Applications Accepted from the 3rd to the 17th
Workers Pay 1,000 Won, Government 2,000 Won
Remaining Cost Covered by Local Governments or Companies
The government, local governments, and companies will jointly pilot the "One Thousand Won Breakfast for Industrial Complex Workers" program, which subsidizes breakfast costs for workers in industrial complexes. The government plans to select 17 industrial complexes and provide breakfast subsidies for two months, from October to November.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on September 3 that it will accept applications for participation in the "2025 Pilot Program for One Thousand Won Breakfast for Industrial Complex Workers" until the 17th, ahead of the full-scale launch of the program for companies in industrial complexes next year.
This pilot program will select up to 17 locations from among national industrial complexes, general industrial complexes, agro-industrial complexes, and urban high-tech industrial complexes across the country. Business associations or companies located within industrial complexes that wish to participate in the pilot program can fill out the application documents and submit them via email to the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
When selecting recipients, the Ministry will prioritize support for small and medium-sized enterprises with limited resources, and will give preference to business associations operating shared cafeterias rather than individual companies, to ensure that more companies benefit. In line with the goal of expanding breakfast availability, companies that have not previously provided breakfast will be given additional consideration in the evaluation process. Depending on the circumstances of each industrial complex, support will be provided through a variety of methods, including not only on-site cafeterias but also delivery and catering services.
Selected companies and organizations will receive partial subsidies for breakfast costs from October to December. Of the breakfast price, the government will provide a subsidy of 2,000 won, while the remaining amount will be covered by local governments and company contributions, so that workers only pay 1,000 won. For example, if the breakfast price is 5,000 won, the government will pay 2,000 won, the local government or company will pay 2,000 won, and the worker will pay 1,000 won.
A Ministry official stated, "Industrial complex workers are in a relatively vulnerable situation when it comes to meal options. Industrial complexes located far from nearby cities often lack access to restaurants, and small and medium-sized enterprises frequently find it difficult to operate their own cafeterias due to cost burdens." The official added, "Through this year's pilot program, the Ministry aims to spread a breakfast culture within industrial complexes and to promote rice consumption through continued policy support."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
