Jongno-gu Operates 'Visiting Local Regulation Reporting Center' to Overcome Regulatory Difficulties

Meeting with local small business owners and self-employed to listen to difficulties caused by regulations and seek solutions... Immediate improvements for issues resolvable within the district, actively requesting cooperation from Seoul City and central government for necessary matters

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu (District Mayor Kim Young-jong) will operate the 'Visiting Local Regulation Reporting Center' starting in July to meet with local small and medium-sized business representatives and self-employed individuals to listen to difficulties caused by regulations and find solutions.

The Visiting Local Regulation Reporting Center is a counseling activity that discovers and improves regulations that hinder business activities and reflects the voices from the field into policies. Any citizen with opinions on unreasonable regulations can receive counseling.

The district plans to actively investigate regulations that hinder employment, investment, and market launch of small business owners and local companies, starting with the Jongno Youth Startup Center.

Additionally, guidance on the Regulatory Sandbox (a system that exempts or defers existing regulations for a certain period when new products or services are launched) will also be provided.

The main discovery criteria include regulations that hinder business activities such as startup and business expansion, product production, distribution, and sales, or cause administrative burdens; unreasonable regulations in testing, inspection, and certification systems such as overlapping certifications and excessive approval periods; excessive administrative sanctions and penalty standards; and regulations with unreasonable elements in mandatory legal education.

In particular, the plan is to improve laws and guidelines that are unrealistic, cause unnecessary costs, and undermine regional competitiveness.

Among the discovered regulations, those that can be resolved internally by the district will be immediately addressed by forwarding them to the responsible departments, and those requiring cooperation from Seoul City or the central government will be actively proposed at the district level.

Small and medium-sized enterprises, self-employed individuals, associations, and organizations wishing to receive related counseling can apply through the Regulation Reform Reporting Center, the district office website, or email (kiwi076@mail.jongno.go.kr).

Last year, Jongno-gu revised the 'Jongno-gu Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund Establishment and Operation Ordinance Enforcement Rules' and relaxed the criteria for loan and restricted industries. As a result, loans from the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund for restaurants, lodging, and travel businesses became available, and if there is a need for loan repayment deferral, principal repayment deferral excluding interest is possible within one year.

Moreover, by proposing to the Small and Medium Venture Business Ombudsman, since 2022, traditional markets and shopping districts (including alley-type shopping districts) have been able to receive support for 'old electrical wiring maintenance projects' and 'fire alarm facility installation projects' under the revitalization support projects.

District Mayor Kim Young-jong stated, “We will operate the Visiting Local Regulation Reporting Center and support finding and resolving related difficulties. If necessary, we will actively propose and collaborate with central government ministries.”

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