On the afternoon of the 6th, in the Sangmu District, a representative entertainment district concentrated in Gwangju, some businesses are holding a’lit-up demonstration’ in which signs are lit as a sign protesting the unfair government’s quarantine guidelines. yunhap news
“You mean just sit down and die.”
In Gwangju, general restaurants and entertainment business owners that handle alcohol are poised to go to the streets. He complained about the extension of the business ban because he followed the government’s guidelines for quarantine against coronavirus infection (Corona 19). As the government did not provide compensation for business damage, and again increased the business hours limit for prohibition and group restrictions until the 31st, the business owners took a collective action.
General restaurants and entertainment facility owners in areas where entertainment businesses such as the Gwangju business district, the high-tech district, and the old city hall crossroads are set to hold a protest in front of the Gwangju City Hall at 2 pm on the 18th to urge the lifting of the ban on gatherings and compensation for business damage. The business owners then decided to ask for a meeting with the mayor of Gwangju Lee Yong-seop and prepare measures.
They argued that “the government is vaguely applying the business restrictions for each industry, which is causing a controversy on equity,” and argued that the business hours of the prohibited and restricted businesses should be extended from 9pm to at least 11pm. Even if the social distancing step 2 is maintained, they are asking for an increase in the business hours.
One business owner said, “Restricting the business hours of banned and restricted businesses to 9:00 p.m., restaurants and pubs with reduced sales will literally die.” “Some industries, such as cafes, have eased the ban and restrictions, I don’t know if I’m forcing a sacrifice.”
The business owners announced that if the request was not accepted, they would resume business after 0 o’clock on the 18th. In particular, business owners are also considering ways to share and pay the penalty with other business owners if the quarantine authorities impose fines for violating the collective prohibition executive order, and expand protests against the administrative agencies that have administratively dismissed them. Previously, some of the owners of entertainment facilities that were banned from gathering (entertainment pub, collatec, danran pub, sensational pub, hunting spore) have been holding’lit-up demonstrations’ since the 5th of the month, with the store closed.
The business owners emphasized, “If the government prevents business by law, shouldn’t it be necessary to compensate for damage by law?” In the case of the Sangmu District, the monthly rent for the first floor (330m²) is 15 to 20 million won, the second floor is 7 million to 9 million won, and the third floor is 5 million won, so government support is meaningless.
A business owner who runs an entertainment facility in the Sangmu District said, “I am almost desperate because I can’t quit the store because of the lease even though I sit still and forget all the rental deposits.” Isn’t that something that should be done?” he criticized.
Ahn Kyungho reporter [email protected]
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