The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and Korea Post said on the 15th that they signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at Korea Post for cooperation on on-site verification for the Hope Return Package store demolition expense support project.
The agreement was pursued to strengthen on-site inspection functions in the process of supporting store demolition expenses under the Hope Return Package, which helps closed small business owners make a comeback, and to prevent fraudulent payments.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) supports store demolition expenses through the Hope Return Package to ease the burden on closed small business owners. However, as the scale of demolition expense support has recently increased, the need has grown to manage potential fraudulent payments such as fake demolitions.
To prevent fraudulent payments, authorities have pursued institutional improvements to enhance the transparency of the support program, including operating a reporting center and strengthening document reviews using specialized institutions.
With this agreement, the two agencies plan to establish an on-site verification system using the nationwide post office network. Going forward, postal carriers will check for closures and store demolitions during mail delivery and support on-site inspection work. Previously, inspection personnel commissioned by private institutions visited sites individually to confirm whether demolitions had occurred.
Because carriers regularly visit their assigned areas, they have a high understanding of changes in commercial districts and store operations, allowing them to accurately determine actual closures and vacancy status.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) expects the cooperation to reduce on-site inspection expenses while improving work efficiency. In the capital area, on-site verification expenses per case are set to fall from 6,660 won to 4,280 won, and the average number of possible inspections per day is expected to expand from up to 15 locations to about 83.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and Korea Post plan to cooperate on operating a pilot project for on-site verification of store demolitions, building the verification system, and sharing related information. They will first conduct a pilot in the Chungcheong region, then review results and field feedback to decide whether to expand nationwide.