Finance ministry says task force checks holiday meal support for vulnerable children

The finance ministry said Friday the government-wide public-livelihood task force inspected holiday meal support for 24 children at a community child center in Sejong, where school breaks can create gaps in care and meals.

To prevent children from missing meals, the government has diversified support through group meal services at community child centers and welfare centers, child meal cards usable at restaurants, and meal deliveries.

The government began its holiday-gap care program on July 27 at 1,461 neighborhood care facilities nationwide, expanding operating hours during the break to provide both lunch and dinner.

During the summer break, the center provides lunch and snacks alongside learning and character education, as well as emotional and cultural programs.

The task force inspected the center's kitchen and serving areas, including food storage and hygiene conditions. It then met staff to hear about meal-support conditions, operational difficulties and proposals for policy changes.

"Holidays should be the happiest time for children, but for some they become a time when meals are uncertain," Jang Do-hwan, head of the task force, said. He said concerns raised during the visit would be passed to relevant ministries for inclusion in policy.