Korea University for 3 Years... This Year 'Thousand-Won Breakfast' Provided at 200 Universities

Number of Users Increased from 120,000 to 170,000
No Limit on Participants, Gaining Popularity Among Students

"It's hard to have a proper meal every time since I came from the provinces, but I like that I can have a decent breakfast with the '1000 Won Breakfast'."

The '1000 Won Breakfast,' which provides breakfast for only 1000 won to college students who find it difficult to have breakfast, is gaining tremendous popularity.

Kim Dong-won, President of Korea University, is listening to students' stories while having a "1,000 Won Breakfast" at the Korea University cafeteria in Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Photo by Korea University

According to Korea University on the 14th, Korea University has been running the 1000 Won Breakfast project for three years this year. This project supports students to have breakfast for 1000 won. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs covers 2000 won per student, and local governments or schools cover the rest, significantly reducing the amount students have to pay.

Korea University started the project in March 2023 with government subsidies and university donations, providing breakfast to 124,460 people in the first year alone. Last year, 169,983 students used the 1000 Won Breakfast, and more than 170,000 are expected to use it this year. Nam Subin, a student majoring in Physical Education at Korea University, said, "I had affordable breakfast at school last year, and this year the taste has improved," adding, "I can enjoy various menus in the morning, so I can start my day feeling full."

At Korea University, anyone with a student ID, including undergraduates and graduate students, can have breakfast for 1000 won without any limit on the number of people. At the beginning of the project in 2023, the number of users was limited to 600 per day, but the limit was removed to ease the meal cost burden on students due to high prices. Also, while the 1000 Won Breakfast was only available at two student cafeterias, since last year it has been available at dormitory cafeterias as well.

The reason students can have breakfast without restrictions is not only due to government subsidies but also because of continuous donations from alumni. In January, Park Miseon, director of the Miseon Scholarship Foundation, donated 100 million won to the 1000 Won Breakfast for Korea University juniors.

Students are using the 'Thousand Won Breakfast' at Korea University cafeteria in Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Provided by Korea University

Korea University selects breakfast menus based on students' opinions. Requests from students are received through a student monitoring group. President Kim Dongwon of Korea University also visits student cafeterias every semester to listen to students' opinions about the 1000 Won Breakfast. As a result, last year, in addition to regular meals, convenient menus such as cup rice and triangular kimbap were prepared to meet the needs of students who want light meals. In addition, the student union building is being remodeled to create a hygienic and pleasant dining environment.

Previously, Korea University supported students' breakfast expenses through the 'Heartfelt Breakfast' program starting in November 2018. Meal costs were subsidized through the 'KU Pride Club' fund, a campaign where donations of 10,000 won or more are made monthly.

Korea University plans to continue supporting the 1000 Won Breakfast. President Kim said, "We will improve quality and diversify menus for students' health and nutrition," adding, "Once the remodeling of the student union building is completed in August, students will be able to enjoy meals in a better environment."

The 1000 Won Breakfast project is expanding not only at Korea University but also across university campuses nationwide. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the number of universities participating in the 1000 Won Breakfast project increased from 186 last year to 200 this year. Seventeen universities, including Hanyang University and Woosuk University, are participating for the first time this year. By region, three universities in the metropolitan area, two in Jeolla, and nine in Gyeongsang are newly participating.

This year, ten universities, including Seoul National University and Chungnam National University, operated the 1000 Won Breakfast project even during vacation periods. Previously, the project started only when the semester began, but now it is also available for students staying in dormitories during vacations. Since last year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs raised the government support rate from 1000 won to 2000 won per person, increasing student satisfaction with the project from 90.4% in 2023 to 99.0% last year.

Choi Myungcheol, Director of Food Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Unlike previous years, this year students can benefit from the 1000 Won Breakfast starting from the vacation period," adding, "We will continue to actively reflect students' opinions and provide quality food."