'1,000-won breakfast' program for university students will more than double in scale

A Korea University student buys the 1,000-won ($0.77) breakfast at the school cafeteria on March 20. [NEWS1]

The "1,000-won breakfast" program will more than double in scale, announced the Food Ministry on Wednesday, backed by the high demand and positive feedback from students.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs began the food program on March 13, offering university students a breakfast meal for 1,000 won ($0.77) to lower the high rate of undergrads skipping the morning meal (53 percent).

The government originally selected 41 universities and planned to provide 685,000 affordable meals annually, but decided to expand the program to 1.5 million meals, in accordance with increased demand.

The Food Ministry will begin receiving applications from more schools in April and expedite the selection process to provide food benefits to students. The current 41 participating universities can also apply to secure more 1,000-won breakfasts.

"The expansion is part of the government's plan to embrace the younger generation's distress and support their advance into society with lowered meal prices," said Jeon Han-young, director general of food grain policy bureau at the ministry.

The program will bring positive effect in terms of balancing supply and demand of rice by pumping up rice consumption, the director general said.

BY SOHN DONG-JOO [sohn.dongjoo@joongang.co.kr]