Starting from the 21st, there is a divergence of opinions between the distribution industry and merchants regarding whether to include 'essential goods markets' as places to use the 'consumer recovery coupons.' The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise (KFME) and the National Merchants Association are firmly opposed, stating, "Essential goods markets will become a black hole for consumer coupons," while the essential goods industry and small catering businesses are advocating for the inclusion of essential goods markets.
Recently, the ruling party and the government are considering whether to include essential goods markets as places for using consumer recovery coupons, taking into account the accessibility of convenience facilities in non-metropolitan areas. The government has stipulated that consumer coupons can only be used at stores with annual sales of less than 3 billion won, but it is known to be reviewing a proposal to apply more lenient sales standards for essential goods markets, considering the realities in rural areas.
The Korea Federation for Small Businesses and the Small Business Association issued a statement on the 8th, urging to stop the discussion on expanding the consumer recovery coupon usage, saying that the plan to include essential goods markets in the usage areas will undermine the original goals of revitalizing the economy and fostering a virtuous cycle in the local economy, ultimately reducing the effectiveness of the policy. There are concerns that if essential goods markets are included as usage areas, consumer coupon usage will be concentrated there due to fewer restrictions, such as limited operating hours and mandatory closing days.
Equity issues are also a reason for opposing the inclusion of essential goods markets. Given that the government has set the standard for coupon usage at annual sales of less than 3 billion won, and that corporate supermarkets (SSM) have also been excluded from consumer areas, including essential goods markets, which have average annual sales of 5 billion to 6 billion won, is seen as inequitable.
In this regard, the Korea Essential Goods Distribution Association stated, "Supporting essential goods markets, which are major sales sources of domestic agricultural products, will be crucial for revitalizing the economy," and argued, "Essential goods markets should be included in the industries targeted by consumer coupons." They believe that expanding the usage areas would actually help small businesses, as essential goods markets primarily serve small business owners in the catering industry.
Essential goods markets are retail stores primarily dealing with foodstuffs, with an area of less than 3,000 square meters (about 900 pyeong). Although small catering businesses mainly use them to purchase food products, general consumers also visit. According to the Korea Essential Goods Association, among 1,743 stores engaged in the food sales industry, 394 are wholesale stores with catering workers as their main customers, while 1,287 are retail stores primarily serving consumers. The share of wholesale sales is 50% and 10%, respectively. Most stores have annual sales of about 5 billion to 6 billion won.
Some small business owners engaged in the catering industry also expressed the need for the expansion of consumer coupon usage areas. Kim Hak-soon, who runs a restaurant in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, said, "It is becoming increasingly difficult to operate the shop, so I plan to use the coupons as operating funds," adding, "It's disappointing that essential goods markets, which small catering business owners frequently visit to purchase ingredients, are not included in the consumer coupon target areas."
The differing voices among small business owners stem from the fact that the Korea Federation for Small Businesses encompasses a variety of sectors, including traditional markets, manufacturing, and catering, leading to a perception of essential goods markets as competitors, while small catering businesses mainly utilize these markets. A contact from the catering industry explained, "Even among small business owners, opinions on the inclusion of essential goods markets differ based on individual interests."
Experts noted that "if self-employed individuals deem it necessary, the government should consider designating essential goods markets as usage areas."
Lee Jeong-hee, a professor at Chung-Ang University who has served as the president of the Korean Small Business Association, stated, "The main users of essential goods markets are small catering businesses," and added, "Given the difficulties small business owners are facing, if essential goods markets are deemed necessary for their use, it is something to reconsider opening up."
However, Professor Lee cautioned that "if essential goods markets are included as usage areas, it could lead to the issue of consumers using coupons at essential goods markets, which contradicts the original purpose of the policy," and suggested that "one way to address this issue would be to distinguish between consumer usage areas and those for self-employed individuals, and refine the approach."