Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education Park Jong-hoon Neglects Meal Management? ... Holds More Affection Than Anyone Else

Jeong Gyuheon, Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly Member, Criticizes Provincial Office of Education's School Meals

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Jeong Gyuheon, a member of the Gyeongnam Provincial Council's Education Committee from the People Power Party, criticized Superintendent Park Jonghun of the Gyeongnam Office of Education regarding the quality of school meals.

At the 2023 meeting for improving the quality of school meals held at the provincial Office of Education on the 15th, the so-called ‘ghost company’ issue was raised.

According to the provincial Office of Education, there were 10 reports last year of companies that only had addresses within the province but operated by winning school meal bids pretending to be local companies or transferred delivery rights to other companies, and 7 of these cases were confirmed.

At the 2023 School Meal Quality Improvement Meeting held by the Gyeongnam Office of Education, Provincial Assembly Member Jeong Gyuheon is speaking.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly]

In a related press release, Assemblyman Jeong stated, “The superintendent, who gained nationwide fame in 2015 over the free meal issue, is neglecting the improvement of meal quality,” and added, “While other cities and provinces are actively implementing self-help measures to improve school meal quality, the provincial Office of Education shows no visible efforts,” urging for self-help efforts.

He also proposed the formation of a ‘Delivery Company Crackdown Team for Improving School Meal Quality’ involving the Gyeongnam Office of Education, Gyeongnam Provincial Council, Agricultural and Marine Products Distribution Corporation, police, school operation committees, and meal service staff.

The provincial Office of Education rebutted, stating, “Assemblyman Jeong disparaged the Office’s efforts to improve meal quality with inaccurate information.”

They emphasized, “Superintendent Park is an education superintendent who cares deeply about school meals and is doing his best to improve meal quality and continuously striving for better meals.”

They cited efforts to enhance school meal safety and quality, including ▲strengthening school meal safety ▲enhancing nutrition management and dietary guidance ▲expanding support for school meal expenses ▲increasing the use of high-quality ingredients.

An official from the Office of Education said, “This year, to improve meal quality, we actively persuaded and supported by proposing a 1,000 KRW per person per day increase in school meal expenses to Gyeongnam Province,” adding, “We are also actively conducting hygiene and safety inspections of meal rooms and improving the environment.”

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