On the 6th, Dongjak District in Seoul announced that it will promote the nation’s first "youth meal support project" to help economically disadvantaged young people maintain a healthy diet.
The project targets students living in the educational area of Noryangjin, as well as university students enrolled in Chung-Ang University, Soongsil University, and Chongshin University. It reflects the characteristics of the district, which has a high number of one-person households among young people.
Participants will be recruited until the 26th, targeting unemployed young people living in Dongjak District, including students from Chung-Ang University, Soongsil University, and Chongshin University, as well as job seekers. Applications will be accepted through the Dongjak District's integrated reservation system, and 500 participants will be selected by lottery. Selected youths will receive 60,000 won per month in "Dongjak Love Gift Certificates" until the end of the year, which can be used at Zero Pay affiliated restaurants in Dongjak District.
If they show proof of participation in the project at partner restaurants, participants can also receive discounts on their meals. To facilitate this, Dongjak District signed a business agreement with the Korean Restaurant Association's Dongjak District branch on the 18th of last month. Partner restaurants will offer a 10% discount or a 1,000 won discount on meal prices to participating youths, and the district will support promotional marketing and costs for consumables to the partner restaurants.
Last year, Dongjak District implemented the "Youth Support Lunch Box" and "Youth Side Dish Sharing Project" to promote healthy eating among one-person households. Park Il-ha, the district head, noted, "This project is a two-fold policy that guarantees a dependable meal for young people while revitalizing small businesses and the local economy."