Gwangju City Actively Responds to COVID-19 and 'Heavy Rain Damage Relief'

Mayor Lee Yong-seop: "Social Disaster Damage Should Be Approached as a Community Issue, Not an Individual Problem"

On the morning of the 25th, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, presided over the Tuesday executive meeting via video in his office at City Hall, urging thorough preparation and inspection to respond to COVID-19. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City has decided to actively step up to assist citizens affected by COVID-19 and heavy rains.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop expressed a strong commitment, stating, “We will approach the damages caused by infectious diseases and natural disasters not as individual problems but at the community level and actively work towards resolving these issues.”

Gwangju is currently enforcing ‘Social Distancing Level 2,’ limiting wedding attendees to fewer than 50 people, and buffets designated as high-risk facilities have been ordered to cease operations under administrative assembly bans.

As a result, disputes have arisen between engaged couples and wedding service providers over wedding postponements, cancellations, and guaranteed guest numbers, prompting Gwangju City to take an active mediation role.

On the morning of the 25th, Mayor Lee instructed at an executive meeting, “Devise support measures for engaged couples who are suffering damages.”

The mayor said, “Due to the elevation to Social Distancing Level 2, engaged couples are burdened with substantial penalties from postponements and reduced guest numbers, and wedding service providers are also facing significant operational difficulties. Since these issues arise from social disasters caused by COVID-19, they should not be viewed merely as contractual disputes between providers and couples. Our city must actively seek ways to assist citizens preparing for marriage.”

Gwangju plans to receive reports of damages from engaged couples and wedding service providers at the Consumer Life Center of the Women and Family Bureau located on the first floor of City Hall and prepare multifaceted relief measures.

Until now, due to the variety of damage cases, support and counseling were provided on an individual and case-by-case basis, but going forward, the city will seek comprehensive and practical solutions at the municipal level.

Additionally, following the government’s recommendation to the Korea Wedding Industry Association to allow postponements of weddings up to six months without penalties and reductions in guaranteed guest numbers, Gwangju will mediate to encourage wedding service providers to actively accept these measures. The city will also propose the Fair Trade Commission and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to establish nationwide common standards for damage relief.

Gwangju will also receive damage reports and provide support for the Cheomdan and Pyeongdong Industrial Complexes, which were hit by the heavy rains on the 7th and 8th.

The city has tentatively estimated damages of 20 billion KRW for 142 companies in Cheomdan Industrial Complex and 7 billion KRW for 41 companies in Pyeongdong Industrial Complex due to the recent downpour.

Although the government has designated Gwangsan-gu and Buk-gu, where the industrial complexes are located, as special disaster zones for support, tenant companies in the complexes are finding it difficult to receive practical benefits.

Through the executive meeting, Mayor Lee instructed, “Collect damage reports from tenant companies in the industrial complexes affected by the heavy rains and actively devise support measures.”

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