"Establishment of Interactive Channel Between Party and University Student Council
Demand for Quality and Target Expansion of 1000-Won Breakfast"
On the 28th, the leadership of the People Power Party visited Kyung Hee University’s student cafeteria to have a "1000-won breakfast" and listen to the difficulties faced by young people. Students requested the expansion of the 1000-won breakfast program and communication channels with the party, to which Party Leader Kim Ki-hyun responded, "We will actively promote it."
Leader Kim, Supreme Council Member Kim Byung-min, Policy Committee Chair Park Dae-chul, and National Assembly Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee Secretary Lee Yang-su dined with the Kyung Hee University Student Council executives and Vice President for Academic Affairs Kwon Oh-byeong to discuss ways to expand youth support. The 1000-won breakfast is a policy designed to reduce university students’ meal expenses by sharing costs among the government, university administration, and the cooperative.
Arriving at the student cafeteria five minutes before breakfast started, the leadership waited behind nearly 40 students already lined up to receive meal tickets. The party leadership obtained external meal tickets (4000 won) to have their meals. Supreme Council Member Kim, a former Kyung Hee University Student Council president, greeted and introduced himself to Student Council President Lee Jae-baek and Vice President Chae Hee-seon, while Leader Kim asked various questions. President Lee explained, "Today the line is somewhat shorter. If you eat today, you will understand why many students come and why it is necessary." Vice President Chae added, "I understand that all ingredients are used up within 15 minutes."
While eating breakfast consisting of beef seaweed soup and radish kimchi, students discussed with the leadership about expanding support. President Lee suggested, "I hope this program expands not only at Kyung Hee University but also to various schools, and if the government or schools could take interest not only in breakfast but also lunch and, if possible, dinner, it would reduce students’ burdens." Leader Kim responded, "We should find ways to provide high-quality meals and also offer lunch and dinner."
When Representative Lee Yang-su said, "Rice consumption per person has decreased, causing a significant drop in rice prices, but if university students nationwide eat breakfast diligently, it will help rice prices," President Lee replied, "Not only breakfast but lunch and dinner can be eaten diligently. I can confidently say rice consumption can increase," which brought smiles.
There were also suggestions to increase support in areas that young people can directly feel, such as communication and transportation. Future Innovation Team Leader Choi Hyun-jin said during the meal, "It is necessary to reduce the burden of communication fees, meal costs, and living expenses that students directly experience in their daily lives." Central Executive Committee Chair Cho Kyu-young also said, "From a student’s perspective, government university projects often feel disconnected, but if they consider everyday aspects, it would be much better for students."
After the meal, Leader Kim told reporters that this part was the most memorable. He said, "I remember the words that students want urgent issues that they can grasp immediately to be resolved first," adding, "I think such a form of living politics is what we must prioritize now."
There was also a demand to support clubs that had been stagnant due to non-face-to-face classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cho Hyun-i, Chair of the General Club Federation, said, "Some universities have lost about 30% of their clubs over the past three years (due to COVID-19)," and added, "I think it would be good if the government or related organizations could support them." Leader Kim immediately asked the Ministry of Education officials present about the current support status and requested that they consider ways to support not only clubs but overall university activities. Policy Committee Chair Park Dae-chul asked, "Please review and report back to me."
Youth also proposed the need to establish communication channels to directly convey these demands. President Lee said, "There are various types of youth concerns including transportation and communication, and if opportunities are continuously provided, we can fully express them. It would be better to have more chances to speak directly rather than through someone else."
The ruling party also showed active responsiveness. After the meal, Leader Kim said, "The Policy Committee Chair is planning ways to directly incorporate your voices," and added, "We are thinking of creating channels that allow you to participate in all processes of policy discovery, formulation, and enactment openly. I will inform you once it is concretized."
Leader Kim also said he would establish direct communication channels with university student councils. He explained, "I gave a task a week ago to create a channel where we can discuss the political processes we need to undertake with each university’s student council group," and added, "Matters that need to be handled at the school level will be conducted in a two-way manner through such channels with real-time contact."
Regarding the recent decline in the party’s youth approval ratings in polls, he said, "I question whether sufficient samples with adequate statistics have been secured," and added, "In any case, raising youth approval is an important task, so if we, as the ruling party, make South Korea a better place to live and create many jobs, I believe approval ratings among various groups including youth will increase."
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