Yoon: "Ensure Every Studying Student Can Have Breakfast" (Comprehensive)

President Yoon Holds Dialogue with Youth in Gangneung
"Prioritizing Budget for Unlimited Study Opportunities"

President Yoon Suk-yeol said on the 19th, "We will introduce and support the concept of 'School Breakfast' so that every student who studies can have breakfast."

On the afternoon of the same day, at the 'Dialogue with Youth' held in Gangneung City, Gangwon Province, President Yoon responded to a young person who appealed that "although the government-supported '1,000 Won Breakfast' program helped maintain health, some local universities with fewer enrolled students are unable to participate in the program," according to a written briefing by Kim Soo-kyung, spokesperson for the Presidential Office.

President Yoon especially emphasized, "I have a national policy philosophy that prioritizes financial investment to ensure that those who want to study can study freely."

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, said, "There were shortcomings in policies for students who want to make a breakthrough in their regions," adding, "Through fostering Glocal universities, we will support universities to play a central role in regional development going forward." Glocal is a compound word combining Global, meaning globalization, and Local, meaning region, referring to globalization that reflects regional characteristics.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

To another student who complained about population decline in Gangwon Province, youth outflow to the Seoul metropolitan area, and lack of jobs, quality jobs for local youth and students of regional universities were also promised.

President Yoon said, "In addition to expanding quality jobs, the government will break down barriers between regions, schools, and departments and prepare flexible academic operation plans that meet industrial demands, devising various measures to solve issues related to study, employment, and entrepreneurship."

The dialogue with youth was held at a cafe run by a young entrepreneur, involving 15 local university students. This cafe provided free coffee and rest areas to firefighters during the Gangneung wildfire in April last year.

The Presidential Office explained that President Yoon arranged this dialogue to directly listen to and encourage the lives and concerns of young people through candid communication with students from local universities, namely the National Gangneung-Wonju University and Catholic Kwandong University.

Therefore, instead of a formal meeting, the event was conducted in a relaxed manner, sharing coffee and casual conversation.

Before hearing the youth's requests, President Yoon asked, "Is Gangneung-Wonju University located at the old Gangneung University site?" and "Many apartments have been built there."

He then reminisced, "Did it snow a lot in Gangneung this year? I remember when I was young, during winter vacation, visiting my maternal grandparents' house, there was a lot of snow."

Recalling his time working at the Gangneung branch office as a prosecutor, he said, "At the end of 1996 and early 1997, it snowed so much that the eaves above the front door of the official residence in Ponam-dong (Gangneung branch office) were covered with snow, making it hard to open the door in the morning." He recalled that the owner of a nearby restaurant cleared the path back and forth in the residence yard with a four-wheel-drive vehicle so he could get out. Students burst into laughter at President Yoon's snow story.

President Yoon also said, "The government is making various efforts to revive the local economy and empower local youth, but it may feel insufficient on the ground," adding, "I will listen carefully to the vivid stories of young people and return."

In response, the youth expressed various opinions on topics such as ▲ school life ▲ career, employment, and entrepreneurship ▲ tuition fees and housing/living support ▲ regional community and development of local universities.

President Yoon reiterated, "I will spare no interest and support so that young people can freely challenge themselves and see the fruits of their efforts."

Meanwhile, the event was attended by Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Interior and Safety, and staff members of the Presidential Office.

[Image source=Yonhap News]