[This Person] Kim Su-young, Yangcheon District Mayor, Why and What of the 3rd 'Good Consumption' Campaign with Residents?

Campaign Relaunched to Revive Local Economy Amid Social Distancing Level 4... Household Goods Given for Purchases Over 50,000 Won at Small Stores... Plans to Boost Local Economy Include Buying Flower Baskets and Cakes from Small Businesses, Using Local Bookstores, and Promoting Kind Consumption Campaigns

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Since last year, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have been living a life we have never experienced before. Especially with the emergence of the ‘Delta variant’ and the prolonged implementation of the Level 4 social distancing measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, the struggles of small business owners, who have yet to enter the recovery phase, have only deepened. Regardless of industry, small business owners express their distress, saying, “It is practically a shutdown situation, and now we feel like we are standing at the edge of a cliff.”

In response, Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) announced that it will launch the third phase of the ‘Good Consumption’ campaign with residents, following last year, to comfort desperate small business owners and revitalize the local economy.

The ‘Good Consumption’ campaign in Yangcheon-gu, which began in the first half of last year to support small business owners struggling from decreased sales, continued with a second phase in the latter half, creating a virtuous cycle of economic revitalization across various industries in the region.

This third phase of the ‘Good Consumption’ campaign will promote a multi-faceted local economy revival project to support small business owners facing management difficulties due to the recent upgrade to Level 4 social distancing.

First, an event to collect receipts to revive the local economy will be promoted. Residents who present receipts totaling over 50,000 KRW from expenditures at restaurants, beauty salons, flower shops, and other businesses to their local community service center starting from the 30th will receive daily necessities (such as kitchen detergents). However, only receipts issued from July 30th onward are valid.

Unlike last year’s campaign, the minimum receipt amount has been lowered to 50,000 KRW, and through voluntary product sponsorships from private companies (such as Hyundai Department Store Mokdong Branch), the campaign will be carried out through public-private cooperation.

‘Let’s protect our neighborhood, our stores, and ourselves together’ is a campaign involving employees and members of various professional organizations. Due to ongoing social distancing limiting gatherings, funds accumulated from employee association dues and professional organization fees will be actively used as a means to promote local consumption, aiming to revitalize commercial districts and strengthen organizational belonging.

On employees’ (members’) special days (birthdays, anniversaries), flower baskets, cakes, and other items will be purchased from local small businesses and delivered. Additionally, companion plants purchased from neighborhood flower shops will be placed at community service centers to provide small but certain healing to visitors and employees exhausted from COVID-19 response duties.

Furthermore, as part of efforts to support local bookstores, rapid book purchases will be promoted. Books for public and small libraries will be purchased in advance, and local bookstores will be actively used when acquiring book packages following additional selection for the Book Start project.

Small business owners operating within Yangcheon Cultural Center and public sports facilities in Yangcheon-gu will also receive benefits such as rent reductions or extensions corresponding to the closure period due to COVID-19. These tangible supports, including fee and rent reductions, aim to help alleviate management difficulties.

The district office will also implement proactive administration by promptly executing the budget allocated for the ‘consumption sector’ to support local small business owners. When the purpose, location, and amount of expenses such as business promotion and office management fees are predictable, prepayments will be made as much as possible at local businesses to stimulate the local economy.

Additionally, tax support measures such as deadline extensions will be provided to taxpayers who have suffered direct or indirect economic damage due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. The encouragement gifts for social service personnel discharged from duty, previously provided as cultural gift certificates, will be changed to Yangcheon Love Gift Certificates to indirectly support local consumption.

In a reality where it is unknown when COVID-19 will end, it is too early to be completely discouraged by an uncertain future. We just need to take steady steps forward, making the best choices we can, together with those around us. In this process, Yangcheon-gu will always be a reliable partner close to its residents.

Mayor Kim Soo-young stated, “The Good Consumption campaign, which began in Yangcheon-gu last year, was the most desirable example of solidarity and coexistence to overcome the crisis. Although it is difficult, I believe that if everyone once again joins forces, the trials we face can become opportunities for a new leap forward.”

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