Small Firms Urge United Effort for Economic Revival

Fifteen associations representing small firms are urging protesters who are against U.S. beef imports to exercise restraint, citing their desperate business situation.

The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Businesses, the Korean Women Entrepreneurs Association, the Korea Venture Industry Association and others held a news conference to urge the estimated three million small businesses in the country to join the effort to revitalize the economy.

“Many small businesses are in serious difficulty due to the prolonged candlelight vigils and the truckers’ strike,” the associations said in a statement. “The government and the people should focus on revitalizing the economy.”

“If the government fails to resolve pending economic issues because of the continuing strike and candlelight vigils in the wake of the business downturn caused by oil and commodity inflation and slowing consumption, the economy will face a crisis.”

They also said, “The candlelight vigils have lost their initial innocence and threaten order in the country. Now that the public has expressed its opinion, it is time for everyone to calm down.”

“What is worse is that the reliability (of small businesses) can be compromised. If they fail to supply exports on time, they will have more business difficulty.”

Kim Gyeong-bae, chairman of a national association of supermarket co-ops, said, “Food prices, including those of potatoes and onions, have jumped more than 30 percent and several items are not supplied at all because of the truckers’ strike.” He urged an end to the strike as early as possible.