An association of South Korean companies that had operated in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex has decided to accept the government’s plan to provide 66 billion won to companies hit hard by the shutdown of the industrial park, but also make calls for further support measures. 
 
The association convened an emergency meeting in Seoul on Monday and voted on whether or not to accept the government’s support plan. Some 130 companies took part in the emergency meeting and around 100 participated in the vote.
 
Based on the vote results, the association said it accepts the government’s plan but was quick to add that there is a need for the government to devise additional support measures. The association plans to send its suggestions to the government by no later than Tuesday.
 
Monday’s emergency meeting saw heated debate over the fact that the government had said that the 66 billion won in support would the last payment the government makes to help South Koreans firms that suffered damage from the shutdown of the joint venture in the North Korean border city.
 
A senior official of the association’s emergency committee told reporters after the meeting that the additional financial support must not be the government’s last.