A meal served during the pilot program for the Standard Relief Meal (Photo courtesy of the Korean Red Cross).
SEOUL, Oct. 23(Korea Bizwire) — A modest tray of white rice, kimchi stew with tuna, bulgogi, stir-fried potatoes, dried seaweed, cherry tomatoes, and a banana might not seem revolutionary. Yet in South Korea’s evolving disaster management system, this humble combination marks a quiet but meaningful shift.
The Korean Red Cross, in partnership with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, has developed what it calls a Standard Relief Meal — a unified, nutritionally balanced menu designed to replace the uneven and often inadequate meals served to evacuees and aid workers during disasters.
On Wednesday, the Red Cross said it conducted a pilot meal service during the “2025 Mapo Safe Korea Drill,” a nationwide disaster-preparedness exercise held in Seoul’s Mapo District, to test the menu’s feasibility under real field conditions.
The project stems from long-standing criticism that food support for disaster victims varies drastically by region and facility, with some evacuees receiving low-quality boxed meals while others are provided with adequate hot food. The new standardized plan aims to ensure equity and dignity in crisis nutrition.
Officials said the meal’s design balanced three core priorities: nutritional adequacy, ease of preparation, and adaptability to various on-site environments. The findings from the pilot program will inform final adjustments before the plan is formally recommended in the government’s 2026 Disaster Relief Guidelines — a key policy document that shapes how local governments prepare and deliver aid in emergencies.
“The goal is to make sure that, no matter the situation, everyone affected by a disaster can receive a wholesome, properly prepared meal,” the Korean Red Cross said in a statement — a small but telling step toward a more humane disaster response system.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
