Guro-gu District Mayor Jang In-hong. [Provided by Guro-gu]
Guro-gu District Mayor Jang In-hong. [Provided by Guro-gu]

Seoul's Geumcheon-gu will begin supporting a contactless ordering and payment service linking the children's meal card — known as the Kkumnamu Card — with the public delivery app Ddaenggyeoyo starting Nov. 16, the district announced Monday.

The initiative is part of a children's meal support improvement project carried out in partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Shinhan Bank and ChildFund Korea. It was designed to ease the psychological discomfort children may feel when using the card at restaurants and to address the problem of cardholders relying heavily on convenience stores due to a shortage of affiliated merchants.

Previously, children had to visit an affiliated merchant in person to make a payment on the spot. Under the new system, they can order and pay through the app.

The service is available to children aged 14 and older who can use a delivery app on a mobile phone registered in their own name. Users navigate to the Ddaenggyeoyo menu within the Shinhan Super SOL app, register their Kkumnamu Card, and then select merchants marked "children's meal" on the app.

Support to offset delivery fees will also be provided. Delivery fee coupons can be applied for directly through the Seoul Kkumnamu Card app, with eligible children receiving two 3,000-won coupons per month — up to 6,000 won ($4) monthly.

The daily spending limit on the Kkumnamu Card will also rise from 30,000 won ($22) to 50,000 won. The higher limit applies not only to delivery orders but also to in-person payments at restaurants and other establishments. However, to prevent food insecurity at the end of the month, payments between 30,000 won and 50,000 won will be capped at twice per month.

Geumcheon-gu plans to use neighborhood community centers and the local welfare network to inform residents about how to use the service and what support is available, ensuring that children at risk of missing meals do not miss out simply because they are unaware of the program.

"I hope this service helps children enjoy a variety of meals conveniently, without feeling self-conscious about others' reactions," Geumcheon-gu District Mayor Choi Ki-chan said. "We will continue to pay close attention so that children at risk of food insecurity do not miss the support they need and can grow up healthy."


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