A ’500 Won Restaurant,’ which guarantees children a wholesome meal for a mere 500 won, has become a noteworthy initiative in a South Korean community. (Image courtesy of the Blossom Yeojwa Social Cooperative)
CHANGWON, Dec. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – A ’500 Won Restaurant,’ which guarantees children a wholesome meal for a mere 500 won, has become a noteworthy initiative in a South Korean community.
Operated by the Blossom Yeojwa Social Cooperative in Jinhae, a district in the city of Changwon in South Gyeongsang Province, this initiative stands out as a successful model of community support, driven by both residents’ volunteering efforts and contributions from individuals and companies.
Situated on the first floor of the Blossom Yeojwa Community Center in Yeojwa-dong, Jinhae-gu, the restaurant warmly welcomes all children and youth residing in Jinhae. The center, which typically hosts cultural programs, transforms into the “500 Won Restaurant” during lunchtime.
Originally initiated to provide free meals to low-income children, the restaurant struggled to gain popularity due to the stigma associated with being identified as ‘low-income.’
Jeon Soo-jin, the secretary general of the Blossom Yeojwa Social Cooperative, reflected on the initial challenges: “In the beginning, when we offered free meals, children would stop coming after one or two visits. They expressed discomfort, saying, ‘We’re not beggars, so why are you just giving us free food?’”
Recognizing the importance of preserving children’s pride, the restaurant decided to charge a nominal amount of 500 won. This not only allowed the children to enjoy their meals with dignity but also encouraged them to contribute a small amount.
Since implementing this change, the number of visitors has significantly increased, fostering an environment where children can have lunch without fear of discrimination based on their economic background.
Despite the affordable price, the meals are substantial, including rice, soup (or jjigae), and four side dishes. Volunteers meticulously prepare the food, which also features kid-friendly specialties like hamburger steak, spaghetti, and pork cutlet rice bowls.
The ’500 Won Restaurant’ has gained popularity among children in the Jinhae area, capturing the preference of those who used to rely on convenience store ramen or delivery food during school vacations. Open four days a week during vacations, the restaurant accommodates nearly 50 children at a time.
However, the project faced a crisis when local government support was discontinued, leading to budget cuts and initial struggles. Fortunately, a local financial institution stepped in to provide support, and community members contributed small amounts of food and donations, enabling the center to recover.
As of December 24, the cooperative managing the restaurant reported approximately 50 million won in donations, surpassing the yearly operating costs. Notably, 67% of these donations, totaling 33.5 million won, came from 230 individuals, with amounts ranging from 1 to 2 million won. Local companies, including Romansys, Googoo, The Unicorn, and Marine Logitech also contributed to the cause.
In a remarkable act of generosity, a Changwon-based credit union donated 7 million won during the summer to support operating costs. Leveraging these donations, the cooperative plans to open the ’500 Won Restaurant’ 20 times between January 15 and February 23, when students will be on their winter vacation.
Notably, the 500 won contributed by the children for their meals will be donated to other organizations in the name of “500 Won Restaurant Children.” This money has been utilized for elementary school scholarships (300,000 won) and donations to aid the needy (600,000 won), exemplifying the positive impact of this initiative on the community.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
