Merchant bankruptcy subsidies hit 544.2 billion won

A rising number of small merchants are receiving subsidies after going bankrupt.

A seller of used kitchen products moves packages at a store in Hwanghak-dong, central Seoul, on Monday. [YONHAP]

A seller of used kitchen products moves packages at a store in Hwanghak-dong, central Seoul, on Monday.

A rising number of small merchants are receiving subsidies after going bankrupt. The amount of subsidy offered to such sellers reached 544.2 billion won ($400.4 million) between January and April, up 19.9 percent from a year ago.