As the COVID-19 crisis lengthens, the pain of small business owners is growing.
As the COVID-19 crisis lengthens, the pain of small business owners is growing.
More and more self-employed people are being driven into a crisis, hit hard by business.
More and more self-employed people are being driven into a crisis, hit hard by business.
In Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, sisters in their 60s who ran a store tried to suicide themselves in the midst of a hard life.
In Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, sisters in their 60s who ran a store tried to suicide themselves in the midst of a hard life.
In Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, sisters in their 60s who ran a store tried to suicide themselves in the midst of a hard life.
Reporter Shin Soo-Ah covered.
On the 30th of last month, there was a report that sisters in their 60s collapsed together in an underground singing bar in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province.
On the 30th of last month, there was a report that sisters in their 60s collapsed together in an underground singing bar in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province.
On the 30th of last month, there was a report that sisters in their 60s collapsed together in an underground singing bar in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province.
It happened at a bar that hadn't opened for five months.
It happened at a bar that hadn't opened for five months.
"The sisters must have been especially difficult. They didn't make a good profit on a regular basis, but after the COVID-19 blew up, it was totally... I feel bad."
"The sisters must have been especially difficult. They didn't make a good profit on a regular basis, but after the COVID-19 blew up, it was totally... I feel bad."
"The sisters must have been especially difficult. They didn't make a good profit on a regular basis, but after the COVID-19 blew up, it was totally... I feel bad."
"The sisters must have been especially difficult. They didn't make a good profit on a regular basis, but after the COVID-19 blew up, it was totally... I feel bad."
The disabled 67-year-old older sister and her five-year-old younger sister have been making ends meet by running a bar.
The disabled 67-year-old older sister and her five-year-old younger sister have been making ends meet by running a bar.
The disabled 67-year-old older sister and her five-year-old younger sister have been making ends meet by running a bar.
"Two days before they left, they came here at night, and they ordered bibimbap and the two sisters ate it. I thought they'd share a meal."
"Two days before they left, they came here at night, and they ordered bibimbap and the two sisters ate it. I thought they'd share a meal."
"Two days before they left, they came here at night, and they ordered bibimbap and the two sisters ate it. I thought they'd share a meal."
"Two days before they left, they came here at night, and they ordered bibimbap and the two sisters ate it. I thought they'd share a meal."
"Two days before they left, they came here at night, and they ordered bibimbap and the two sisters ate it. I thought they'd share a meal."
The suicide note found at the scene said that COVID-19 was too difficult.
The suicide note found at the scene said that COVID-19 was too difficult.
The younger sister managed to regain consciousness at the hospital, but the older sister passed away.
The younger sister managed to regain consciousness at the hospital, but the older sister passed away.
The day after the announcement of the extension of the 2.5th stage of social distance in the Seoul metropolitan area which was planned until this week.
The day after the announcement of the extension of the 2.5th stage of social distance in the Seoul metropolitan area which was planned until this week.
There were many restaurants that closed even on Saturday afternoon.
There were many restaurants that closed even on Saturday afternoon.
"I've been behind in rent since May. I feel like crying. I keep getting messages asking me to pay rent. I earn less than rent a month."
"I've been behind in rent since May. I feel like crying. I keep getting messages asking me to pay rent. I earn less than rent a month."
"I've been behind in rent since May. I feel like crying. I keep getting messages asking me to pay rent. I earn less than rent a month."
"I've been behind in rent since May. I feel like crying. I keep getting messages asking me to pay rent. I earn less than rent a month."
"I've been behind in rent since May. I feel like crying. I keep getting messages asking me to pay rent. I earn less than rent a month."
There were no customers in the restaurant that’s saying they barely pay rent with a negative account.
There were no customers in the restaurant that’s saying they barely pay rent with a negative account.
The owner of the karaoke room, who had to close for nearly 70 days, is feeling despair beyond disappointment.
The owner of the karaoke room, who had to close for nearly 70 days, is feeling despair beyond disappointment.
“I could see that the number of ‘no assembly orders’ continued to increase week by week. It's the 3rd step, and we're going to automatically extend the extension again."
“I could see that the number of ‘no assembly orders’ continued to increase week by week. It's the 3rd step, and we're going to automatically extend the extension again."
They hit a cliff that they couldn't afford with a loan.
They hit a cliff that they couldn't afford with a loan.
"Small business, self-employed people, hold on... You have to hold on. Okay, let's hang in there somehow. We can hang in there. I never thought they'd ask us to hold on without a single support fund. Really."
"Small business, self-employed people, hold on... You have to hold on. Okay, let's hang in there somehow. We can hang in there. I never thought they'd ask us to hold on without a single support fund. Really."
"Small business, self-employed people, hold on... You have to hold on. Okay, let's hang in there somehow. We can hang in there. I never thought they'd ask us to hold on without a single support fund. Really."
"Small business, self-employed people, hold on... You have to hold on. Okay, let's hang in there somehow. We can hang in there. I never thought they'd ask us to hold on without a single support fund. Really."
"Small business, self-employed people, hold on... You have to hold on. Okay, let's hang in there somehow. We can hang in there. I never thought they'd ask us to hold on without a single support fund. Really."
The government plans to come up with measures next week to deal with self-employed people who are suffering from severe damage due to strengthened quarantine measures, but there is no big expectation.
The government plans to come up with measures next week to deal with self-employed people who are suffering from severe damage due to strengthened quarantine measures, but there is no big expectation.
The government plans to come up with measures next week to deal with self-employed people who are suffering from severe damage due to strengthened quarantine measures, but there is no big expectation.
"The government is offering 1 million won, but we've been earning zero won for 5 months and we've been in debt of 5 to 6 million won a month."
"The government is offering 1 million won, but we've been earning zero won for 5 months and we've been in debt of 5 to 6 million won a month."
"The government is offering 1 million won, but we've been earning zero won for 5 months and we've been in debt of 5 to 6 million won a month."
Shin Soo-Ah from MBC News.
