Providing Children with Three Meals a Day Without Gaps Even During Seol Holiday

Yongsan-gu Supports Child Meals During Lunar New Year Holiday... Pre-Check for Children with Difficulties in Home Care... Identifies 21 Eligible Recipients
Additional Charging of Kkum Namu Cards and Food Package Provision from 7th to 13th to Ensure No Meal Support Gaps During Lunar New Year Holiday

Yongsan-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Park Hee-young) will thoroughly ensure that children and adolescents, the future leaders, do not miss meals during the Lunar New Year holiday from the 7th to the 13th.

The district is supporting "meal assistance for children at risk of missing meals" targeting children who may face food insecurity due to economic burdens. As of January 2024, there are 415 children eligible for support. Among them, 254 use the Kkum Namu Card, and 161 receive group meals at local children's centers.

Among these children, 21 who are at risk of missing meals during the Lunar New Year holiday due to meal providers visiting their hometowns or taking leave have been identified for alternative support.

For 14 children at risk of missing meals due to the absence of guardians during the holiday period, additional charges were made to their Kkum Namu Cards, and 7 children were provided with food packages donated by the local community center.

The support amount per meal is 9,000 KRW. The Kkum Namu Card can be used at any Shinhan Card-affiliated store registered in Seoul within child meal-appropriate categories (Korean food, Chinese food, bakeries, fast food, convenience stores, etc.). However, harmful items, snacks, and non-food items cannot be purchased.

Mr. Choi, who runs a lunchbox specialty store in Haebangchon, said, "I am glad to be partly responsible for supporting child meal assistance when growing children order proper menus," adding, "I hope children use the Kkum Namu Card well according to its purpose."

The Kkum Namu Card is a system that provides meal costs to children from families in need of meal support so they can have balanced meals. They can use it directly at registered affiliated stores or receive group meal support at local children's centers.

The eligible recipients are children under 18 years old who are at risk of missing meals, including those from recipient households, low-income families, single-parent families, and emergency welfare support households.

Children wishing to receive the Kkum Namu Card can apply anytime through the "Bokjiro" website or by visiting the nearest community service center.

Park Hee-young, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, "We will make sure children can spend the holiday without worrying about meals," and added, "Please pay attention and check if there are children around you who are in difficult situations and unable to have proper meals."