No Child Left Hungry During Vacation... Mapo District Strengthens Child Meal Support

Intensive Applications Accepted Until the 11th
Rolling Applications Available Thereafter

Mapo District in Seoul is strengthening meal support for children at risk of missing meals during the summer vacation and will launch an intensive campaign to address welfare blind spots.

This initiative was implemented to provide stable meals to children who may skip meals due to family circumstances, even when school meals are suspended during the vacation period, thereby supporting their healthy development.

Kangsoo Park, Mayor of Mapo District. Courtesy of Mapo District Office.

The support targets children under the age of 18, both enrolled and not yet enrolled in school, who are considered at risk of missing meals. Eligibility includes those from households with an income at or below 60% of the median income, or those recommended by homeroom teachers or other relevant individuals. In cases of recommendation by a homeroom teacher or others, the application is reviewed by the Child Meal Committee. High school students who are 18 years old are also included in the support.

During the intensive application period, which runs until the 11th, applications can be submitted at the local community center in the applicant's residential area. Applications are also accepted on a rolling basis after this period.

Mapo District operates a year-round child meal support program, providing one meal per day during the school term and up to two meals per day?including lunch and dinner?during the summer vacation period.

This year, the meal support rate per meal was increased from 9,000 won last year to 9,500 won. Children selected as meal support recipients are provided with a rechargeable child meal card (Kkum Namu Card), which can be freely used at affiliated restaurants and convenience stores.

In addition, children using local children's centers can access group meal facilities within the center. For those who wish to receive meal deliveries, lunch boxes are delivered to their homes once a week.

To enhance meal quality and hygiene management, Mapo District will also conduct joint hygiene inspections in cooperation with the Mapo District Children's Foodservice Management Support Center.

Kangsoo Park, Mayor of Mapo District, stated, "We will operate comprehensive meal support so that every child can grow up healthy without worrying about meals even during the vacation period," adding, "We will do our utmost to ensure that no child in need is left out by conducting active outreach and meticulous on-site management."