The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises (소공연) proposed measures to revitalize domestic demand and alleviate the management burden for small business owners to Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who is also the Minister of Economy.
Soo Choi-young, the 소공연 chairman, attended a meeting to assess the livelihood economy held on the 13th at the digital education center of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises in Mapo, Seoul, where he suggested measures to alleviate the burden on small business owners.
Chairman Choi said, "I suggest a pre-purchase and pre-payment campaign as a way to revitalize domestic demand" and "measures to reduce utility expenses, such as electric bills, gas fees, and water charges, are necessary." He also urged improvements regarding the mandatory implementation of barrier-free kiosks, which the 소공연 has continuously pointed out.
In response, Acting President Choi Sang-mok explained the progress of comprehensive measures for small business owners and self-employed individuals, centered on a set of three government financial support programs, and stated that the good pre-purchase and pre-payment campaign would be promoted by early April.
Acting President Choi noted, "We will consider measures such as refunding the Onnuri gift certificates, easing the self-purchase burden in the data voucher support project, and we will prepare burden alleviation measures regarding the mandatory implementation of barrier-free kiosks by the first half of the year."
The meeting to assess the livelihood economy was attended by Acting President Choi Sang-mok, Minister Oh Youngju of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and government officials, as well as representatives from the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises, Korea Enterprises Federation, and the National Association of Merchants.