Concerns Arise Over Morality and Confusion Regarding Stringent Repayment of Disaster Relief Funds.

Recent reactions and debates surrounding the government's policy on reclaiming disaster relief funds show no signs of abating. This has provided some relief for small business owners and self-employed individuals who have been struggling due to high interest rates and economic downturn. However, concerns have been raised about the escalating confusion on the ground due to an abrupt shift in the government's refund policy.

 

Given the differences in position between the government and the National Assembly, small business owners may face even greater confusion.

 

Currently, approximately 570,000 small business owners and self-employed individuals have been relieved of the burden of repaying over 800 billion won in COVID-19 disaster relief funds. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has decided to move forward by amending the "Small Business Act" to exempt these individuals from the obligation to repay.

 

Nevertheless, criticism has emerged that the inconsistent nature of the disaster relief fund reimbursement policy has exacerbated confusion at the grassroots level. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has consistently disclosed plans to reclaim excess payments for small business disaster relief funds during the COVID-19 period. However, recently, they have changed their stance on whether or not to reclaim the funds several times, causing further confusion. The Ministry argues that this is merely a reconfirmation of their initial position.

 

With the recent announcement of the government's relaxation of disaster relief fund repayment, concerns have arisen that it might set a wrong precedent: "People can simply accept disaster relief funds without checking eligibility, and they won't have to pay them back as long as they hold onto them." This has sparked a debate among small business owners, necessitating a response.

 

In light of this, a proposal to amend the Small Business Act has been put forward. The amendment specifies the legal basis for not reclaiming disaster relief funds that were initially provided without verifying eligibility. The opposition party, the People Power Party, argues that if the ruling party is willing to cooperate on livelihood issues for small business owners, it would be best to swiftly process and pass this amendment.

 

Given the differences in position between the government and the National Assembly, small business owners may face even greater confusion. Therefore, a prompt and clear resolution is urgently needed at this juncture.