There are growing concerns about the government's proposed meal support policy for office workers. Alongside criticism of whether it is right to use tax money to subsidize office workers' meal costs, there are also indications that restaurants will ultimately raise food prices.
According to the budget proposal announced by the government for 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs will implement a pilot project called 'Substantial meal for office workers' starting next year. The plan is to provide meal subsidies worth 40,000 won per month to 54,000 employees of small and medium-sized enterprises located in areas experiencing population decline, with a budget of 7.9 billion won.
The project is divided into 'one-thousand-won breakfast' and 'substantial lunch'. The 'one-thousand-won breakfast' offers general meals such as rice-based dishes and simple meals like kimbap for 1,000 won per meal. For instance, if the cost of a meal is 5,000 won, the government will cover 2,000 won, while local governments and corporations will each bear 1,000 won, requiring the worker to pay only 1,000 won.
'Substantial lunch' will provide a 20% discount on the amount paid at restaurants during lunch hours (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) within the workplace. It will be supported up to a monthly limit of 40,000 won.
The government noted, 'We expect to enhance the welfare of office workers who have difficulty affording meals and improve their quality of life,' adding that 'there is also an effect of revitalizing the local economy through the promotion of dining out during lunch hours.'
However, as the policy was made public, criticism arose asking whether it is right to subsidize office workers' meal costs with government taxes. In online communities, concerns were also raised that restaurants targeted by the policy would uniformly raise prices by 2,000 won.
Meanwhile, the government will expand support for the 'one-thousand-won breakfast' program aimed at college students. The number of supported universities will increase from 201 to 240, and the number of beneficiaries will rise from 4.5 million to 5.4 million. The budget for next year is 11.1 billion won. A new initiative will also begin to provide weekly fruit snacks to 1st and 2nd graders in 'Nulbom School.' This project will involve an investment of 16.9 billion won.