Gangbuk-gu Delivers 'Youth Happiness Lunchboxes' to Overcome COVID-19

Agreement with 9 Youth Lunchbox Manufacturers to Deliver Meals to 175 Temporarily Needy...Dual Benefits Supporting Young Small Business Owners and Vulnerable Groups

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] “This is a lunchbox from a youth business in Gangbuk dedicated to COVID-19 prevention and wholehearted effort. Please enjoy the lunchbox filled with everyone's sincere hearts and let's overcome COVID-19 together!”

This is the encouragement message attached to the ‘Hope Gangbuk Youth Happiness Lunchbox’ by Gangbuk-gu. Youth stores carefully prepare customized meals and deliver them to vulnerable groups.

Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Gyeom-su) launched a lunchbox delivery project connecting youth businesses and vulnerable groups starting from the 27th. The purpose is to simultaneously support young small business owners and socially disadvantaged people who are struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

As a preparatory step, the district signed agreements with nine youth businesses through an open recruitment process. Among lunchbox providers, priority was given to stores whose sales have decreased by more than 50% in the past two months due to the impact of COVID-19. When these stores provide meals to beneficiaries, the district pays 12,000 KRW per meal, including delivery fees, to the young small business owners.

The beneficiaries are 175 individuals facing temporary livelihood difficulties, such as unemployed persons, daily workers, and elderly people. The district explained that residents who are excluded from existing welfare benefits were given priority. The district plans to provide a total of 27 meals per person over 9 weeks, 3 times a week.

Delivery is conducted in a non-face-to-face manner. When users hang a coupon issued by the district on their front door, the delivery person places the lunchbox at the door and exchanges it for the coupon.

Park Gyeom-su, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, “We expect this mutual growth alley lunchbox project to support both youth businesses severely affected by COVID-19 sales declines and those at risk of food insecurity. We will continue to implement policies that reflect community values.”

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