Jeonnam Province Allocates 3.1 Billion Won in Provincial Funds for Additional COVID-19 Livelihood Support

Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Young-rok is making an announcement on the 25th at the provincial government briefing room regarding additional COVID-19 relief support for industries excluded from government aid and those with prolonged business suspensions. Photo by Jeonnam Province

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province has decided to provide an additional 3.1 billion KRW in COVID-19 “additional livelihood support funds.”

On the 25th, according to Jeonnam Province, Governor Kim Young-rok announced additional livelihood support measures for vulnerable business operators facing closure risks and livelihood threats due to COVID-19.

A total of 4 business sectors, including street vendors within traditional market areas, private museums and art galleries, outdoor private futsal courts, and entertainment facilities, will each receive a uniform support of 500,000 KRW for about 6,200 business operators.

Most street vendors within traditional market areas are small-scale merchants who are experiencing increased livelihood difficulties due to a decrease in customers. Considering that there has been no support from the government or the province so far, a total of 3,884 people were selected as support targets.

Street vendors who pay usage fees to city or county offices or membership fees to traditional market merchant associations are eligible.

Additionally, 26 private museums and art galleries in the province, which have seen a sharp decline in admission revenue due to postponements and cancellations of various exhibitions and were excluded from the government’s 3rd disaster relief fund, will also receive support.

Support will also be provided to 11 outdoor private futsal courts that have been effectively shut down and are facing economic crises due to the prohibition of gatherings of five or more people.

Entertainment facilities, which have faced long-term business suspensions and restrictions due to government gathering bans, continue to incur fixed costs such as rent, taxes, and loan interest regardless of business activity, putting them at risk of closure. A total of 2,250 such facilities have been included as support targets.

The province had previously provided an emergency livelihood support fund totaling 6.8 billion KRW to about 14,000 business operators in 7 sectors excluded from the government’s 3rd support fund on the 2nd of this month.

Through this additional support, the province plans to actively address the blind spots in livelihood support for those facing closure risks or livelihood threats.

The 3.1 billion KRW budget for this support is fully funded by the provincial government, and payments will be made directly by the province upon applications received from cities and counties.

Applications for street vendors within traditional market areas and entertainment facilities will be accepted from the 26th of this month to the 12th of next month, while applications for private museums, art galleries, and outdoor private futsal courts will be accepted from the 26th of this month to the 5th of next month.

Governor Kim said, “Although this additional livelihood support fund is not sufficient to fully resolve difficulties caused by COVID-19, I hope it will provide some help to over 6,200 vulnerable residents. Moving forward, I will actively propose that the government include vulnerable groups, as well as flower farmers, eco-friendly vegetable farmers, and rice farmers affected by reduced harvests, in the 4th disaster relief fund payments.”

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