Jeonnam Province Prepares 'Livelihood Support Measures' for Small Business Owners and Vulnerable Groups

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, announced on the 15th that he will implement an emergency COVID-19 livelihood support plan for small business owners and vulnerable groups ahead of the Chuseok holiday.

Governor Kim said, “Although this emergency livelihood support fund alone is still insufficient to resolve difficulties, I hope it will provide some strength to those facing management crises and especially vulnerable groups during Chuseok,” and urged, “Please refrain from visiting other regions during the Chuseok holiday and minimize meetings with family, relatives, and acquaintances visiting from other regions.”

The province will allocate an additional budget of 20.4 billion won separately from the government’s 5th disaster relief fund to support sectors excluded from government aid or severely affected.

The main contents include support for the recovery of small business owners, promotion of consumption of agricultural, livestock, and marine products, livelihood support for vulnerable groups, and emergency care for coexistence such as providing quarantine supplies.

This is a measure to help small business owners and self-employed individuals facing closure due to a sharp decline in sales to recover their management.

A total of 6 billion won will be provided to five intercity bus companies and 45 rural bus companies facing management difficulties due to a decrease in passengers, and a total of 1.12 billion won will be given to 560 travel agencies in the province facing closure due to prolonged domestic and international travel restrictions, with 2 million won each.

A total of 4.24 billion won will be invested, providing 1 million won each to 4,236 private sports facilities such as taekwondo and futsal courts, performance companies, buffets, wedding halls, funeral halls, karaoke rooms with restricted operating hours, and coin karaoke rooms, which have seen sales decline due to social distancing measures.

A total of 1.15 billion won will be spent to provide 500,000 won each to 2,300 entertainment facilities such as pubs, clubs, and colatecs, which have seen a sharp drop in income due to the government’s ban on operations after 10 p.m. despite government support.

Social insurance costs will also be supported for small-scale small businesses and self-employed individuals vulnerable to the economic downturn.

For 9,900 businesses with fewer than 10 employees, 24,000 won will be subsidized, which is 20% of the employer’s share of national pension and employment insurance premiums excluding the 80% government support, and for 900 self-employed individuals, up to 45,000 won, which is 30% of the self-pay portion of employment and industrial accident insurance premiums, will be subsidized.

Measures have also been prepared for vulnerable groups facing livelihood threats despite government support. Artists struggling to make a living due to cancellations of various performances and exhibitions will receive 500,000 won each, and single-parent families excluded from the 5th government disaster relief and elderly care workers who have never received support despite increased care duties such as post-vaccination management will receive 100,000 won each.

To increase income for farmers, fishermen, and small business owners, Jeonnam Province plans to promote consumption of Jeonnam agricultural, livestock, and marine products by issuing discount coupons worth 2 billion won on the official Jeonnam online shopping mall ‘Namdo Jangteo.’

In addition, quarantine supplies worth 2.1 billion won such as protective suits and masks will be provided to foreign-employed workplaces and food service establishments, which are relatively vulnerable to quarantine and have many confirmed cases, and quarantine supplies worth 900 million won such as thermometers and disinfectants will be supplied to densely populated livestock markets and agricultural machinery rental offices.

The province plans to pay the livelihood support funds as quickly as possible before Chuseok.

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