"We Are Not Criminals"... Self-Employed Entrepreneurs' 'Desperate Cry' Continues Online

Self-Employed Businesses Restricted by Level 4 Social Distancing Protest
SNS Messages: "We Are Not Criminals," "Save Us"... Vehicle Demonstrations in Seoul
Small Business Owners Discontent Over Loss Compensation Law Without Retroactive Application

On the 14th, self-employed individuals continued their online protest by taking photos holding signs that read "We are not criminals." / Photo by Facebook

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] "Self-employed people are not criminals.", "We are also citizens. Please save us."

As social distancing in the Seoul metropolitan area was raised to the highest level, Level 4, to curb the spread of COVID-19, the backlash from self-employed people pushed to their limits is growing. They have been expressing their protests against the government through online relay protests and vehicle demonstrations. The self-employed claim they have only been forced to sacrifice by the government and demand retroactive compensation for losses and a prompt easing of quarantine rules.

On the 14th, photos of people holding papers with the phrase "Self-employed people are not criminals" were posted on social networking services (SNS) such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. These photos were taken by small business owners in the metropolitan area who are restricted in their operations due to Level 4 social distancing. They voiced hardships caused by quarantine guidelines, saying things like "We have been forced to sacrifice for over a year," "Are we slaves?" and "If this continues, we will all starve to death."

In a statement released that day, they appealed, "The delinquency rate of financial institutions is soaring. At this rate, everyone will die," and "Self-employed people are not criminals. Please stop ordering us around. Please consult with us."

The backlash from self-employed people extended beyond online spaces to downtown Seoul. The 'National Emergency Countermeasures Committee for Self-Employed in Response to COVID-19' (Countermeasures Committee), composed of self-employed groups from various industries, gathered near Yeouido Park from 11:30 p.m. and held a press conference, followed by individual vehicle protests lasting about an hour.

In the early morning of the 15th, members belonging to the National Self-Employed Emergency Committee held a one-person car protest with hazard lights on around Marronnier Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, opposing the government's 'Level 4 Social Distancing Measures.' / Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Ki-hong, co-representative of the Countermeasures Committee, criticized at the press conference, "For one and a half years, the government has only told the self-employed to wait and forced sacrifices," adding, "We begged to be saved, but there has been no dialogue yet."

He continued, "Self-employed people are closing their businesses and drowning in debt right now, but the government still has not discussed how to compensate," urging, "Implement new social distancing measures, abolish the gathering ban limits, and compensate for losses."

Earlier, the government raised social distancing in the metropolitan area to Level 4 starting from the 12th. As a result, private gatherings in the metropolitan area are limited to two people or fewer after 6 p.m. All assemblies and events except for solo protests are completely banned, and only relatives may attend weddings and funerals.

The ban on gatherings at entertainment facilities such as clubs, hunting bars, and emotional pubs remains in place, and the easing of quarantine measures planned for vaccinated individuals has been postponed.

Compensation will be provided to small business owners who suffered losses due to the strengthened quarantine measures under the 'Act on Protection and Support for Small Businesses' (Loss Compensation Act).

However, the current Loss Compensation Act has been controversial because it does not fully compensate for losses caused by previous gathering bans and business restrictions. According to the detailed provisions of the law, the retroactive application period is recognized only for three months from the date of the law's promulgation to its enforcement. Losses incurred by self-employed people due to past quarantine measures are only partially compensated as damage support.

The appearance of a traditional market that lost customers last year when the COVID-19 pandemic began. / Photo by Yonhap News

At the time of legislation, the ruling party explained that rapid support was prioritized over calculating the accumulated losses over the past one and a half years, but opposition parties such as the People Power Party and the Justice Party condemned it as a "fake Loss Compensation Act."

Small business owners also voiced their opposition. The Korea Foodservice Industry Association began a 'solo relay protest' in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 14th, demanding loss compensation with retroactive application.

Given the situation, voices calling for full support for small business owners have emerged in the political sphere. Woo Won-shik, a member of the Democratic Party, emphasized at the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee meeting on the 13th, "This is a period when all citizens suffer damage. If the National Assembly decides on nationwide disaster relief funds, the government should follow that and significantly increase support for self-employed people and small businesses who are suffering."

Opposition parties also pointed out the need to drastically readjust the supplementary budget to support self-employed people. Bae Jun-young of the People Power Party said at the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee meeting on the 14th, "Promoting consumption while strengthening COVID-19 quarantine measures according to this budget is like stepping on the accelerator and brake at the same time," adding, "We need to listen to voices saying that consumption promotion is meaningless when self-employed people and small business owners are forced to close."

Meanwhile, the Countermeasures Committee plans to hold another vehicle protest from late night on the 15th. On the 16th, they intend to hold a press conference near the government Seoul office and conduct a third vehicle protest.

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