Yongsan-gu, Child Meal Allowance for Vulnerable Groups Increased from 6,000 Won to 8,000 Won Starting July

Supplementary Budget of 72 Million KRW Allocated to Provide Healthier and More Balanced Meals for Vulnerable Children; Meal Price Increased by 2,000 KRW (33%)... Usable at Shinhan Card Merchants within the Region

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Yongsan-gu (District Mayor Seong Chang-hyun) will increase the child meal allowance from the current 6,000 won to 8,000 won, a 2,000 won (33%) raise, starting in July.

This is to provide healthier and more balanced meals to children from vulnerable groups.

The district has been running the child meal support program since 2009 in accordance with government and Seoul city policies. It issues the "Kkum Namu Card" (Dream Tree Card) to children and adolescents under 18 years old who are at risk of missing meals, allowing them to purchase food on their own.

The support amount has steadily increased from 3,500 won in 2009 to 6,000 won in 2020, but there have been many criticisms that it is still insufficient compared to Seoul's living costs.

These days, a meal at a regular restaurant usually costs between 7,000 and 8,000 won.

Accordingly, the district will add an additional 72 million won to the existing budget of 253.2 million won and raise the meal allowance starting in July. Coincidentally, Seoul city has also agreed to provide additional support of 500 won per meal.

The city-district budget ratio (matching) will change from the previous 50:50 (3,000 won city funds, 3,000 won district funds) to 43:57 (3,500 won city funds, 4,500 won district funds).

The Kkum Namu Card recipients are children and adolescents from beneficiary households, near-poverty groups, single-parent families, and households eligible for emergency welfare support, who are at risk of missing meals due to difficulty in receiving meals from their guardians.

The card is also issued to children and adolescents who need protection due to the death, runaway, or disappearance of their guardians.

A district official stated, "At the end of each month, we receive the list of child meal allowance applicants from the 16 local neighborhoods under our jurisdiction and transfer the meal allowance to each individual's Kkum Namu Card linked account," adding, "Depending on the application details, we expect to provide an additional 30,000 to 100,000 won per person per month."

As of the end of June, about 360 children in the district are eligible for child meal support. They can use the card to cover breakfast and dinner during the school term and breakfast, lunch, and dinner during vacations. Some also have meals at local children's centers.

The meal allowance can be used at Shinhan Card affiliated stores partnered with the Kkum Namu Card. In April, Seoul city expanded the places where child meal allowances can be used from the previous "Hope affiliated stores" to virtually all general restaurants.

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