Yoon attends 2023 Korea Small Business Convention

Yoon attended the ‘2023 Korea Small Business Convention’ held at KINTEX in Ilsan on November 3. This year marks the first time that the president has attended this event, which is now in its 18th year. At this event, over 2,000 small business owners from various industries, including the restaurant and beauty industries, gathered from all over the country. In order to reduce the financial burden caused by high interest rates, the government is reflecting 4 trillion won in low-interest loans in next year's budget and preparing support measures to convert them into low-interest loans. Yoon promised to fully exempt 800 billion won in disaster relief funds paid during the COVID-19 period. He announced that he would implement a gas bill installment payment system to reduce the increasing burden of energy and raw material costs, support the replacement of 64,000 aging air conditioners, and actively promote a nationwide consumption festival and Onnuri gift certificate special discount events that are open year-round.

He visited booths operated by the Korea Makeup and Beauty Association and the Pet Industry Association, and awarded medals and presidential commendations to those who contributed to small businesses. The event was attended by approximately 2,000 small business owners and self-employed people, including Small Business Federation Chairman Oh Se-hee, Minister of SMEs and Startups Lee Young, People Power Party leader Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader Yoon Jae-ok, policy committee chairman Yoo Yu-dong, and senior economic secretary Choi Sang-mok.

Yoon visits GTX-A line and attends metropolitan transportation meeting

Yoon inspected the GTX-A route, which is scheduled to open in March next year, and discussed solutions to metropolitan transportation problems with residents and experts in the metropolitan area on board the GTX train. Yoon has advanced the GTX project schedule so that Line A (Suseo Station - Hwaseong Dongtan Station) will open in March next year, and Line C (Yangju Deokjeong Station - Suwon Station) and Line B (Incheon National University Station - Namyangju Maseok Station) will begin construction at the end of the year or early next year.

He said that by using GTX-A, a 30-minute transit pass in the metropolitan area will be achieved, new industries and jobs will be created, and socioeconomic changes will occur. In addition to the GTX, the government announced that it plans to open three metropolitan railways to shorten travel times in the northeastern and southwestern parts of the metropolitan area by up to 75%, and also begin construction of new metropolitan railway projects such as the Shinbundang Line (Gwanggyo-Homaesil) and Daejanghongdae Line. The government also plans to open the Daegu region metropolitan railway (Gumi~Gyeongsan), the Taehwagang-Songjeong railway, and the Chungcheong area first stage (Gyeryong~Sintanjin) railway. The government plans to introduce K-Pass, a public transportation support, to significantly ease the burden of commuting transportation costs and provide more benefits to young and low-income people.