Choi Tae-won's Warm Tact 'Dosirak'... Reviving Struggling Alley Restaurants and Helping the Homeless

Chairman Chey Tae-won is cooking Suwon-style Yukgaejang and serving it in a bowl. A scene from SK's internal broadcast "Happiness Talk."

Small Restaurants in Myeongdong and Hoehyeon-dong Hit Hard by Sales Drop Order 'Dosirak'

Supplied by Free Meal Service 'Myeongdong Bapjip'... Providing Over 400,000 Meals in 3 Months

Emergency Funding Also Supports Normalization of Meal Services Near Major SK Business Sites

[Asia Economy Reporter Park So-yeon] SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has rolled up his sleeves to address the food issues of vulnerable groups suffering from the resurgence of COVID-19 since the beginning of the year. This is an extension of the 'Safety Net' construction that Chairman Chey has emphasized since last year. SK Group plans to provide over 400,000 meals over the next three months by connecting vulnerable groups struggling due to the sharp decline in sales of small alley restaurants and the suspension of free meal services through the medium of 'dosirak' (lunch boxes) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the 5th, SK announced the launch of the 'One Meal Sharing On-Tact Project,' which supports both vulnerable groups who find it difficult to secure meals due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation and small food businesses facing survival crises from plummeting sales.

SK orders dosirak from small restaurants to increase their sales and provides these dosirak to vulnerable groups who have difficulty eating due to the suspension of welfare facilities. At the same time, various methods such as financial support for free meal services are implemented. The budget for this project also utilizes funds from the SK Group's New Year's party, which was not held this year due to COVID-19.

Starting this month, SK plans to order dosirak from small restaurants in Myeongdong and Hoehyeon-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, and supply them to the free meal service 'Myeongdong Bapjip,' operated by the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul. SK fully supports the cost of the dosirak and plans to provide them to about 500 homeless people and elderly people suffering from food insecurity daily through Myeongdong Bapjip.

Besides SK and Myeongdong Bapjip, this project involves the Myeongdong and Hoehyeon-dong District 1 Commercial Area Union and Namchon Merchants Association, an alliance of alley shops. Yoon Nam-soon, president of the Namchon Merchants Association and a restaurant owner in Hoehyeon-dong, said, "All affiliated restaurants saw sales drop by 50-60% due to COVID-19, and we were at a loss, but the dosirak supply has eased our livelihood worries."

Emergency funding is also provided to free meal services overwhelmed by dosirak demand. SK has started budget support to supply an additional 200 dosirak daily to 'Anna's House' in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, which is unable to meet free meal demand due to lack of resources. As the number of free meal services closed due to COVID-19 increases, many elderly living alone and homeless people flock to this place, which continues dosirak meal services. SK plans to expand the number of supported facilities, scale, and duration while monitoring the COVID-19 situation.

Within this month, SK also plans to begin supporting the normalization of free meal service operations near major SK business sites. Meal budgets and delivery costs will be supported so that meal services that stopped face-to-face distribution due to COVID-19 can switch to dosirak delivery methods.

In regions where dosirak facilities are insufficient compared to meal demand, SK plans to provide support by linking with the 'Happy Dosirak Center,' which it sponsors, or by ordering dosirak from nearby restaurants.

Lee Hyung-hee, SV Committee Chair of SK Supex Council, said, "We hope to create greater happiness by solving food insecurity issues together with partners from various sectors of our society, including local governments and companies who sympathize with this project."

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