[기자의 눈] Is regulation the right answer to win-win?

Reporter Baek Joo-won, Ministry of Life and Industry

Do large companies and small business owners have to regulate first in order to coexist? When I looked at the distribution industry-related legislation recently initiated or planned by the political world, I first heard such a question.

In addition, the Democratic Party is planning to deal with the amendment to the Distribution Industry Development Act in February, which includes mandatory closure of complex shopping malls twice a month, in the name of preventing large corporations from infringing on alleys and protecting small business owners. However, the Democratic Party overlooked the fact that small businesses are not only in traditional markets. Most of the stores in the shopping complex are operated by small business owners in the form of real estate rental business. It is a question to think about whether the bill that forces other small business owners to suffer damage because they want to save the traditional market that they did not find even if they restrict the business of large supermarkets really fit the word’win-win’.

The same is true of regulations related to e-commerce (e-commerce). Shin Young-dae, a member of the Democratic Party, is planning to propose a bill that regulates online platforms that install distribution warehouses in certain areas and buy, sell, and deliver products. However, those who provide products to online platforms are also small business owners. Rather, e-commerce is playing a role as a new distribution channel for local small businesses whose sales channels are blocked by the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19). Online platforms are playing a role in selling local specialties in partnership with local governments. As a result, sales of small business owners who entered SSG.com in the second half of last year increased by about 45% compared to the same period of the previous year, and the volume of transactions of small and medium-sized business partners, which accounted for 95% of market-curly stores, also doubled compared to the previous year.

Even if it is not regulated, there are various laws that can coexist with small business owners. Starfield, a complex shopping mall, recently cut rents for about 660 stores, which saw a sharp decline in sales, by up to 40%. In particular, for a total of 14 stores, including indoor sports facilities and cultural education facilities, which were closed due to the 2.5th step of social distancing, both rent and management fees were exempted. An employee of a Pilates store in Starfield Goyang said, “When the business was stopped due to Corona 19, Shinsegae calculated monthly rent and waived it.” Isn’t it something like this?

/ Reporter Juwon Baek [email protected]

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