개성공단 피해 최소화 위해 범정부 대응 돌입

Published : Apr 29, 2013 - 18:33 Updated : May 3, 2013 - 13:54

개성공단 출입제한 27일째 조업중단 21일째인 29일 오전 개성공단 관계업체 대표 (화인레나운 박윤규 대표)가 개성공단기업협회 사무실을 찾아 관계자들과 사태에 대해 이야기를 나누고 있다. (코리아헤럴드 박해묵 사진기자)

정부가 개성공단 입주기업 지원책을 마련하기 위해 ‘정부합동대책반’을 출범시키고 본격적인 범정부 대응책 수립에 돌입했다.

정부는 26일 김동연 국무조정실장 주재로 ‘개성공단 기업지원 정부합동대책반 회의’를 개최했다. 회의에 기획재정부, 통일부, 법무부, 안정행정부, 산업통상자원부, 금융위원회, 중소기업청 등 유관 부처 9개 차관들이 참여해 공단에 입주한 123개 기업의 피해 범위를 파악하고 향후 지원 방향에 대한 대책을 마련했다.

정흥원 국무총리는 지난 27일 국회 예산결산특위 전체회의에 출석해 우리측 피해규모가 약 1조원으로 추산된다고 밝혔다. 반면 입주업체들은 거래업체 배상액, 협력 업체의 피해를 감안하면 피해액이 2조원을 웃돈다고 주장한다. 전문가들은 공단이 폐쇄되면 최대 피해 규모가 6조원에 다다를 것이라고 전망한다.

정부는 회의에서 ▲입주기업 피해 최소화 ▲가능한 범위 내 최대 지원 ▲수립한 방안의 신속 시행 등 3가지 원칙을 마련했다.

구체적으로 지난 24일 통일부가 발표한 입주기업 재정지원, 유동성 지원, 기존 대출금 상환 유예, 부과세 환급금 조기 지금, 지방세 납부 기한 연장 등 세부 계획을 논의하고, 남북협력기금 대출과 경협 보험 적용을 두고 심도 있게 토의했다.

김 실장은 이날 “개성공단 입주업체 대부분이 중소업체인데, 이번 일로 정상 경제 활동을 유지할 수 없는 상황에 이르렀다”며 “조속한 시일 안에 입주기업들이 기업활동, 공장 가동, 영업을 재개할 수 있도록 대책반에서 최선을 다하겠다”고 밝혔다.

정부는 국무조정실 심오택 국정운영실장이 지휘하는 ‘정부합동대책반 실무TF’를 중심으로 피해 기업들에 대한 각종 지원대책을 확정해 단계적으로 시행할 방침이다.

한편, 정부가 지난 26일 개성공단 철수를 발표함에 따라 27일 오후 잔류 인원 중 126명이 귀환하였다. 29일 최후의 50명이 예정대로 오후 다섯 시에 귀환하면 남북 관계는 완전히 단절되는 셈이다. (코리아 헤럴드 신현희 기자/번역 이상주)

<관련 영어 기사>

Pan-government panel launched to support Gaeseong firms

By Shin Hyon-hee

In the wake of a complete suspension of the Gaeseong industrial park, South Korea launched a pan-government task force on Monday to craft ways to alleviate companies’ financial woes and help them map out their futures.

Fifty remaining South Koreans planned to come home at around 5 p.m. but their schedules were delayed due to “operational” matters, Unification Ministry officials said.

They followed 125 who returned the day after the government’s decision Friday to withdraw all its citizens from the factory complex.

The last returnees are mainly officials at the Kaesong Industrial District Management Committee and telecom, electricity, housing and other infrastructure companies.

The pullout came after North Korea refused a proposal for talks to normalize the last symbol of cross-border cooperation.

Factories at Gaeseong have been reeling from order cancellations, a buyer exodus and liquidity crunch since Pyongyang barred the entry of South Korean employees and cargo starting April 4 and withdrew its 53,000 employees on April 9. The remaining people had subsisted on ramen, snacks and other instant food for night shifts.

The suspension followed a weeks-long torrent of North Korean military threats since Seoul and Washington kicked off military drills last month and the U.N. levied sanctions over its nuclear test.

“Now the government must make utmost efforts at practical support for relevant firms and workers not to lose their hope,” President Park Geun-hye said at a meeting with senior presidential secretaries.

“People all around the world watched on TV our workers trying to load as many goods as possible on the roof of their cars. Now who on the planet wants to invest in North Korea in a situation where each other’s agreement comes to nothing in an instant.”

Prime Minister’s Office Minister Kim Dong-yeon convened a meeting early in the day with officials from nine state agencies to look into the extent of damage incurred at the 123 firms and discuss measures to support them.

During the meeting, they set three priorities of minimizing the corporate damage, providing the most possible support, and swiftly implementing the established plans.

Other issues on the agenda included offering loans and insurance from the inter-Korean cooperation fund.

The participating agencies are the ministries of finance, unification, industry, justice and public administration, the Financial Services Commission and the Small and Medium Business Administration.

“Most firms operating in Gaeseong are petty small and midsize businesses and due to this crisis they face a situation where normal business activity is impossible,” Kim told the meeting.

“The government needs to mobilize all available means and come up with practical support measures so that the companies will get back to normal as soon as possible.”

The government last week unveiled a comprehensive package including new loans, grace periods, early tax refunds, and delays of tax audits and due dates for tax and utility bill payment.

Prime Minister Chung Hong-won said their collective losses could reach 1 trillion won ($900 million) during a parliamentary session Friday. Some estimates from the businesses put it at more than 2 trillion won and projected the figure to top 6 trillion won in case of an entire shutdown.

North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun, a mouthpiece of the ruling Workers’ Party, warned Monday of “final and conclusive” action if Seoul continues to deteriorate the situation, blasting its Friday decision.

“(South Korea) must know clearly that it cannot avoid its criminal responsibility for such a rash, despicable act,” it said. (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)