"Is This Worth 12,000 Won?"... Controversy Over Poor Lunch Boxes Provided to Sports Teams

Lunch Boxes Worth 12,000 Won Per Person Provided
Controversy Over Inadequate Side Dishes Like Green Chili Peppers, Kimchi, and Pickled Perilla Leaves
Company Admits Poor Preparation Due to Sudden Surge in Orders

At the opening ceremony of the 19th Chungbuk Disabled Residents Sports Competition held in Chungju, Chungbuk, poorly prepared lunch boxes were provided to the participating teams, sparking controversy.

According to the Chungju Disabled Sports Association and other sources on the 24th, the opening ceremony of the Disabled Residents Sports Competition was held at Hoam Gymnasium in Chungju, with around 1,400 athletes and officials from city and county teams participating.

Lunch boxes for the athletes participating in the opening ceremony of the Chungbuk Disabled Residents Sports Competition. Photo by Yonhap News

During the event, some teams received lunch boxes valued at 12,000 won per person.

The lunch boxes were reportedly supplied by Company A, which is based in Chungju. However, controversy arose as the contents were considered insufficient for the price. When the side dishes provided consisted only of green chili peppers, kimchi, and pickled perilla leaves, athletes and officials lodged a series of complaints.

Company A later admitted that they were unprepared due to a sudden surge in lunch box orders. The company apologized to the teams and decided to charge only half the original price, equivalent to the cost of ingredients.

An official from the city’s Disabled Sports Association, who introduced Company A to the teams, bowed in apology, saying, "We apologize for not being thorough as the host city." The official added, "To address the inconvenience experienced by athletes and officials, we provided additional drinks and snacks on site."

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