Cheong-ju picked 20 stores as ‘Good Stores’ last month.
  A ‘Good Store’ is a store which has reasonable prices, so it helps local price stabilization. The reason for starting this project is that Cheong-ju city government wants to inspire business-owner’s self-confidence and make other owners join the local price stabilization by supplying various incentives to good store owners.
  They planned to choose 20 stores. The assessment process is that the Cheong-ju city government, Chungbuk provincial government and the Ministry of Security and Public Administration, in that order, assesses applicants.
  The assessment score consists of 60 points for prices, 25 points for sanitation, 10 points for service and 5 points for publicity. Stores which get more than 70 total points (They have to get more than 40 points for price and 15 points for sanitation) become good stores.
  The 20 chosen stores can benefit by reducing their loan interest rate within a limit of 0.25% from IBK. Thus, they are given preferential treatment in ‘small merchant official approval policy funds’ and can be supplied with consulting funds about marketing, store operation etc.
  In addition, Cheong-ju city government is subjected to help their management through various programs. The person in charge of this project said, “Stores which have reasonable prices, good sanitation and friendly service are called good stores. I hope not only chosen stores but also unchosen stores will join the local price stabilization.”
 

By Lee Da-yeon | dy34@cbnu.ac.kr