Korea Commission on Human Rights: "School Stores Closed Due to COVID-19 Eligible for Compensation"

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Son Seon-hee] It has been determined that school stores, which had ceased operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are also included in the scope of loss compensation.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission announced on the 27th that it expressed its opinion to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups to include administrative orders to suspend the operation of school auxiliary facilities, proactively implemented by superintendents during the COVID-19 pandemic, as a condition for loss compensation support and to prepare support measures accordingly.

According to a grievance case submitted to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, Mr. A, who operated a school store at a middle school, received a "business suspension and closure order to prevent the spread of COVID-19" from the Office of Education in February 2020, when the COVID-19 outbreak first occurred, and was unable to operate for two years.

Subsequently, Mr. A applied for loss compensation support for small business owners affected by quarantine measures, but the Ministry of SMEs and Startups refused the support, stating that "Mr. A's business suspension was due to an administrative order from the Office of Education and not a quarantine measure issued by a local government." In response, Mr. A filed a grievance with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, claiming the Ministry's decision was unfair.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission judged, "Despite Mr. A complying with the assembly ban order for nearly two years while bearing economic losses, refusing support solely because the administrative order was not issued by a local government contradicts the purpose of compensation, which is to cover actual damages caused by COVID-19." Accordingly, it expressed its opinion to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups to prepare a support plan for loss compensation for Mr. A.

Lim Gyu-hong, Grievance Review Officer at the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, said, "In the situation of COVID-19, the government needs to make active efforts to minimize the damage to small business owners who faithfully implemented quarantine measures for the safety of students."

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