28개 중앙부처 공무원노조, 착한소비자 캠페인 동참

Small businesses are among the hardest-hit from the coronavirus outbreak.
To help them get through this tough time, South Korea's civil servants have joined in the government's 'Good Customer Campaign.'
Kim Sungmin reports.
A local restaurant in Seoul's Yeouido neighborhood is bustling with customers for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak.
It is thanks to the State Public Officials' Labor Union, which has joined the 'Good Customer Campaign', created by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
The campaign is about paying in advance for goods and services at small local businesses to help them get through this difficult period.
All 28 union chairpersons and the SMEs minister Park Young-sun gathered in Yeouido on Thursday... to pledge their support.
"As officials who serve the public, we wanted to act first to spread good influence and bring more participation from civil society."
To start off the campaign, the union reps and the SMEs minister visited a nearby restaurant and made advance payments worth 800 U.S. dollars.
To business owners, this could make all the difference.
"I had a very difficult time since the coronavirus outbreak. There were almost no customers. So this campaign will become very helpful to small business owners like me."
Regarding the campaign, minister Park Young-sun emphasized the value of "living together" at a difficult time like this.
"Restaurants have been the hardest hit by the outbreak. I think it is very meaningful that we encourage small business owners and pursue the value of 'living together.'"
Apart from paying in advance, there are other ways that the union members can help.
"The unions also plan to buy "Onnuri" gift certificates that can be used at traditional markets and use specific online platforms to help small businesses."
The campaign will run until July.
Around 25-thousand public workers will be encouraged to participate in the 'Good Customer Campaign' to help restart the frozen economy.
KIM Sung-min, Arirang News