Jeonnam-Gwangju Faces 'Same Care, Different Holiday Meals'... Need for System Reform

Minho Yoon Raises Issue of Fairness in Holiday Meal Support

Gwangju City to Expand Lunch Coverage for Together Care Centers During School Holidays

Discussions have begun on improving the system surrounding lunch provision for children in care during the school holidays. In Gwangju, with the issue of fairness raised regarding differences in meal support between local child centers and public childcare support centers (Together Care Centers), the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City has decided to expand meal support for Together Care Centers starting with this summer vacation.

Minho Yoon, member of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Council (Progressive Party, Buk-gu 2), recently addressed the issue of meal support for children attending Together Care Centers during the holidays at a major work briefing by the Women's and Family Policy Office, urging improvements to the system.

Minho Yoon, Member of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Council. Provided by Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City.

Currently, about 6,300 children using local child centers in five districts of Gwangju receive meal support for 250 days a year, at a rate of 9,000 won per meal, through the meal support program for undernourished children based on the Child Welfare Act, regardless of whether it is a school holiday. In contrast, Together Care Centers have not received separate meal support for holidays, so for around 60 days a year—including 20 days in summer vacation and 40 days in winter vacation—parents of 941 children attending 41 centers have had to cover the meal expenses themselves.

Council member Yoon stated, "These are children using the same care services, but expecting parents to pay meal costs solely because the facilities are different amounts to discrimination and inequality in care," adding, "Since school holidays are when parents' care burdens are at their highest, meal support during the holidays for children using Together Care Centers should be provided at the same level as local child centers."

In response, the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City explained that local child centers and Together Care Centers are facilities with different legal status and support frameworks.

An official from the city told The Asia Business Daily by phone, "Meal support for local child centers is not budgeted for the facilities themselves but is part of a support program for undernourished children under the Child Welfare Act, targeting children from vulnerable backgrounds," adding, "Together Care Centers are universal childcare facilities used regardless of income, so the support system is different."

However, the city plans to expand meal support for Together Care Centers. The official stated, "In connection with the Ministry of Health and Welfare's program to eliminate lunchtime gaps during school holidays, we plan to provide lunch support funded by the national government to Together Care Centers that are interested in participating, beginning this summer vacation," adding, "We are in the process of identifying which centers wish to take part."

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