Gwangju City Allocates 35.1 Billion Won to Support Citizens, Facilities, and Businesses Amid Prolonged COVID-19 Crisis

Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop Announces 14th Public Safety Measures... Separate Support for 5th Disaster Relief Fund

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Gwangju Metropolitan City will provide 35.1 billion KRW in support, separate from the 5th disaster relief fund, for citizens, facilities, and businesses suffering from the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic ahead of Chuseok.

On the 2nd, Mayor Lee Yong-seop of Gwangju announced the 14th Livelihood Stability Measures and revealed plans to provide quarantine supplies worth approximately 2.17 billion KRW to social welfare and child facilities.

Additionally, 10.67 billion KRW in livelihood stabilization funds will be provided to vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities facing livelihood threats, and 22.28 billion KRW will be allocated to support self-employed and small business owners severely affected by gathering bans and social distancing measures to overcome management crises.

The total support covers 26 projects across three sectors, amounting to approximately 35.1 billion KRW. The city will bear 31 billion KRW (88%), and the remaining 4.1 billion KRW (12%) will be covered by five autonomous districts.

◆ Quarantine Supplies Support Plan

For 1,108 social welfare and long-term care facilities, quarantine supply purchase costs such as masks and disinfectants will be supported with differentiated amounts ranging from 300,000 to 1 million KRW depending on facility size.

Child welfare facilities (48 locations) including local childcare facilities, self-reliance support facilities, temporary protection facilities, and shelters for abused children will receive support ranging from 1 million to 2 million KRW each. Cohort quarantine facilities will receive 2 million KRW, and residential facilities 1 million KRW.

For infection-vulnerable groups, 310 children's facilities such as local children's centers and community care centers will each receive 500,000 KRW, and 1,004 daycare centers will receive 1 million KRW.

Wedding halls (16 locations) and funeral halls (32 locations) will receive 1 million KRW per business for quarantine supply purchases, and approximately 23,000 food service establishments including general restaurants and cafes will be provided with health masks to prevent infectious disease spread.

◆ Livelihood Stabilization Support Plan for Vulnerable Groups

During the Chuseok holiday period (16th to 25th), free meals will be expanded for 4,166 elderly individuals at risk of food insecurity (including basic livelihood security recipients aged 60 and over, near-poverty groups, low-income elderly living alone, and mobility-impaired elderly).

Approximately 70,000 registered disabled residents of Gwangju will receive 100,000 KRW each in livelihood stabilization funds, and 8 million KRW will be provided to about 50 school transport vehicles (excluding those personally operated by directors) facing difficulties due to daycare center closures or reduced operations.

Seven hundred corporate and individual taxi drivers who did not receive government disaster relief funds will receive 500,000 KRW each, and 2,200 cultural and artistic performers struggling to maintain livelihoods due to restrictions on mass gatherings will also receive 500,000 KRW each in livelihood stabilization funds.

Additionally, 6,000 pregnant women enduring many inconveniences and difficulties in daily life to protect themselves and their fetuses from COVID-19 will receive 300,000 KRW each.

Furthermore, 1,300 single-parent families excluded from additional government support for low-income groups will receive 100,000 KRW each, and 300,000 KRW each will be provided to children from youth-headed households as livelihood stabilization funds.

◆ Support Plan to Overcome Management Crisis for Self-Employed and Small Business Owners

1,124 businesses including entertainment bars, colatecs, danran bars, emotional bars, and holdem pubs that were subject to long-term gathering bans will receive 1.5 million KRW each.

5,100 academies, study rooms, and study cafes will receive 500,000 KRW each, and 20 international marriage brokerage agencies and 437 travel-related businesses will receive 1 million KRW each.

Five village bus transportation companies operating 66 buses on 10 routes, continuing service despite passenger decreases due to COVID-19 for citizen convenience, will receive 1 million KRW per bus, and 24 charter bus companies headquartered in Gwangju focusing on events and tourism will receive 1 million KRW each.

1,049 singing practice rooms will receive 1 million KRW each, 140 adult arcades excluded from government support will receive 1 million KRW each, and arcades, multi-rooms/DVD rooms, and PC rooms (1,109 locations) will receive 500,000 KRW each.

2,500 sports dojangs, fitness centers, billiard halls, dance studios, indoor golf practice ranges, and other sports facilities, as well as 91 party room businesses, will each receive 500,000 KRW.

If a sole proprietor is enrolled in employment and industrial accident insurance, 30% of the personal contribution will be supported, and to promote local consumption and increase sales for self-employed businesses, 100,000 KRW per person (10% of usage, up to 1 million KRW) will be provided when using the Gwangju Sangsaeng Card.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop of Gwangju said, “I deeply regret that due to limited city finances, support is restricted to a limited number of people,” and promised, “We will continue to carefully examine the livelihood field and seek support measures for blind spots and areas with significant difficulties.”

He added, “I thank the citizens who have strictly followed quarantine rules and actively participated in vaccinations for the safety of themselves, their families, and the Gwangju community,” and said, “Our city will make every effort with extraordinary determination to find a balance between quarantine and the economy, protect citizens’ safety, and alleviate the suffering of ordinary people.”

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