Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Thursday pledged to introduce additional measures, including government-funded vouchers and advance purchase programs, to ease the burden on small merchants as part of efforts to revitalize prolonged sluggish domestic consumption.
During a policy discussion session, Choi reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting small merchants by addressing business challenges, promising stepped-up efforts in addition to previous measures announced in July and December.
"Despite these efforts, small merchants and self-employed businesses continue to face difficulties, which is why the government has prepared an additional support plan," Choi said.
As part of the initiative, the government and local authorities will utilize budgetary funds to make advance purchases of essential goods, according to the acting president.
Regarding the mandatory installation of barrier-free kiosks to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities, set to take effect next year, Choi said the government would devise measures in the first half of the year to alleviate financial burdens on small merchants.
Additional support measures under consideration include a 20 percent cashback promotion for gift certificates and an expansion of the eligibility for foreign workers holding non-professional employment (E-9) visas to address labor shortages in the restaurant industry.
Previous measures included an interest refund program for small merchants and the self-employed, as well as debt restructuring efforts and support for business closures, helping affected merchants transition to new businesses. (Yonhap)
