Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at the finance desk of The Korea Times, focuses primarily on economic policy and government agencies, mainly covering the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. She previously covered financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, and earlier worked on the political, city and business desks, reporting on a wide range of issues.
Small business owners seeking group action against distancing rules
A coffee shop owner stands as part of a one-person relay protest arranged by an alliance of coffee shop owners from across the country in front of the National Assembly, Wednesday, to protest the government's social distancing measures, aimed at stemming COVID-19 infections, which have banned them from offering dine-in service. / Yonhap
By Jun Ji-hye
By Jun Ji-hye
An increasing number of small business owners who run coffee shops, PC rooms, bars and gyms are taking group action, such as relay protests and a constitutional appeal, against the government's enhanced social distancing measures that have banned or restricted their operations.
The complaints of shop owners, who have already had a tough year due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, have grown especially after the government extended the Level 2.5 social distancing measures ― the second-highest in the five-tier system ― for the greater Seoul area and the Level 2 measures for other parts of the nation until Jan. 17, as infections show no sign of slowing down.
The owners claimed that the continued restrictions have seriously threatened their survival, and that the measures have been applied “unfairly” between businesses, with exceptions for certain facilities such as taekwondo academies.
An alliance of coffee shop owners across the country staged one-person relay protests in front of the National Assembly, Wednesday, despite a cold weather alert.
The alliance is planning to stage another series of protests in front of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Thursday, to ask the government to consider ways of guaranteeing their right to a livelihood.
Coffee shops owners are calling for the lifting of a ban on dining in, as under the current distancing level, they are only allowed to offer takeout and delivery.
“Many coffee shop owners have experienced damage due to the government's restrictions banning dining in, but restaurants and cafes that offer a brunch menu and coffee are allowed to offer dine-in services until 9 p.m.,” said Ko Jang-soo who heads the alliance. “We ask the government to allow coffee shops to do so too, and then we will fully comply with antivirus measures suggested by the government.”
On Tuesday, those who operate bars and PC rooms, together with several civic groups including the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, filed a petition with the Constitutional Court against the government measures.
In their petition, they said the government's restrictions, implemented without any promise of proper compensation for their losses, have violated their basic rights.
“My monthly sales have more than halved since September from a year earlier due to the government's restrictions that forced bars to close after 9 p.m.,” an owner of a bar in Seoul's Mapo District, surnamed Han, said. “In December, my sales were even reduced to a 30th of normal.”
The government is planning to offer a third round of emergency coronavirus relief money, giving up to 3 million won ($2,800) in cash to businesses that have suffered damage, but the owners said the funds would be far from enough to make up for the damage suffered.
Meanwhile, owners of gyms in the Seoul metropolitan area have intensified their criticism against the government's decision that allowed private education institutes including taekwondo and ballet academies to resume operation, while continuing to suspend the operation of indoor sports facilities such as gyms.
Amid the growing complaints, the government signaled that it would reconsider its antivirus measures applied to gyms.
“We will carry out discussions with relevant ministries on fairness issues and other problems with regard to gyms,” Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health ministry official, said during a media briefing.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the country added 840 more infections for Tuesday including 809 locally transmitted cases, raising the total caseload to 65,818.
The daily infections stayed below 1,000 for the second consecutive day, but health authorities are staying vigilant as nursing homes and churches continued to be hot spots for virus outbreaks.
Additionally, 20 more coronavirus patients died, raising the death toll to 1,027.