Starting Monday, orders and payments can be made through the public delivery app Ddaenggyeoyo; delivery fee support of up to 6,000 won a month provided
Daily spending limit raised from 30,000 won to 50,000 won for children 14 and older
Yangcheon-gu in Seoul will launch a food delivery service for children using the district's meal-support card, known as the Kkumnamu Card, starting Monday.
The district will also provide delivery fee discount coupons to expand meal options for children at risk of skipping meals and ease their financial burden.
Until now, children using the meal-support card had to visit designated partner restaurants or convenience stores in person to pay. With the introduction of delivery through the public online food delivery app Ddaenggyeoyo, they will be able to order food from home.
The service is open to meal-support card holders aged 14 and older who own a mobile phone registered in their name. To use it, children must register their meal-support card on the Ddaenggyeoyo app and place orders at partner restaurants marked with a "children's meal" designation.
To reduce the burden of delivery fees, the district will issue two 3,000-won delivery coupons each month, providing up to 6,000 won in monthly support. Children can apply for the coupons through the application screen within the meal-support card app or by scanning a QR code on program information materials.
The daily spending limit on the meal-support card will also rise from 30,000 won ($23) to 50,000 won, a move aimed at easing the strain of rising dining costs and allowing children to share meals with friends. The higher limit applies to both delivery orders and in-person payments at partner establishments. However, payments exceeding 30,000 won in a single day will be permitted up to twice a month.
The district will verify applicant lists and eligibility before rolling out the service Monday, sending delivery fee coupons directly to eligible children's mobile phones. Going forward, applications will be accepted by the 20th of each preceding month, with coupons distributed regularly on Dec. 1. The district also plans to step up outreach by working with neighborhood community centers to send text messages guiding children who have not yet applied.
Yangcheon-gu operates a range of meal-support programs for children under 18 at risk of food insecurity, including the meal-support card, dosirak delivery and group meals at local children's centers. This past summer break, the district provided meal support to 1,113 children from vulnerable households. To minimize gaps in meal provision during the winter break, the district plans to run an intensive application period from Dec. 3 to Dec. 16.
"I hope the introduction of the delivery service will broaden children's meal choices and allow them to enjoy the food they want without feeling self-conscious," Yangcheon-gu District Mayor Lee Gi-jae said. "We will pay even closer attention to meal support so that children can grow up healthy without worrying about their next meal."
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