Incheon to Launch Free Meal Delivery Service for Children on May 23... First Public-Private Partnership in Korea

In Incheon, a free meal delivery service for children using a food delivery app will begin on May 23. This is the first time in the country that a local government is implementing such a public-private partnership project without allocating a separate budget.

According to Incheon City on May 13, the city signed a meal delivery service agreement for underprivileged children last month with Shinhan Bank and ChildFund Korea. The city has completed the development of the user system and the application process for delivery fees for children using meal cards (children aged 14 and older who have a mobile phone registered in their own name), and will officially launch the service on May 23.

Children using meal cards can select a participating restaurant and menu registered on the "Ddanggyeyo" delivery app and use the delivery service up to four times a month within their meal allowance. The daily meal allowance per person is 5,000 won for one or two meals, and 30,000 won for three meals.

The introduction of the meal card delivery service is one method of contactless payment service most desired by card users, and is expected to increase satisfaction among children using the cards.

Free Meal Delivery Service for Children. Incheon City

As of the end of last month, there were 5,605 Incheon child meal service partner restaurants registered on the "Ddanggyeyo" app. The number of children aged 14 and older who use meal cards and are eligible for the delivery service is 4,949, accounting for about 66% of all meal card users (7,553 children).

Meanwhile, the city is supporting children's healthy growth by providing meal support during school vacations. Last summer, for the first time, the city provided lunch to children using the Community Childcare Centers to fill the care gap that can occur during vacation periods.

In July and August last year, the city provided lunch during the vacation period to 896 children at 39 Community Childcare Centers. This year, the city plans to expand the program to 1,058 children at 44 centers.