Industrial workers join '1,000-won breakfast' program, with 897,000 meals planned this year

Program targets small and medium-sized enterprise workers; meals served for 1,000 won plus additional contributions

Public-private partnership in Jeonju links local businesses, welfare foundations and senior employment

Minister Song Mi-ryeong says menu expansion and budget increases under review after three-year pilot

Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Song Mi-ryeong speaks at a meeting with young farmers held at Hansik Culture Space Eum in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. [Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Redistribution and DB prohibited]

The government's "1,000-won breakfast" program, previously available only to university students, has been extended this year to workers at industrial complexes. The government plans to provide about 897,000 breakfasts this year to workers at small and medium-sized enterprises with limited access to affordable meals.

Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Song Mi-ryeong visited an industrial complex in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, on Wednesday morning to inspect the program's operations and hear from workers and project officials.

The government ran a pilot program last year based on its existing student breakfast initiative and launched a three-year trial this year targeting industrial complex workers. The program is open to employees at small and medium-sized enterprises located within industrial complexes.

This year's target is 897,000 meals. Workers receive rice-based hot meals or grab-and-go options for 1,000 won plus an additional contribution. The government subsidizes 2,000 won per meal, the worker pays 1,000 won, and local governments and companies cover the remaining cost.

The program operates in two formats: a group model that serves workers from multiple companies within an industrial complex, and an individual model that uses a single company's in-house cafeteria.

This image is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]

The Jeonju site Song visited Wednesday divides responsibilities among local government bodies, businesses and community organizations. Jeonju city provides administrative and financial support, while the Jeonju Small and Medium Business Owners' Association oversees overall operations. The Jeonju Welfare Foundation contributes donations, the Jeonju Seowon Senior Club provides employment opportunities for older workers, and the Jeonju Culture Foundation offers its venue free of charge for meal service.

The arrangement reduces the burden on individual companies to run their own cafeterias while channeling local small-business food suppliers, creating jobs for senior citizens and encouraging voluntary corporate donations.

At a cafe inside the Palbok Art Factory in Jeonju, Song handed out grab-and-go meals — cup rice bowls, kimbap and sandwiches — to workers arriving for their morning shifts, then sat down with workers and program officials to share breakfast and hear about their concerns.

"It is of the utmost importance that industrial complex workers, who form the backbone of Korea's industry, are able to take care of their health with a warm and nutritious breakfast even during their busy early mornings," Song said. "Over the three-year pilot period, we will actively gather feedback from various sites and review options such as diversifying the menu and expanding budget support, so that when the program transitions to a full-scale rollout, it becomes a robust food support policy that provides even greater benefit to industrial complex workers."

adastra@heraldcorp.com