Chungnam Provincial Council Establishes Legal Basis for Systematic Support of Children at Risk of Malnutrition

Assemblyman Lee Sanggeun Proposes Ordinance to Support Child Meal Programs

Assemblyman Lee Sanggeun of Chungnam Provincial Council, who sponsored the Chungnam Province Child Meal Support Ordinance./Provided by Chungnam Provincial Council

The Chungnam Provincial Council has taken steps to establish a legal foundation to provide stable and high-quality meals to children at risk of malnutrition, aiming to guarantee their right to health and address gaps in welfare coverage.

On June 4, the Chungnam Provincial Council announced that it had issued a legislative notice for the "Chungnam Province Child Meal Support Ordinance," sponsored by Assemblyman Lee Sanggeun (Hongseong 1, People Power Party).

The ordinance includes provisions such as: ▲the governor's responsibility to support the healthy growth of children at risk of malnutrition; ▲the establishment and implementation of child meal support plans; ▲regular surveys and policy research; ▲the introduction of various support methods, including meal cards, lunch boxes, and food ingredient packages; ▲strengthened management of meal quality and safety; ▲uninterrupted support during school vacations; and ▲the establishment of cooperative systems with related organizations such as the Office of Education.

In particular, the ordinance also contains detailed measures to improve the quality of meals, such as customized meal support that takes into account children's living conditions and the local environment, the use of locally produced eco-friendly agricultural products, and adherence to nutritional management standards.

Lee Sanggeun stated, "The right to health for children is a fundamental right that our society must protect," and added, "I hope this ordinance will serve as a strong safety net that eliminates blind spots in meal support and enables the community to unite in supporting the healthy growth of our children."

The Chungnam Province Child Meal Support Ordinance is scheduled to be reviewed at the 359th regular session of the Chungnam Provincial Council, which begins on June 10.