Children's Cafeteria for Elementary Students: Nutritious Meals Worth 8,000 Won for Just 1,000 Won
Open to All Elementary Students Regardless of iHyu Center Usage... Dinner on Weekdays During School Terms, Lunch During School Breaks, Reservation Required by Phone 3 Days in Advance
Fourth Convergence-Type iHyu Center and Children's Cafeteria Scheduled to Open This July
Starting this month, Nowon-gu in Seoul (Mayor Oh Seungrok) is offering meals to elementary students for just 1,000 won.
The Children's Cafeteria is a restaurant operated by the iHyu Center, which provides after-school care services for elementary students, and is one of the district's flagship child welfare services. Notably, the cafeteria is open to any elementary student who wishes to have a meal, regardless of whether they use the iHyu Center, with no restrictions on eligibility.
To alleviate the childcare burden on parents caused by rising prices, the district has decided to further reduce the cafeteria fee for children. With this additional reduction, starting in April, children can enjoy a nutritious meal worth 8,000 won for just 1,000 won. Last month, the district had already lowered the cafeteria fee for elementary students not using the iHyu Center from 3,500 won to 2,500 won.
The Children's Cafeteria operates on weekdays except public holidays, serving dinner from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. during school terms and lunch from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. during school breaks. One nutritionist and six cooks are on staff, providing freshly prepared rice, soup, and three side dishes made with eco-friendly produce to ensure children receive balanced nutrition essential for their growth. The cafeteria operates on a reservation basis, and reservations must be made by phone to each iHyu Center at least three days in advance.
The service is available to all elementary students in the district. The main categories are: children receiving "regular care" at a convergence-type iHyu Center; children receiving "temporary care" on specific days due to parental circumstances; and external children not using the iHyu Center.
With this additional reduction, the meal fees are as follows: ▲ For regular care, the monthly fee of 20,000 won includes meals; ▲ For temporary care (meal and care), the fee is 2,500 won; ▲ For external children (meal only), the fee is 1,000 won. This is the lowest among not only local restaurants but also meal care programs operated by local governments. In the first quarter of this year alone, a total of 401 children had meals at the Children's Cafeteria.
Since opening the nation's first Children's Cafeteria at Sanggye Doosan Convergence-Type iHyu Center in April 2020, the district now operates a total of three such cafeterias at local convergence-type iHyu Centers, including Nowon Convergence-Type iHyu Center and Hagye Eoullim Convergence-Type iHyu Center. In July, the district plans to open an additional Sanggye Convergence-Type iHyu Center (tentative name) and Children's Cafeteria within the Sanggye 3·4-dong Sanggye Community Sports Center.
The district pioneered the operation of elementary after-school care centers nationwide in 2018, serving as the model for Seoul City's "Our Neighborhood Care Center" program, which has since spread to all districts. To date, the district has opened 27 centers, the highest number among Seoul's districts.
Mayor Oh Seungrok stated, "By further lowering the Children's Cafeteria fee, we have broken down barriers to ensure that no child is left out and that growing children receive proper meals," adding, "We will continue to do our best to make Nowon a happy place for our children, who are the driving force of our future."
Gangnam-gu Launches Traffic Safety Campaign in School Zones
Special Management at 9 Elementary Schools Designated as School Zones, Every Week from 8 to 9 a.m. in March and April
Gangnam-gu (Mayor Cho Sungmyung) is conducting a joint public-private-police traffic safety campaign in front of nine elementary schools within designated school zones in the district once a week throughout March and April.
Since March 10, the district has been holding campaigns from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at nine elementary schools designated as special management school zones. In March, the campaign was held at ▲Hakdong Elementary on the 10th, ▲Bongun Elementary on the 17th, ▲Cheongdam Elementary on the 23rd, and ▲Poi Elementary on the 30th. In April, the campaign will be held at ▲Eonbuk Elementary on the 6th, ▲Younghee Elementary on the 12th, ▲Apgujeong Elementary on the 13th, ▲Suseo Elementary on the 19th, and ▲Shingu Elementary on the 27th.
Each campaign involves about 40 participants, including district officials, officers from Gangnam and Seocho Police Stations, local police precincts and substations, the Gangnam Seocho Office of Education, the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, elementary school teachers and student councils, the Green Mothers Association, exemplary drivers, and traffic safety instructors. The campaign focuses on cracking down on traffic violations within school zones and distributes patrol car keyrings engraved with the campaign slogan "Stop, Look, Walk" to students on their way to school, raising awareness of traffic safety.
Additionally, the district holds traffic safety meetings to gather opinions from school officials and residents on improving traffic conditions in front of schools.
On February 28, the district completed sidewalk construction in front of Eonbuk Elementary School's school zone. The district plans to complete sidewalk improvement projects for all 11 elementary schools in the area where sidewalks and roadways are not separated by August this year. The district will actively listen to the opinions of school officials, parents, and nearby residents and incorporate their suggestions to improve the routes students take to school.
Mayor Cho Sungmyung stated, "We will work closely with schools and police stations to create safe routes to school so that students can commute with peace of mind," adding, "We will also strive to ensure that projects to improve pedestrian environments in school zones proceed smoothly."
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