Ahn Cheol-soo: "Ruling Party and Government 'Bickering' Over Disaster Relief Funds... Small Business Owners and Self-Employed Pushed to the Brink"

"Loan Principal and Interest Repayment Should Be Deferred at Least for This Year"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, stated on the 11th regarding the 4th disaster relief fund, “The government and ruling party are quarreling over whether to provide the 4th disaster relief fund universally or selectively,” adding, “While they are worrying about how to gain votes in the upcoming Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections, small business owners and self-employed bosses are falling off a cliff. The government must propose measures to save those hanging on the edge of the cliff first.”

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Ahn said, “Until herd immunity against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is achieved, at least for this year, the principal and interest repayments on loans for small business owners and self-employed whose sales have decreased should be fully deferred.”

Ahn clarified, “I am not saying all debts should be forgiven. For those who have suffered from decreased sales over the past year, principal repayments should be deferred for one year, and interest that financial institutions do not receive during that year should be supported,” adding, “The ruling party, which planned to pour 1 trillion won into cutting monthly communication fees by 20,000 won, would have no grounds to oppose this.”

Ahn said, “Small business owners and micro self-employed bosses who have barely managed to hold on now have no more capacity to endure. It is not just that the boss personally becomes credit-impaired. The numerous employees they employ will also lose their jobs,” emphasizing, “For small business owners, self-employed bosses, and those working there, the issue of loan repayment is not a matter of choice but a matter of survival.”

Regarding last week’s heavy snow and cold wave, Ahn stated, “Due to inadequate responses by Seoul city administrative officials, traffic was paralyzed and citizens experienced great inconvenience,” and added, “Going forward, a system should be created to provide and share real-time information on natural disasters and recovery progress to enhance the city’s disaster response capabilities.”

Ahn said, “Using big data, sections where black ice frequently occurs in winter should be predicted in advance and preemptive measures taken. A precisely targeted disaster text message system is necessary,” and added, “Traffic broadcasting should be reestablished according to the original purpose stated in the ordinance, focusing on traffic information, daily life information, and disaster information for Seoul citizens.”

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