전통시장도 온라인주문•배달…소상공인 디지털화 본격 추진<br /><br />With or without Covid-19, digital transformation in nearly all corners of the society would have been inevitable.<br />But, the pandemic has definitely brought that digital era sooner and up closer to our daily lives.<br />To better prepare small businesses innovate using digital technology in the post-Covid-19 digital era, the South Korean government has unveiled plans to launch online delivery services for 500 traditional markets across the country.<br />It will create some 100-thousand smart stores along the way.<br />Eum Ji-young has the detail.<br />The South Korean government is planning a digital transformation for small local shops.<br />Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki, in a meeting with economy-related officials on Thursday, said that the government plans to support small businesses to keep pace with the rapidly evolving digital landscape.<br />"It is not only important to support those small business owners amid the COVID-19 crisis but it is also essential to provide fundamental measures to help give them a competitive edge in the digital era."<br />Under the plan, 500 traditional markets across the country will be digitalized by 2025.<br />Traditional markets are launching online shops and customers will be able to get products delivered to their homes.<br />The government will also simplify their online and mobile payment systems.<br />It will also create some 100,000 smart stores by 2025, using the latest technologies including robotics, virtual reality and artificial intelligence.<br />Services including touchscreens will be available at restaurants and cafes. And unmanned supermarkets will run 24-7. Virtual fitting rooms will be established to improve the online shopping experience and reduce the number of returns.<br />And the government plans to provide the latest technology to another 10-thousand craft shops by 2025. It will help create a safer working environment through automated and efficient production facilities.<br />The government will also create digital business districts and nurture them as regional hot spots.<br />And it will train 50-thousand small business owners to familiarize them with the latest technologies.<br />The push to digitalize small local shops aims to create some 129-thousand jobs by 2025.<br />Eum Ji-young, Arirang News.<br />
