South Korea's massive corporations are exporting their way out of the COVID-19 pandemic, while small businesses are still struggling as people remain reluctant to spend. (Illustration by Hiroko Oshima)

Pandemic widens gap between South Korea's haves and have-nots

Chaebols rebound on export growth, while small domestic businesses suffer

STEVEN BOROWIEC, Contributing writer

February 23, 2021 06:02 JST

DAEJEON, South Korea -- Ko Bi-song hopes the public health crisis that nearly cratered her business will later be the force that revives it.

For 14 years Ko has run Keumjung Tapgol Farm, which produces traditional Korean red pepper and fermented bean paste, flavorings used in many staple dishes. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Ko's sales have tumbled, as fewer people held dinner parties or exchanged gifts over holidays.