Gangneung City and Gangneung Asan Hospital Sign Mutual Growth Business Agreement for the Region

Boosting Small Business Sales Expected
Through Welfare Points Provided as 'Gangneung Pay'

On October 13 at 2:00 p.m., Gangneung City in Gangwon Province signed a 'Local Gift Certificate (Gangneung Pay) Business Agreement' with Gangneung Asan Hospital and the Gangneung Asan Hospital Labor Union at the Citizen Sarangbang on the 8th floor of City Hall. The agreement aims to revitalize the local economy and promote a culture of mutual growth.

A panoramic view of Gangneung City Hall.

The signing ceremony was attended by Hongkyu Kim, Mayor of Gangneung; Changshik Yoo, Director of Gangneung Asan Hospital; Eunkyung Lee, Head of the Gangneung Asan Hospital Labor Union; as well as hospital officials and relevant public servants. The agreement was promoted as a joint pledge based on mutual trust to realize a virtuous cycle in the local economy.

Through this agreement, the labor and management of Gangneung Asan Hospital agreed to provide all 1,900 employees with welfare points worth 200,000 won per person, totaling 380 million won, in the form of local gift certificates (Gangneung Pay) as part of their wage negotiations.

This initiative is expected to not only improve employee welfare but also significantly contribute to boosting sales for local small business owners, whose revenues have declined due to the prolonged drought, and to stimulate consumption within the region.

In particular, this agreement is expected to serve as a practical example of a mutual growth model, where cooperation between labor and management leads to local economic recovery. It will help prevent local funds from flowing out of the region and promote the circulation of consumption within Gangneung.

Changshik Yoo, Director of Gangneung Asan Hospital, stated, "This agreement marks the first step toward mutual growth between the hospital and the local community. I find it very meaningful that we can strengthen employee welfare while also contributing to the local economy. We will continue striving to be a hospital that grows together with the region."

Eunkyung Lee, Head of the Gangneung Asan Hospital Labor Union, said, "It is even more meaningful that our efforts to improve union members' welfare have led to the revitalization of the local commercial district. I am pleased that all union members can now actively participate in supporting local small businesses. We will continue to establish ourselves as a union that coexists with the local community."

Hongkyu Kim, Mayor of Gangneung, remarked, "This agreement is a new model of local mutual growth created jointly by the local government, medical institution, and labor union. Gangneung City will continue to strengthen cooperation with public institutions, businesses, and organizations to ensure that local gift certificates become a solid foundation for the local economy."

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