[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Another Military Meal Plan... What Are the Effects?

Ministry of National Defense Announces Annual Military Meal Plans
Food Waste Within the Military Actually Increases

Every year, the military announces measures to improve military meals, but food waste within the military has not decreased, raising doubts about the effectiveness of these measures.

On the 6th, the Ministry of National Defense announced the ‘2023 Ministry of National Defense Meal Policy,’ which prioritizes soldiers' preferences in changing military meal policies. The ‘basic daily meal quantity’ per soldier for agricultural, livestock, and marine products was abolished, allowing autonomous selection of meal items and quantities based on preferences.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The mandatory supply ratios by cut and grade for livestock products were also abolished. For example, until last year, there were mandatory ratios such as 15% pork neck and 15% front leg for stir-fry pork, and 63% brisket and 37% shank for soup cuts. From this year, soldiers can freely choose the cuts and uses they want to eat. The frequency of serving plain milk, which has low preference among soldiers, will be reduced, while processed milk, soy milk, and juice varieties will be increased.

The ratio of direct contracts for agricultural, livestock, and marine products remained at 70%, the same as last year. Previously, the Ministry of National Defense announced a comprehensive plan in 2021 to improve military meals, stating that it would gradually introduce competitive bidding for food material procurement, which had been done through direct contracts with agricultural, livestock, and fishery cooperatives, and fully switch to a competitive system after 2025. However, due to strong opposition from local farmers and local governments near military units, although the comprehensive plan stipulated that the direct contract ratio should be reduced to 50% this year, the ratio from last year was maintained.

Despite the military’s annual announcements of meal improvement measures, food waste within the military has been increasing every year. When poor-quality meals for soldiers became controversial, the military significantly increased the meal budget. The daily meal cost per soldier was 7,481 KRW in 2017, but it rose to 8,790 KRW last year and was increased to 13,000 KRW in the second half of this year.

However, soldiers are throwing all the meals into the food waste bins. The amount of food waste generated by the military was 81,503 tons in 2017. It increased to 105,168 tons in 2019 and reached 109,528 tons last year. This year, it is expected to exceed 110,000 tons. Food waste that farmers used to take for livestock feed is now being refused due to concerns about viral pig diseases. The number of farms taking food waste was 473 locations (17,305 tons) in 2017 but dropped to 171 locations (9,563 tons) in 2020.

As farms refuse to collect food waste, the amount handled by general consignment companies has increased. The processing unit price for consignment companies has also risen, causing the cost of food waste disposal to exceed the originally budgeted amount. In 2018, 6.8 billion KRW was budgeted for food waste disposal, but 11.07 billion KRW was spent. In 2020, 10 billion KRW was budgeted, but 14.7 billion KRW was used. This year, the military is likely to spend more than the prepared budget of 14.3 billion KRW.

Within the military, voices are emerging that the supply of food from veterans’ organizations through direct contracts should be reduced. It is said that soldiers are being forced to eat food with low preference. Veterans’ organizations such as Pyeonghwa Yongsachon supply seasoned seaweed, Boeun Yongsachon supplies ham slices and chicken nuggets, and the Sangigun-gyeonghoe supplies kimchi varieties every year. Although the Ministry of National Defense has announced measures such as increasing the meal budget to improve soldiers’ meals, it is criticized for failing to meet soldiers’ preferences.

The Ministry of National Defense stated, "Recognizing that improving the quality of soldiers’ meals is the foundation for fostering a ‘combat-ready strong military,’ we will continue to promote military meal improvement policies such as expanding the introduction of modern cooking equipment, improving the environment of military dining halls, improving working conditions for cooking staff, and increasing soldiers’ meal budgets."