Yoon Sang-hyun, Manager of the Gwangju Branch of the Korea Foodservice Industry Association, "Tightening Quarantine Rules, Give Us Hope"

"Over 3,000 Dining Establishments Close Repeatedly Each Month, Exhausted"

40% Operate at Night... "Easing Business Restriction Quarantine Rules Needed"

Kim Sang-jae, president of the Gwangju branch of the Korea Foodservice Industry Association, is holding a solo protest in front of Gwangju City Hall on the 3rd.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] "Open, close, open, close..."

On the 2nd, Yoon Sang-hyun, head of the Gwangju branch of the Korea Foodservice Industry Association, said in a phone interview with this paper, "About 3,000 businesses in the Gwangju area are repeatedly closing every month," demanding a relaxation of quarantine rules.

According to the Foodservice Industry Association on the same day, out of 18,000 foodservice businesses operating in the Gwangju area, currently about 3,000 to 4,000 are in a state of temporary closure.

Especially since nighttime businesses account for 40% of the total, related industry officials agree that the damage caused by strengthened social distancing is considerable.

In response, the association has been conducting one-person relay protests since the 31st of last month, visiting district offices and members of the National Assembly offices to raise their voices.

Although it is true that caution is necessary as COVID-19 cases are rapidly increasing in the Gwangju area recently, they could not just stand by the bleak reality faced by foodservice workers on the brink.

Yoon emphasized, "There is no data or statistics proving that the foodservice industry is particularly risky."

He added, "For example, PC rooms can operate 24 hours, but foodservice businesses must close by 9 p.m. at level 4 and by 10 p.m. at level 3," expressing, "Restaurant owners who operate at night are exhausted from the prolonged COVID-19 situation."

Although the government is providing the 'Hope Recovery Fund' (5th disaster relief fund) for small business owners, it is said that temporary and small support cannot solve the problems of self-employed people.

Yoon stated, "The additional budget for loss compensation planned to be paid in October is neither practical nor tangible," and insisted, "New standards must be established, and the supplementary budget expanded for further discussion in the National Assembly."

He argued that in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic for one year and eight months, focused support should be provided to small business owners who comply with government quarantine rules.

Simply put, he said that the nationwide disaster relief fund should be used as 'pinpoint support' for small business owners, calling the nationwide disaster relief fund a populist policy.

Yoon said, "We cannot be sure that all disaster relief funds will be spent at local small businesses and self-employed stores," and added, "Above all, support funds should be concentrated on self-employed people who have suffered damage due to government business restrictions and quarantine rules, but it seems that politicians are calculating votes ahead of next year's presidential and local elections."

In fact, the 'Gwangju Self-Employed Emergency Countermeasures Committee,' composed of self-employed business operators in areas such as Seogu Sangmu District, recently declared in front of City Hall, "Let's see during the election," vowing to judge the government. This indicates a shift in public sentiment in Gwangju, a stronghold of the ruling party.

Regarding this, Yoon said, "Many self-employed people who voted for the Democratic Party in the last election are turning their backs," adding, "Economic recovery is as important as quarantine for citizens' lives. I hope in-depth discussions reflecting the voices of small business owners will begin again."

He also expressed concern about the surge in business closures due to the 5.1% increase in the minimum wage.

Yoon said, "Self-employed people are dying as they are hit hard by the spread of COVID-19, and the burden of the minimum wage is increasing," pointing out, "When the minimum wage rises, the employer's contribution to the four major insurances, weekly holiday pay, and overtime pay also increase significantly. Many people who retired and started self-employment are not considered at all in this decision."

In response to a reporter's question asking, "Isn't the difficulty faced by small business owners due more to relatively high rent and saturated markets than labor costs?" he explained, "Assuming the monthly rent is 2 million won and the worker's monthly salary is 2 million won, simply put, rent is relatively cheap. With this rent, business is possible in a good commercial area. Although employing one person may seem insignificant, foodservice businesses need to hire at least 2 to 3 employees."

Yoon plans to take to the streets tomorrow holding placards with messages such as 'After following quarantine rules, all that's left is bank debt.'

He quietly reflected, "When will the day come when self-employed people can smile? It has been a long time since I welcomed customers happily in a restaurant, not in front of the National Assembly or City Hall."

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