Ruling Party and Government to Supply Agricultural Produce Packages to 3.64 Million Elementary and Secondary Students in 8 Cities and Provinces

Measures to Minimize COVID-19 Impact on School Meal Supply Farms
Use of Unused Free Meal Food Funds Within 271.7 Billion KRW...Estimated Cost 109.3 Billion KRW

Lee In-young, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering opening remarks at the party-government consultation on the support project for agricultural product packages for elementary, middle, and high school students held at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] The Democratic Party of Korea and the government have decided to provide agricultural product packages worth 30,000 KRW per person to 3.64 million elementary, middle, and high school students across eight metropolitan cities and provinces. This measure aims to reduce the damage to farms caused by the suspension of school meals due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the morning of the 27th, after the 'Elementary, Middle, and High School Home Agricultural Product Package Support Project Party-Government Meeting' held at the National Assembly, Cho Jeong-sik, Chairman of the Democratic Party Policy Committee, said in a briefing, "We discussed supplying agricultural product packages (to students' homes) to support producers, improve student health, and reduce the burden on parents while school meals are suspended."

Chairman Cho stated, "The project will be implemented sequentially starting with regions where conditions allow, supporting 3.64 million elementary, middle, and high school students in eight local governments including Seoul, Gwangju, Daejeon, Gyeonggi, Chungbuk, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam."

He added, "The supply methods will be diversified, including direct delivery of goods, selection and delivery of online coupons, and issuance of coupons that can be used to purchase agricultural, livestock, and fishery products at stores nationwide," and said, "Considering convenience and urgency, more specific supply directions will be pursued within a few days." The government plans to collaborate with the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service to implement food safety management to ensure the supply of high-quality ingredients.

The project budget will be prepared within the available funds of 271.7 billion KRW from unused free meal food expenses due to school closures and online classes. Chairman Cho said, "Packages worth about 30,000 KRW per person will be provided," and "The required budget for the eight metropolitan cities and provinces will be 109.3 billion KRW."

So far, the local governments considering participation in the agricultural product package project are Sejong and Gangwon, while regions where participation has not been decided include Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Ulsan, Chungnam, Gyeongbuk, and Jeju. Chairman Cho said, "We will continue to consult with non-participating local governments later."

Lee In-young, the floor leader of the Democratic Party who attended the party-government meeting, said, "If school meals are suspended for a month, 51 items and 812 tons of agricultural products lose their sales channels," and added, "I believe the agricultural product package support project will be a practical measure."

Kim Hyun-soo, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Due to the suspension of meals caused by the delay in school openings, 2,000 tons of eco-friendly agricultural products are damaged weekly," and added, "Although we are resolving the damaged volume by securing sales channels for 1,645 tons through campaigns to purchase eco-friendly agricultural products, additional measures are needed."

Yoo Eun-hye, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, said, "The voluntary participation of education offices and local governments, which are the funding bodies for free meals, is important. We expect the package project to expand nationwide." She continued, "The Ministry of Education is preparing for school reopening and thoroughly preparing school quarantine measures," and said, "We will do our best to ensure safe meals are provided even after school reopening."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.