Gwangjin-gu is stepping up its push to build healthier eating habits among residents by affixing official certification marks to restaurants participating in its "Gwangjin Gokgok" multigrain rice project, district Mayor Kim Gyeong-ho announced.
The Gwangjin Gokgok project supports and encourages local restaurants to serve multigrain rice, giving residents the option of a healthier meal even when dining out. Participating establishments that meet set criteria receive the certification mark along with promotional materials.
Since April, the district has been accepting year-round applications from general and snack-bar restaurants in the area. Any establishment serving rice with at least one variety of grain or legume — two or more varieties recommended — is eligible to apply.
A total of 127 restaurants in the district are currently enrolled in the project. The district has affixed certification marks at their entrances so residents can easily identify eateries that offer healthy meal options.
The new certification mark was redesigned to incorporate the 9th elected-term vision of Gwangjin-gu, building on the existing mark used under the Seoul Metropolitan Government's healthy-dining initiative "Tongkwaehan Hankki" ("A Satisfying Meal"), with which the Gwangjin Gokgok project is now linked.
For residents' convenience, the district has registered all participating restaurants on the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Smart Seoul Map, allowing users to find nearby multigrain rice eateries on an interactive map.
The district plans to continue monitoring whether participating restaurants are actually serving multigrain rice and will guide any establishments that fall short of the standards toward improvement, maintaining ongoing certification oversight.
The district also intends to run a range of campaigns, including a regular "Multigrain Day," to help multigrain rice consumption take natural root in residents' daily lives.
"The Gwangjin Gokgok certification mark, born through our tie-up with Seoul's Tongkwaehan Hankki project, embodies the 9th elected-term vision of putting residents' health first," district Mayor Kim said. "We will continue to work closely with the local business community to build a healthy food culture where choosing a nutritious meal while dining out feels completely natural."
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