Mayor Jung Myung-geun of Hwaseong Holds Discussion with Merchants Association, Listening to Field Voices

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Chan-hyuk] Mayor Jung Myung-geun of Hwaseong visited Namyang Market on the 10th and held a discussion with merchants on revitalizing the people's economy while listening to voices from the field.

The discussion was urgently organized in light of the very bleak economic outlook ahead, given the increasing number of small business owners facing difficulties due to changed consumption patterns following COVID-19 and economic recession, as well as deteriorating domestic demand conditions such as shrinking consumer sentiment. The gathering aimed to hear grievances from small business owners and explore measures to vitalize the people's economy.

More than 20 attendees, including the chairman of the Hwaseong Merchants Association and executives from nine merchants associations, participated in the discussion, engaging in candid dialogue with merchants. Practical measures were discussed on consumption-boosting policies that both small business owners and citizens could feel directly, as well as gathering suggestions from each merchants association for revitalizing domestic consumption.

Meanwhile, the city plans to actively review how the suggestions heard in this meeting can be reflected in its policies to the maximum extent. The city also plans to make an all-out effort to revitalize local commerce by issuing 500 billion won in regional currency, the nation's largest scale next year, to stimulate local consumption, and providing 2.6 billion won to support traditional markets and shopping districts' revitalization.

Mayor Jung Myung-geun of Hwaseong stated, "Small business owners must be greatly concerned given the recent unstable economic situation," and added, "While times are difficult, we will do our best to revitalize the domestic market so that we can support people's livelihoods and inject vitality into the local economy."