Concerns are being raised over the government's policy to subsidize meal costs for office workers. Questions have arisen about using taxpayer money to support employees' meal expenses, along with speculation that restaurants may increase their food prices as a result.
According to the 2026 budget plan announced by the government on August 30, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will launch the pilot project "A Hearty Meal for Office Workers" starting next year. The project allocates 7.9 billion won to provide meal subsidies of 40,000 won per month to 54,000 employees at small and medium-sized enterprises located in regions with declining populations.
The project is divided into two main categories: "1,000-Won Breakfast" and "Hearty Lunch."
The "1,000-Won Breakfast" program offers regular or simple meals made with rice for 1,000 won per serving. For a meal priced at 5,000 won, the government covers 2,000 won, local governments and companies each contribute 1,000 won, and the employee pays only 1,000 won. The "Hearty Lunch" program provides a 20% discount, up to 40,000 won per month, on lunch purchases made at restaurants near workplaces between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
After the policy was released, criticism emerged questioning whether the government should use tax money to subsidize office workers' meals. There are also concerns that restaurants targeted by the policy may uniformly raise their prices by 2,000 won.
Additionally, the government announced plans to expand the "1,000-Won Breakfast" program for university students from 201 to 240 schools, increasing the number of beneficiaries from 4.5 million to 5.4 million. The budget for next year is 11.1 billion won. A new project will also be launched, allocating 16.9 billion won to provide weekly fruit snacks to first and second graders at Neulbom Schools.
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