Kim Ki-hyun Establishes Basis for Expanding University 'Cheonwon's Breakfast' Support

Expansion to 190 Universities This Year
No Local Government Support Basis, Differences Among Schools
Higher Education Act Amendment Proposed

On the 4th, Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, proposed an amendment to the Higher Education Act to establish a legal basis for expanding support for the "1,000 Won Breakfast" project.

The 1,000 Won Breakfast project provides university students with affordable breakfast meals using rice and rice-based products to promote rice consumption and reduce students' meal expenses. Students pay 100 won per meal, and the government, local governments, and schools cover the remaining costs to provide the meals.

Last June, when Kim was the party leader, he visited the Kyung Hee University student cafeteria and announced plans to expand the 1,000 Won Breakfast project. As of the end of last year, 144 universities were participating in the project, and it is expected to expand to 190 universities this year.

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 7th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

However, unlike kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools, universities have no legal basis for meal support, so breakfast provision has depended on each institution's financial situation. As a result, the quality of meals varied from school to school. Therefore, Kim proposed an amendment to the Higher Education Act to require the state and local governments to cover all or part of the expenses for supporting university students' meal services.

Kim said, "Since I found legislative shortcomings and proposed this amendment, I will make sure to see the bill through as soon as possible so that university students can receive stable support for quality meals."

Previously, the Democratic Party also prepared an amendment to support the 1,000 Won Breakfast project. The amendment to the Higher Education Act, led by Representative Ko Min-jung, requires the state and local governments to take necessary measures such as securing personnel and budgets for student nutrition and health promotion projects. It also includes provisions to reflect opinions on universities' financial conditions, meal facilities and equipment, and meal demand to ensure effective and practical measures are implemented.