Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok: "We Will Develop 'Customized Policies' to Help Small Business Owners Overcome COVID-19"

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, visited the sites where small business owners are overcoming COVID-19 to engage in communication.

According to Jeonnam Province on the 28th, Governor Kim held a meeting with store merchants in Namak New Town, Muan, to revitalize the shopping district and discover practical support policies tailored for small business owners.

At the meeting, Governor Kim stated, “We will develop and support various customized policies to help small business owners overcome COVID-19.”

The meeting was attended by 14 people, including Governor Kim, Lee Jong-in, President of Samhyang-eup Prosperity Association, small business owners, Kim San, Mayor of Muan County, and Jeonnam Provincial Assembly members Lee Hye-ja and Na Gwang-guk.

Earlier, in March, Governor Kim promised during a dialogue with Muan residents to have an open and frank conversation with Namak shopping district merchants. Through this meeting, he listened to the vivid voices from the field regarding revitalization plans for Namak shopping district and the difficulties faced by small business owners, and communicated with them.

He also comforted and encouraged small business owners who are struggling due to decreased sales and income caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Small business owners proposed measures to revitalize Namak New Town shopping district, such as creating attractions and entertainment for the younger generation, establishing specialized streets in central shopping areas, and developing youth malls.

Governor Kim said, “To stimulate consumption, we issued 1 trillion won worth of Jeonnam Happiness Local Currency in the first half of this year, and we will issue an additional 180 billion won in the second half. We will develop customized policies to help small business owners, who are the start and center of the local economy, quickly overcome COVID-19, and ensure these are reflected in government policies.”

The province is promoting measures such as expanding the mandatory closure system for government office cafeterias and requesting public institutions relocated to Namak New Town to participate in cafeteria closures. These efforts aim to revitalize the local economy, which has been depressed by COVID-19, and support small business owners struggling with decreased sales.

The “Neighborhood Store Together Store” campaign, which supports small business owners by producing promotional videos for their stores free of charge and enabling advertising on TV, online, and YouTube, will be fully launched from July, addressing the major concern of promotion for small business owners.

Additionally, to help small business owners overcome the COVID-19 crisis and recover, the province provided an emergency livelihood support fund of 9.9 billion won this year, in addition to government subsidies, to 11 sectors including travel and entertainment industries, continuing the support from last year.

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