The program providing breakfast for $1 to workers in industrial complexes will continue next year. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced it will support a total of 900,000 meals in 2027 and will begin recruiting participating companies on October 26.
On October 25, the ministry stated that applications for the '2027 One-Dollar Breakfast Program for Industrial Complex Workers' will be accepted from October 26 to November 10. The initiative aims to promote healthy breakfast habits among workers and increase rice consumption.
This program expands the successful 'One-Dollar Breakfast' initiative, which was initially targeted at university students. After establishing a framework for a pilot operation in 2025, it has been implemented as a pilot project starting this year.
Industrial complexes are often located far from urban areas, making it difficult for workers to find restaurants for breakfast. Additionally, small and medium-sized enterprises face challenges in operating cafeterias due to cost burdens. The ministry plans to improve meal conditions for workers while promoting breakfast culture and increasing rice consumption.
The support for next year will cover a total of 900,000 meals for companies located in industrial complexes nationwide. Companies in national industrial complexes, general industrial complexes, agricultural industrial complexes, and urban high-tech industrial complexes, as well as consortiums of resident companies, can apply. Applications must be submitted via email to the Korea Agricultural and Fisheries Education and Culture Information Service.
Priority will be given to small and micro enterprises, particularly those operating communal dining facilities, to ensure more companies can benefit. Companies that do not currently provide breakfast will receive preferential treatment in evaluations. Applications can be made not only for cafeterias but also for delivery and catering services that suit the conditions of industrial complexes.
Selected companies and consortiums will receive partial support for breakfast costs from January to December 2027. The government will subsidize $2 per meal, with workers contributing $1. For example, if a meal costs $5, the government covers $2, the worker pays $1, and the remaining $2 is borne by local governments or companies.
Details regarding application forms, support criteria, and project duration can be found in the announcement on the Korea Agricultural and Fisheries Education and Culture Information Service website.
Jung Hye-ryeon, Director of Food Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, stated, “We are promoting this program to positively impact the healthy eating habits and work efficiency of workers in industrial complexes. We will strengthen communication with local governments and private enterprises to ensure that breakfast culture leads to increased consumption of our agricultural products, including rice, and continue to expand the program.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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