funds and special guarantees. All of this requires a business registration certificate. That is why I urge them to register quickly."

After touring the flood recovery site, Minister Park held an on-site meeting to listen to the damage status, recovery progress, and merchants' requests.

Park Young-sun, Minister of SMEs and Startups (right), visited the flood recovery site at Gurye 5-Day Market in Jeollanam-do on the 18th and spoke with merchants about government policy support.

At the on-site meeting, one merchant stressed, "Building repairs are urgent, and I hope the facilities are properly restored before goods arrive. Please help us." Park Jeong-seon, head of the Gurye branch of the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises, said, "All receipts were washed away by the water. It will be difficult to prove with receipts. There are investment contracts and lease agreements. It would be good if those could be used instead."

Minister Park said, "I am relieved that the recovery seems to be happening faster than I had worried, thanks to everyone's cooperation." She added, "Since the damage requires rebuilding, there is a need to upgrade to the latest technology," and explained, "We will promote digitalization to turn this crisis into an opportunity."

Minister Park shared an example of a Hanwoo cattle farm and butcher shop in Jangheung, Jeonnam. "There was a restaurant raising Hanwoo cattle and running a butcher shop, operated by a father and daughter. After starting online sales, their annual sales rose to 2 billion won. In Gurye, it would be good to sell bracken harvested from Jirisan nationwide online. We will make it a digital flagship store," she said.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to support the exhibition and sale of local specialties, market flagship products, and excellent small business products through online and offline platforms, leveraging the characteristics of Gurye and Hadong, which are located near Jirisan and attract many tourists. They also plan to create spaces for various performances and events to promote customer inflow.

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