<Anchor>



It is time to look at the polarization of our society due to the corona virus. Today (the 16th) is the problem of the self-employed who suffered the most. In particular, it is pointed out that more sophisticated measures are needed as the gap between the rich and the poor has widened even among the self-employed after the corona virus.



This is reporter Yoo Deok-gi.



<Reporter>



Kim Jong-hoon, who has been selling travel bags to tourists for 11 years in Myeong-dong, Seoul.



The store opened after a week.



He said he had sold only 13 suitcases in the last seven months.



[Kim Jong-hoon / Bag store operation: I have received almost enough loans.. Well, the reality is very



difficult

.]

Because it is difficult to make a living by selling bags and pay rent, Mr. Kim is working part-time as a guide at a local vaccination center. .



Those who have suffered the most economically from COVID-19 are the self-employed.



If you're close to half, you're in the service industry, so you've been hit directly by the pandemic.



What is particularly noteworthy is that polarization is taking place even among the self-employed.



Decreasing face-to-face consumption has made consumer choices more prudent.



That is why the gap between the rich and the poor is widening even among the self-employed as they consume only in limited places.



[Professor Young-Gap Kim / Department of Hotel Food Service Management, Hanyang Cyber ​​University: In fact, almost 10% of sales in the commercial area are dominated by restaurant companies. Not polarization, but a winner-take-all (to the extent of rescue)]



Whether or not they have adapted to delivery is also a cause of the polarization of self-employed people.



Mr. Kim, who runs a brunch cafe.



I decided to change the industry to a delivery food franchise because it would become more difficult if I turned away from delivery any longer.



[Mr. Kim/Scheduled to switch to a delivery franchise: First of all, (Coronavirus) doesn't seem to be over anytime soon.. I have a lot of colleagues and friends who are (food) delivery companies, but they are too busy these days.]



[Professor Woo Seok-Hoon/ Sungkyul University professor and economist: Export or IT-related industries, IT-related delivery (it works well) is structural, so it seems to last quite a long time.]



Disaster subsidy, a representative self-employment support measure, is also insufficient for the self-employed.



[Mr. Kang/Restaurant management: I am so grateful for what you did, but it was too difficult to pay a month’s rent (with the disaster aid I received).] According to an



SBS poll, more than 8 out of 10 people should be compensated by the government to the self-employed. answered that I do.



How are you doing abroad?



Canada subsidizes emergency rent subsidies, up to 65% of rent, etc. depending on the extent of the decrease in revenue, and Japan subsidizes six months' worth of subsidies in case of a sharp decline in sales.



The UK has made it illegal to evict tenants even if they fail to pay their rent.



[Professor Ha Jun-kyung / Hanyang University School of Economics: The state must be prepared to spend a lot of money. First (and) to reduce losses by increasing sales, or (after the pandemic) to forgive some of the debts... ]



(Video coverage: Lee Seung-hwan, Gong Jin-goo, Kim Tae-hoon, Lee Chan-soo, video editing: Kim Cho-a, VJ: Jeong-wook, writer: Kim Hyo-jin, Kim Yu-mi, Lee Soo-bin, CG: Hong Seong-yong, Choi Jae-young, Sung Jae-eun, Jeong Si-won, Ahn Ji-hyun)