[Interview] Kim Mikyung, Eunpyeong District Mayor: "We Will Focus on Healing Residents' Hearts and Reviving the Local Economy to Return to Daily Life"

'Eunpyeong-gu COVID-19 Daily Recovery Promotion Team' Proactively Formed... Agenda Development, Policy Advisory Roles... Local Economy Revitalization... Issuance of 60 Billion Won Eunpyeong Love Gift Certificates, Support for Self-Employed Loss Compensation, Market Activation, etc.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] "Now, we will manage the COVID-19 situation more safely while gradually and cautiously restoring the precious daily lives that have been taken away."

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong District, said in an interview with this paper, "The first task of phased daily recovery is to heal the bodies and minds of exhausted residents and revitalize the stagnant local economy," adding, "We will prepare various policies to ensure that residents can restore their daily lives without inconvenience."

Last month, Eunpyeong District proactively formed the ‘Eunpyeong District COVID-19 Daily Recovery Promotion Team’ to support daily recovery, appointing 36 resident representatives from various sectors such as ▲self-employed ▲businesses ▲medical institutions ▲religious and educational organizations as advisory committee members.

The promotion team, composed of four subcommittees?autonomy and safety, socio-culture, economic livelihood, and quarantine and medical care?collects opinions related to daily recovery, receives policy advice, discovers sector-specific agendas suitable for the district’s circumstances, fosters local projects, and serves as a communication channel to propose daily recovery measures to the central government.

Mayor Kim said, "The advisory committee members provide essential and practical suggestions, which greatly help in policy formulation."

Mayor Kim is also actively working to revitalize small business owners and shopping districts.

The district supports self-employed loss compensation to institutionalize compensation for losses suffered by small business owners and micro-entrepreneurs facing management difficulties. To attract customers to the stagnant market, it has created a 3D hologram photo wall and is conducting various events linked to the ‘Korea Sale Festa.’

Additionally, on the 3rd of this month, the district issued an additional 10 billion KRW, bringing the total issuance of Eunpyeong Love Gift Certificates to 60 billion KRW. Benefits such as ▲exemption from civil document issuance fees ▲free admission to the Eunpyeong Hanok History Museum ▲free access to sports facilities are provided to those who have completed vaccination. The community service centers also operate dedicated counters for issuing vaccination certificates.

Mayor Kim stated, "Next year, we will issue 50 billion KRW worth of Eunpyeong Love Gift Certificates, continue to provide low-interest loans at an annual rate of 0.8% using the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund, and maintain special credit guarantees for small business owners lacking collateral."

To heal the bodies and minds of residents exhausted by the prolonged COVID-19 situation, the district is hosting the ‘Eunpyeong On:(On) Festival.’ Psychological programs are also being provided in cooperation with the Mental Health Welfare Center for COVID-19 patients under home treatment, those in self-quarantine, and residents admitted to living treatment centers.

The ‘Eunpyeong On:(On) Festival’ was held from the 18th to the 20th at seven cultural hubs including the Eunpyeong Culture and Arts Center and the Eunpyeong History Hanok Museum, both online and offline. The festival featured various programs such as ▲opening and closing ceremonies ▲media art ▲Pabal-i Dalgona game ▲a gathering of living culture and arts clubs ▲and a plaza festival.

Mayor Kim said, "We prepared this ‘Eunpyeong On:(On) Festival’ to create a warm place of comfort for residents in line with daily recovery. On:(On) means turning on (On) a new daily life, together (On:), and warm comfort (溫)." She added, "Since this event is prepared for the residents of Eunpyeong District, I hope everyone has an enjoyable time." She continued, "Although phased daily recovery has begun, the recent breakthrough infection rate is very high, and there are many risk factors for the spread, so we must not let our guard down. Until complete daily recovery is achieved, please continue to follow quarantine guidelines such as wearing masks and actively participate in vaccination."

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