Osan Mayor Kwak Sang-wook Announces Selective Distribution of 4.8 Billion Won in Emergency Disaster Support

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Osan City announced it will selectively distribute a total of 4.8 billion won in emergency disaster support funds.

Osan City Mayor Kwak Sang-wook held a press conference with Jang In-soo, Chairman of the Osan City Council, at City Hall on the 3rd, announcing that emergency disaster support funds will be selectively distributed before and after Lunar New Year.

Mayor Kwak stated, "The damage is concentrated on vulnerable groups, including small business owners and traditional market alley merchants experiencing income losses and daily wage workers losing their jobs. In response, Osan City and the City Council decided to provide targeted, precision support, taking into consideration the scope and effectiveness of assistance as well as fiscal conditions."

He continued, "Since the Gyeonggi Province disaster basic income will provide 100,000 won to all residents, if Osan City provides precision support, the synergy effect will be significant." He also appealed, "Customized support is directed toward vulnerable groups suffering the greatest damage with limited resources, so we ask citizens to understand with grace."

The basic direction for support is selective distribution rather than universal payment. The scope includes compensation for business losses suffered by small business owners due to gathering bans and business restrictions, living expense support for employment-vulnerable groups and transportation industry workers, and gaps not covered by government emergency disaster support funds.

The distribution method will be through local currency, and as of February 3, the beneficiaries include small business owners with business locations in Osan City, special employment workers with residence registration in Osan City, transportation industry workers, professional artists, and households of confirmed COVID-19 patients with children.

The total funding of 4.8 billion won will be sourced from 1.8 billion won in increased tax revenue and 3 billion won in surplus from special accounts.

First, 5,800 small business operators, including PC bangs, karaoke rooms, restaurants, and cafes, affected by COVID-19, will receive 500,000 won each, totaling 2.9 billion won.

Additionally, approximately 3,300 employment-vulnerable workers including substitute drivers and door-to-door salespeople, as well as transportation industry workers such as village bus drivers and taxi drivers, will each receive 500,000 won, totaling 1.7 billion won.

Professional artists will each receive 500,000 won, and households with young children and elementary, middle, or high school children of approximately 400 confirmed COVID-19 patients experiencing difficulties in economic activity will each receive 500,000 won, totaling 2 billion won.

The city plans to submit a supplementary budget bill to the City Council on the 8th. The City Council also plans to deliberate the distribution plan as quickly as possible so that disaster support funds can be applied for and distributed before and after Lunar New Year.