Gyeonggi Province Public Prosecutors' Office Operates 'Visiting Illegal Finance Damage Counseling Centers' at 14 Industrial Complexes and Traditional Markets Through August

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province will operate 'Visiting Illegal Finance Damage Counseling Centers' at 14 industrial complexes and traditional markets across the province through August, visiting areas of concern regarding illegal finance damage to provide victim consultation and guidance on reporting and relief procedures.

The Gyeonggi Province Public Prosecutors' Office will visit seven industrial complexes starting with Banwol Surface Treatment Business Cooperative in Ansan on July 4, and seven traditional markets including Uijeongbu First Market.

The damage counseling centers operate with dedicated illegal finance investigators providing direct victim consultation and intake, as well as guidance on reporting and relief procedures at temporary counseling booths.

Upon confirmation of damage, immediate investigations are conducted to minimize harm, and guidance is provided on types of illegal finance damage and how to address them. Depending on the nature of the damage, victims are also encouraged to utilize services such as 'ultra-low-credit loans' through the Gyeonggi Province Low-Income Finance Support Center.

The Visiting Illegal Finance Damage Counseling Centers initiative began in 2020 as a direct outreach program by the province to reach victims who avoid contacting investigative agencies due to concerns about their use of illegal finance becoming known, fears of retaliation, and business obligations.

Since 2020, the Visiting Illegal Finance Damage Counseling Centers have visited 42 locations including 33 traditional markets and shopping streets, 5 universities, and 4 industrial complexes across the province, conducting approximately 3,010 counseling sessions, and have actively conducted damage prevention activities.

As a result of these efforts, the counseling centers were selected for the 2020 Financial Services Commission's Best Practices in Eradicating Illegal Finance, and are now operated by other local governments nationwide as a model case.

Kim Young-soo, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Public Prosecutors' Office, stated, "Due to the deteriorating economic situation, damage from illegal finance among low-credit groups such as small business owners who need emergency funds for operating capital will likely be significant. We will minimize damage through the operation of the damage counseling centers."

Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi Province Public Prosecutors' Office has been conducting investigations centered on direct victim cases of illegal finance since 2019, and as of the end of June 2022, has made arrests of 183 violators of the Lending Business Act, demonstrating ongoing efforts to eradicate illegal finance.