Small Business Owners: "Government's Promise to 'End Quickly and Decisively' Rings Hollow... Urgent Measures Needed"

Small Business Association: "Long and Severe Business Restrictions... Small Businesses Pushed to the Brink of Survival"
Demand for Small Business Participation in the Living Quarantine Committee... "Policy Fund Recipients Should Also Be Expanded"

We Remove Signs from Closed Businesses
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Im Hwayoung = On the morning of the 10th, officials from the Advertising Maintenance Team of the Urban Design Division at Jongno-gu Office are removing the sign of a closed restaurant in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
Jongno-gu Office is offering free removal of neglected and worn signs from businesses that have closed or relocated due to the prolonged impact of COVID-19. 2021.7.10
hwayoung7@yna.co.kr
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[Asia Economy Reporter Junhyung Lee] As the government extended social distancing measures to respond to COVID-19, the Small Business Federation expressed regret and called for drastic measures.

On the 20th, the Small Business Federation issued a statement saying, "We express our regret over the current situation, which has once again fallen into despair," and urged the government and the National Assembly to urgently establish drastic measures to address the issues faced by small business owners caught in repeated business restrictions and a 'sales disappearance' crisis.

The Federation stated, "The government's promise to 'end it quickly and decisively' regarding social distancing has become meaningless," adding, "Small business owners are facing a life-or-death crossroads as they endure prolonged and severe business restrictions of uncertain duration." They further emphasized, "The government, National Assembly, and our society must empathize with the extreme situation of small business owners," and added, "Currently, the only support small business owners can rely on is disaster relief funds and the Loss Compensation Act."

Additionally, the Small Business Federation demanded guaranteed participation of small business owners in the Living Quarantine Committee and other bodies. The Federation explained, "Currently, the Small Business Federation, the sole legal economic organization representing small business owners, is excluded from the Living Quarantine Committee, which adjusts and reviews social distancing levels," and "Participation of the Federation in the Loss Compensation Review Committee, which deliberates on the standards and targets of the Loss Compensation Act, is also uncertain." They continued, "Like the minimum wage decision, the fate of small business owners depends solely on policymakers and experts," and argued, "To alleviate small business owners' concerns about social distancing level adjustments and loss compensation criteria, the Federation's participation must be guaranteed."

Furthermore, the Small Business Federation requested ▲expansion of policy fund recipients and amounts from organizations such as the Small Enterprise and Market Service and the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund ▲extension of policy loans for small business owners ▲and the establishment and expansion of local government support fund systems for small business owners.

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