Korea National Park Service Cares for Seniors' Meals... Launches 'Masil Saengtae Bapsang'

The Korea National Park Service announced on the 3rd that it will operate the 'Masil Ecological Table' project starting from the 4th at the Byeonsanbando Ecological Exploration Center located in Buan-gun, Jeonbuk.

The Masil Ecological Table is a social cooperative and senior-friendly enterprise established through the collaboration of four public and private organizations: the Korea National Park Service (Byeonsanbando Ecological Exploration Center), Buan-gun, the Korean Senior Citizens Association (Buan-gun branch), and the Korea Senior Human Resources Development Institute, aimed at creating jobs for the elderly and revitalizing the local economy.

The Korea National Park Service provides a restaurant space of 624.75㎡ (approximately 188 pyeong) free of charge within the Byeonsanbando Ecological Exploration Center for Masil Ecological Table, and Buan-gun has designated it as a 'Local Food Certified Establishment.'

The Korean Senior Citizens Association supported Masil Ecological Table in being designated as a senior-friendly enterprise and approved as a social cooperative. The Korea Senior Human Resources Development Institute selected Masil Ecological Table as a senior-friendly enterprise and provides startup support funds and labor costs.

Masilsangtae Bapsang employees are receiving hygiene training before cooking.

Masil Ecological Table employs 11 local seniors aged 60 and over to operate the restaurant at the Byeonsanbando Ecological Exploration Center and provides lunchboxes to 11 homebound elderly households with mobility difficulties. Five percent of the profits will be used for social contribution activities, such as operating educational programs for the elderly at the Byeonsanbando Ecological Exploration Center.

Through Masil Ecological Table, the Korea National Park Service can offer visitors to the ecological exploration center local dishes made from ingredients produced in the region. It is also expected to provide stable jobs for seniors aged 60 and above.

Director Song Hyung-geun said, "We will expand the Masil Ecological Table project to the other eight ecological exploration centers, including Bukhansan, so that national parks can revitalize the local economy and create stable and sustainable jobs for seniors in the era of longevity."

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