Governor Lee Jae-myung Meets Compassionate Landlord: "You're Doing What Others Cannot"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hoon] Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province visited market landlords and merchants participating in the compassionate landlord campaign who are voluntarily reducing rents, expressing his gratitude.

On February 1st, Governor Lee visited Guiin-dong Food Street in Dong-gu District, Anyang—an exemplary case of small business crisis recovery through mutual cooperation. Together with Anyang Mayor Choi Dae-ho and Food Street Merchants Association Chairman Noh Sang-gyu, the governor listened to the difficulties faced by small merchants and encouraged them to continue their livelihoods by purchasing tuna, eel, and raw meat using local currency.

The Guiin-dong Food Street Merchants Association is a merchant organization established through Gyeonggi Province's alleyway commerce organization project in 2019, with 110 members.
From March to May of last year, 55 establishments reduced rents by an average of 20-30%. From November last year through March of this year, 40 establishments are participating in average rent reductions of 10-30% for up to five months.

Upon meeting the merchants, Governor Lee stated, "Due to COVID-19, both tenants and landlords are suffering and facing difficulties, but in the context of mutual cooperation, it would be good to show some consideration. You are doing what others cannot. I am grateful that landlords have stepped forward proactively and reduced rents, which appears to have spread widely to surrounding areas."

He added, "As delivery has become a trend, we will expand the coverage areas and users of the public delivery app 'Delivery Express' so that benefits reach both business users and consumers."

One merchant expressed gratitude, saying, "I was struggling so much that I considered going to the countryside to return to farming, but the owner reduced my rent for five months, which has allowed me to persevere until now."

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province launched a "Fair Rent Task Force for Crisis Overcoming and Mutual Cooperation" on the 25th of last month to fairly share the rental burden of tenants facing difficulties due to COVID-19 social distancing measures.

The fair rent task force plans to investigate "standard rents" in major commercial areas and announce them regularly, award commendations to landlords actively participating in the "compassionate landlord campaign," and establish incentive measures to encourage voluntary rent reductions.