'Only a Desire to Die' - A Young Entrepreneur's 청 Petition Moves the Community

Moon says, "All that remains are debts due to the negative impact on Korea-Japan relations and COVID-19"

Mr. Moon Chun-won, who feels that the future is bleak. Photo by Seunghyun Jeong

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seunghyun Jeong] “All that’s left now are tears. I feel so wronged and don’t know how to live from here on,” is the lament of young entrepreneur Moon Chunwon (Mokpo, 39).

In July 2019, the severely deteriorated Korea-Japan relations dealt a direct blow to Moon, who was operating onboard duty-free shops on the Busan?Tsushima ferry.

At that time, with the entire nation shouting ‘NO Japan,’ Japanese tourists stopped coming, and in December of the same year, the outbreak of COVID-19 led ferry companies to Tsushima to face bankruptcy shortly thereafter.

With the suspension of ferry operations, the onboard duty-free shops naturally had to close, and the operating losses amounting to hundreds of millions of won fell entirely on Moon.

Now, more than two years later, Moon is in a predicament where he has not even received the 1 billion won deposit from contracts with two ferry companies, and is burdened with debts amounting to tens of billions of won.

‘Company bankruptcy crisis, family discord, health deterioration, COVID-19’?these misfortunes struck simultaneously, leading Moon to attempt suicide several times.

During a period of social phobia and depression, Moon stayed confined at home, and his daughter’s words, “Why do you only stay at home, Dad?” were especially painful.

Moon said, “Now my daughter seems to understand my situation and holds back her words, which makes me feel even more heartbroken,” adding, “The bank interest of several million won every month has long been overdue, and the constant calls from debt collectors tighten the noose around my neck even more.”

Mr. Moon Chun-won, who said there is no way to survive anymore, posted a petition on the Blue House National Petition website. Photo by Blue House website capture

This heartbreaking news spread through social media in the western Jeonnam region, and a petition on the Blue House website received over 400 signatures within a day.

However, Moon’s situation does not look easy. The contracted ferry company promised to repay the deposit even by selling the ship, but with the COVID-19 pandemic halting overseas travel, the ship has now gone to auction.

In particular, since the ship has failed to sell in 3 to 4 rounds of bidding and was sold at a low price, the chances of Moon receiving his deposit have become even more uncertain.

Moreover, because Moon’s business is not in tourism, he was excluded from government support measures and thus did not receive any subsidies.

Moon lamented, “I feel anger as a citizen of the Republic of Korea at Japan’s distorted actions, but in a life-or-death situation, the time passing without answers is just cruel.”

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