Suncheon Democratic Party City Councilor and Araetjang Merchants Association Strongly Urge Immediate Implementation of Government Proposals

Normalization of Business Hours Restrictions and Delegation to Local Governors, Expansion of Loss Compensation and Free Self-Test Kit Support for 2 Years
"Welcome the Democratic Party's Bold 'Sole Decision' for Swift Supplementary Budget Approval"

[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] The Democratic Party of Korea's Suncheon·Gwangyang·Gokseong·Gurye (Gap) Regional Committee (Chairman, National Assembly member So Byung-chul) announced on the 22nd that it held a at the Alletjang Intersection during the Suncheon Alletjang Market day intensive campaign.

The press conference was attended by members of the Suncheon City Council and the Alletjang Merchants Association.

Cheon Se-du, president of the Suncheon Alletjang Merchants Association, strongly urged the government for an immediate and proactive policy shift, stating, “The government should ▲ normalize business hour restrictions and delegate authority to local government heads, ▲ significantly expand free distribution of self-diagnostic kits, and ▲ promptly implement rapid deployment of public health administrative personnel by local governments.”

They also welcomed the dramatic passage of the supplementary budget led by the bold decision and leadership of the Democratic Party and condemned the People Power Party for neglecting people's livelihoods by refusing negotiations and not attending the Budget and Accounts Committee.

Heo Yoo-in, chairman of the Suncheon City Council, began the press conference by saying, “We actively welcome the passage of this year's first supplementary budget, which allows for the payment of quarantine support funds to small business owners,” and passionately stated, “Despite opposition from the People Power Party, the supplementary budget was finally passed thanks to the bold decision and leadership of the Democratic Party solely for the people's livelihood.”

Led by the Democratic Party, this year's first supplementary budget was finally decided at a total scale of 16.9 trillion won, an increase of 3.3 trillion won from the government's original proposal of 14 trillion won (with a 400 billion won reduction in contingency funds).

As a result, support for small business owners affected by COVID-19 has been broadly expanded, including ▲ increasing the loss compensation adjustment rate from 80% to 90%, ▲ additional quarantine support funds for 120,000 micro-businesses, ▲ emergency support payments to 1.32 million vulnerable groups such as special employment workers and freelancers to cover blind spots, and ▲ strengthening the quarantine system in preparation for the spread of Omicron. The previously pointed-out blind spots in support have also been significantly improved.

Park Gye-su, vice chairman of the Suncheon City Council, urged, “Since Omicron has become dominant, changes to existing quarantine measures are necessary,” and called on the government to “proactively review and immediately implement the measures announced by candidate Lee Jae-myung.”

Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung announced on the 21st measures to overcome and respond to COVID-19 damage, firmly promising to implement hopeful policies for the people suffering from COVID-19 by stating, “After winning, I will establish a Special Committee for Emergency Relief from COVID-19 Damage and issue an emergency financial order to provide full compensation and take responsibility by engaging directly with the people.”

Specifically, candidate Lee proposed ▲ securing 50 trillion won for COVID-19 compensation and support through emergency financial orders immediately after winning, ▲ full government responsibility compensation for accumulated losses over two years, ▲ easing social distancing restrictions for those who received the third vaccination to midnight, ▲ significantly expanding home treatment counseling personnel by local governments, ▲ rapid redeployment of public health administrative personnel and resolving shortages in treatment support, and ▲ supporting costs for home treatment patients’ medicine purchases (including rapid antigen test kits) and providing an additional 100,000 won per person in support funds.

Shin Jeong-ran, female chairperson of the Suncheon Gap Regional Committee, and Jang Kyung-won, a youth member, strongly condemned candidate Yoon Seok-yeol and the People Power Party for neglecting people's livelihoods and making baseless claims and political retaliation, stating, “As the presidential candidate of the responsible main opposition party, you must no longer ignore the suffering of the people. The government's role is to care for people's livelihoods, not political retaliation.”

The press conference was attended by Heo Yoo-in, chairman of the Suncheon City Council; Park Gye-su, vice chairman of the Suncheon City Council; Democratic Party city council members; Cheon Se-du, president of the Alletjang Merchants Association, and its executive members; Shin Jeong-ran, female chairperson of the Suncheon Gap Regional Committee; and youth member Jang Kyung-won, who urged government proposals, welcomed the supplementary budget passage, and called for an end to the false and politically retaliatory claims by candidate Yoon Seok-yeol and the People Power Party.

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