"Don't Skip Meals During Vacation"...Local Governments Provide 28,500 Won Daily Meal Allowance

Yangcheon-gu Operates Intensive Application Period Until the 18th of This Month
Unit Price per Meal Raised to 9,500 Won Starting Next Year

Yangcheon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Gi-jae) announced on the 11th that it will promote the ‘Winter Vacation Child Meal Support’ for about 1,400 vulnerable children in the area to prevent meal gaps caused by the suspension of school meals during the winter vacation period.

The winter vacation meal support targets children under 18 years old whose household income is below 60% of the median income and who are at risk of missing meals at home due to absence of guardians, illness, or economic difficulties. Support will be provided according to each school's vacation period until February next year.

Yangcheon-gu, 2024 Winter Vacation Child Meal Support Guide Poster. Provided by Yangcheon-gu.

During the support period, eligible children can use the Kkum Namu Card at general restaurants (child meal affiliated stores), receive lunchbox delivery, or have group meals at local children’s centers. Up to three meals per day will be supported depending on the reason for meal deprivation for each child.

Considering the rise in dining prices, the district plans to increase the meal unit price for children at risk of missing meals from 9,000 KRW to 9,500 KRW starting January next year. The unit price was also raised from 8,000 KRW to 9,000 KRW in February this year.

With the increase in the child meal unit price, the daily limit of the Kkum Namu Card (child meal card) has also been adjusted upward from 27,000 KRW to 28,500 KRW, which is expected to somewhat reduce the food expense burden for children at risk of missing meals. Currently, there are about 2,600 Kkum Namu Card affiliated restaurants in Yangcheon-gu, including Korean, Chinese, Japanese, bakeries, snack bars, and children’s restaurants.

Applications for child meal support can be made at any time, but to actively identify vulnerable children in blind spots during the winter vacation, a concentrated application period will be separately operated until the 18th of this month. To apply, submit the child meal application documents by visiting the local community service center or through the ‘Bokjiro’ website.

Mayor Lee Gi-jae said, “We are strengthening support so that children who are at risk of missing meals during the vacation period when school meals are suspended can receive nutritious meals,” and added, “We will continue to make efforts to ensure various child support programs are implemented in the future.”